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AS FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 28, 2024

 

File No. 033-42484

File No. 811-06400

 

U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM N-1A

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE

SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

  POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 367 /X/

AND

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE

INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

  AMENDMENT NO. 368 /X/

 

THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

One Freedom Valley Drive

Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

(Address of Principal Executive Offices, Zip Code)

 

1-800-932-7781

(Registrant’s Telephone Number)

 

Michael Beattie

c/o SEI Investments

One Freedom Valley Drive

Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

 

Copy to:

 

Sean Graber, Esquire
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
2222 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

 

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

 

/X/ Immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
/   / On [date] pursuant to paragraph (b)
/   / 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
/   / 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
/   / On [date] pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 485

 

 

 

THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND

 

 

Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio

(Investor Class: AEMGX)

(Y Class: AEMVX)

(I Class: AEMZX)

 

 

INVESTOR CLASS, Y CLASS AND
I CLASS SHARES

PROSPECTUS

March 1, 2024

 

 

 

 

Investment Adviser:

 

ACADIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC

 

 

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

 

 

Table of Contents

 

   

Page

Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio

1

Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategy

3

Principal Risks

4

Performance Information

6

Investment Adviser

8

Portfolio Managers

8

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

8

Tax Information

9

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

9

Investing With The Fund

10

Buying Shares

11

Redeeming Shares

13

Exchanging Shares

16

Transaction Policies

16

Account Policies

20

More Information about Fund Investments and Risks

29

Information about Portfolio Holdings

34

Investment Management

34

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

35

Additional Information

37

Financial Highlights

39

How to Obtain More Information about the Fund

back cover

 

 

 

AEMGX Investor Class Shares

AEMVX Y Class Shares

AEMZX I Class Shares

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio

 

Investment Objective

 

 

The Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio (the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in common stocks of emerging market country issuers.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

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

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

Redemption Fee

 

As a percentage of amount redeemed, if redeemed within 30 days of purchase

2.00%

 

 

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

 

 

Investor Class
Shares

Y Class
Shares

I Class
Shares

Management Fees

0.90%

0.90%

0.90%

Other Expenses

0.56%

0.39%

0.34%

Shareholder Servicing Fees

0.22%

0.05%

None

Other Operating Expenses

0.34%

0.34%

0.34%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

1.46%

1.29%

1.24%

Less Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1

(0.14)%

(0.14)%

(0.14)%

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

1.32%

1.15%

1.10%

 

1

Acadian Asset Management LLC (“Acadian” or the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive or reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (but excluding any class-specific expenses (including distribution and service (12b-1) Fees and Shareholder Servicing Fees), interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees and expenses incurred in connection with tax reclaim recovery services, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and other non-routine expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of said Fund’s business (including litigation expenses) (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 1.10% of the average daily net assets of each of the Fund’s share classes until March 1, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the contractual expense limit to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee waivers or expense reimbursements made during the three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the contractual expense limit (i) at the time of the fee waiver or expense payment, and (ii) at the time of the reimbursement. This agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Trust, for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, for any reason, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on March 1, 2025. This agreement terminates automatically upon the termination of the Adviser’s investment advisory agreement with the Trust, on behalf of the Fund.

 

1

 

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses (including one year of capped expenses in each period) remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Investor Class Shares

$134

$448

$784

$1,734

Y Class Shares

$117

$395

$694

$1,544

I Class Shares

$112

$380

$668

$1,488

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 68% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

2

 

 

 

Principal Investment Strategy

 

 

The Fund will invest primarily in common stocks but also may invest in other types of equity securities, including preferred stock. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of issuers that at the time of initial purchase:

 

 

Have their principal securities trading market in an emerging market country;

 

 

Alone or on a consolidated basis derive 50% or more of annual revenue from goods produced, sales made or services performed in emerging market countries; or

 

 

Are organized under the laws of, and have a principal office in, an emerging market country.

 

This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

 

An “emerging market country” is any country that is included in the Morgan Stanley Capital International Emerging Markets Index (the “Index”) or that is publicly announced to be added to the Index. The Fund may also invest in securities of issuers located in industrialized countries.

 

Foreign securities include securities of companies located outside the United States, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and exchange traded funds that invest in foreign securities. ADRs are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer that are issued by depositary banks and traded on U.S. exchanges. GDRs are similar to ADRs, except that European banks or trust companies typically issue them. The Fund also may invest in securities issued by small capitalization companies.

 

In selecting investments for the Fund, Acadian Asset Management LLC (the “Adviser” or “Acadian”) pursues an active, disciplined investment approach that forecasts markets and securities using a range of quantitative factors related to valuation, earnings, quality, price patterns, economic data and risk. Buy and sell decisions are made objectively and driven by changes in expected returns on investments. In making buy and sell decisions, Acadian analyzes the risk and expected return characteristics of the portfolio’s current holdings as compared to the entire universe of institutionally investable companies with sufficient liquidity and data availability. Less attractive securities are discarded from the portfolio while more attractive securities

 

3

 

 

 

are added, provided that the cost of the purchase and sale of such securities do not exceed the expected value added to the portfolio of such investment decisions.

 

Principal Risks

 

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Active Management Risk – The Fund is subject to the risk that the Adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value, or potential appreciation of the Fund’s investments may prove to be incorrect. If the investments selected and strategies employed by the Fund fail to produce the intended results, the Fund could underperform in comparison to other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.

 

Equity Risk – Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices may fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund. This risk is greater for small- and medium-sized companies, which tend to be more vulnerable to adverse developments than larger companies.

 

Emerging Markets Securities Risk – Investments in emerging markets securities are considered speculative and subject to heightened risks in addition to the general risks of investing in non-U.S. securities. Unlike more established markets, emerging markets may have governments that are less stable, markets that are less liquid and economies that are

 

4

 

 

 

less developed. Securities of foreign companies may not be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and foreign companies are generally not subject to the regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign securities than is available about domestic securities. Income from foreign securities owned by the Fund may be reduced by a withholding tax at the source, which tax would reduce income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. In addition, emerging markets securities may be issued by companies with smaller market capitalizations and may suffer periods of relative illiquidity, significant price volatility, restrictions on foreign investment, and possible restrictions on repatriation of investment income and capital. Furthermore, emerging market governments may have limited ability to raise taxes or authorize appropriations for debt repayment. In addition, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales, and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies.

 

Small-Capitalization Company Risk – The smaller capitalization companies that the Fund invests in may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in these small companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, small capitalization stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. These securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange. The Fund is also subject to the risk that the Adviser’s particular investment style, which focuses on small capitalization stocks, may underperform other segments of the equity market or the equity market as a whole.

 

Foreign Company Risk – Investing in foreign companies, whether through investments made in foreign markets or made through the purchase of ADRs and GDRs, which are traded on exchanges and represent an ownership in a foreign security, poses additional risks since political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. Political events (civil unrest, national elections, changes in political conditions and foreign relations, imposition of exchange controls and repatriation restrictions), social and economic events (labor strikes, rising inflation) and natural disasters occurring in a country where the Fund invests could cause the Fund’s investments in that country to experience gains or losses. These risks will not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or similar

 

5

 

 

 

issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign companies are generally denominated in a foreign currency. As a result, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect (positively or negatively) the value of the Fund’s investments. These currency movements may occur separately from, and in response to, events that do not otherwise affect the value of the security in the issuer’s home country. In addition, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may require the Fund to sell such investments at inopportune times, which could result in losses to the Fund. While ADRs and GDRs provide an alternative to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their respective national markets and currencies, investments in ADRs and GDRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.

 

Foreign Currency Risk – Because non-U.S. securities are usually denominated in currencies other than the dollar, the value of the Fund’s portfolio may be influenced by currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. The currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by the Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries.

 

Geographic Focus Risk – To the extent that it focuses its investments in a particular country or region, the Fund may be more susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within that country or region. As a result, the Fund may be subject to greater price volatility and risk of loss than a fund holding more geographically diverse investments.

 

Performance Information

 

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Investor Class Shares’ performance from year to year for the past 10 years and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for 1, 5 and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

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Prior to October 31, 2016, the Fund’s Investor Class Shares were called “Institutional Class Shares,” and were not subject to the shareholder servicing fees currently applicable to Investor Class Shares. The Investor Class Shares performance provided below for the periods prior to October 31, 2016 represents the performance of Investor Class Shares when they were called Institutional Class Shares and does not include the shareholder servicing fees currently applicable to Investor Class Shares.

 

Updated performance information is available by calling 1-866-AAM-6161.

 

 

 

BEST QUARTER

WORST QUARTER

17.71%

(25.28)%

12/31/2020

3/31/2020

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns are shown for Investor Class Shares only. After-tax returns for Y Class Shares and I Class Shares will vary.

 

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Acadian Emerging Markets
Portfolio

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since
Inception

Fund Returns Before Taxes

       

Investor Class Shares

22.62%

6.40%

3.66%

6.97%1

Y Class Shares

22.86%

6.58%

5.70%2

I Class Shares

22.93%

6.61%

5.76%2

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

       

Investor Class Shares

21.71%

5.75%

3.25%

6.31%1

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

       

Investor Class Shares

14.34%

5.15%

3.00%

6.14%1

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

10.27%

4.07%

3.05%

6.24%3

 

1

Investor Class Shares of the Fund were offered beginning June 17, 1993.

 

2

Y Class Shares and I Class Shares of the Fund were offered beginning October 31, 2016.

 

3

Index comparison begins June 17, 1993.

 

Investment Adviser

 

 

Acadian Asset Management LLC

 

Portfolio Managers

 

 

Brendan Bradley, Ph.D., Chief Investment Officer, has managed the Fund since 2013.

 

Fanesca Young, Ph.D., CFA, Director of Equity Portfolio Management, has managed the Fund since 2023.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

 

To purchase shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $2,500 for Investor Class Shares, $100,000 for Y Class Shares and $1,000,000 for I Class Shares. Subsequent investments must be at least $1,000 for Investor Class Shares. There are no minimums for subsequent investments in Y Class Shares or I Class Shares.

 

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If you own shares directly, you may sell your shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business (a “Business Day”) via Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) (subject to certain account minimums) or by contacting the Fund directly by mail at Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail Address: Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105) or by telephone at 1-866-AAM-6161 (1-866-226-6161).

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to sell your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

Tax Information

 

 

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distributions will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

 

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

 

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Investing With The Fund

 

This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called “redeem”) and exchange Investor Class Shares, Y Class Shares and I Class Shares of the Fund.

 

For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Taxes.”

 

How to Choose a Share Class

 

The Fund offers three classes of shares to investors, Investor Class Shares, Y Class Shares and I Class Shares. Each share class has its own investment minimums, cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of Investor Class Shares, Y Class Shares and I Class Shares. Contact your financial intermediary or the Fund for more information about the Fund’s share classes and how to choose between them.

 

Class Name

Investment Minimums

Fees

Investor Class Shares

Initial – $2,500

 

Subsequent – $1,000

0.25% Shareholder Servicing Fee

Y Class Shares

Initial – $100,000

 

Subsequent – None

0.10% Shareholder Servicing Fee

I Class Shares

Initial – $1,000,000

 

Subsequent – None

No Shareholder Servicing Fee

 

Investor Class Shares, Y Class Shares and I Class Shares are offered to investors who purchase shares directly from the Fund or through certain financial intermediaries such as financial planners, investment advisors, broker-dealers or other financial institutions. An investor is eligible to purchase any class of shares for which it meets the minimum investment requirements. An investor may be eligible to purchase more than one share class. However, if you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, you may only purchase that class of shares which your financial intermediary sells or services. Your financial intermediary can tell you which class of shares is available through the intermediary.

 

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The Fund reserves the right to change the criteria for eligible investors and waive or reduce the minimum investment requirements for any share class in its sole discretion.

 

Buying Shares

 

 

All investments must be made by check, wire or ACH Transfer. All checks must be made payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept purchases made by third-party checks, credit cards, credit card checks, cash, traveler’s checks, money orders or cashier’s checks.

 

The Fund reserves the right to suspend all sales of new shares or to reject any specific purchase order, including exchange purchases, for any reason. The Fund is not intended for excessive trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For more information about the Fund’s policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

The Fund does not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Fund subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Fund for more information.

 

By Mail

 

You can open an account with the Fund by sending a check and your account application to the address below. You can add to an existing account by sending the Fund a check and, if possible, the “Invest by Mail” stub that accompanies your confirmation statement. Be sure your check identifies clearly your name, your account number, the Fund name and share class. Make your check payable to “Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio.”

 

Regular Mail Address

 

Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

 

Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

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The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of purchase orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Wire

 

To open an account by wire, call 1-866-AAM-6161 (1-866-226-6161) for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the wiring instructions set forth below (be sure to include your account number). The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the wire in good order.

 

Wiring Instructions

 

UMB Bank, N.A.
ABA #: 101000695
Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio
DDA Acct. #: 9871063178
Ref: account number/account name/share class

 

By Automatic Investment Plan (via ACH) (Investor Class Shares Only)

 

You may not open an account via ACH. However, once you have established an account, you can set up an automatic investment plan by mailing a completed application to the Fund. Purchases can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually in amounts of at least $1,000 to meet the minimum investment amount. To cancel or change a plan, write to the Fund at: Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121 (Express Mail Address: Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105). Please allow up to 15 days to create the plan and 3 days to cancel or change it.

 

Purchases In-Kind

 

Subject to the approval of the Fund, an investor may purchase shares of the Fund with liquid securities and other assets that are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable

 

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in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an appropriate investment for the Fund. Assets purchased by the Fund in such a transaction will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

 

Minimum Purchases

 

To purchase shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $2,500 for Investor Class Shares, $100,000 for Y Class Shares and $1,000,000 for I Class Shares. Subsequent investments must be at least $1,000 for Investor Class Shares. There are no minimums for subsequent investments in Y Class Shares or I Class Shares. The Fund reserves the right to waive the minimum investment amounts in its sole discretion.

 

Fund Codes

 

The Fund’s reference information, which is listed below, will be helpful to you when you contact the Fund to purchase shares, exchange shares, check daily net asset value per share (“NAV”) or obtain additional information.

 

Fund Name

Share Class

Ticker
Symbol

CUSIP

Fund
Code

Acadian Emerging Markets

Investor Class Shares

AEMGX

00758M162

1260

Portfolio

Y Class Shares

AEMVX

00769G196

1360

 

I Class Shares

AEMZX

00769G188

1960

 

Redeeming Shares

 

 

Payment of Redemption Proceeds

 

Redemption proceeds can be mailed to your account address, sent to your bank by ACH transfer or wired to your bank account (provided that your bank information is already on file). Normally, the Fund will send your sale proceeds within one Business Day after it receives your redemption request in good order, meaning that it is complete, contains all necessary information, and has all supporting documentation (such as proper signature guarantees, IRA rollover forms, etc.). The Fund, however, may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds.

 

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The Fund typically expects to sell portfolio assets and/or hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. On a less regular basis, the Fund may also meet redemption requests by drawing on a line of credit, using short-term borrowings from its custodian and/or redeeming shares in-kind (as described below). These methods may be used during both normal and stressed market conditions.

 

Certain redemption requests will require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor institution. Eligible guarantors include commercial banks, savings and loans, savings banks, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any other member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. For example, signature guarantees may be required if your address of record has changed in the last 30 days, if you want the proceeds sent to a bank other than the bank of record on your account, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Please note that a notary public is not an acceptable provider of a signature guarantee and that the Fund must be provided with the original guarantee. Signature guarantees are for the protection of Fund shareholders. Before it grants a redemption request, the Fund may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to ensure proper authorization.

 

Accounts held by a corporation, trust, fiduciary or partnership, may require additional documentation along with a signature guaranteed letter of instruction. The Fund participates in the Paperless Legal Program (the “Program”), which eliminates the need for accompanying paper documentation on legal securities transfers. Requests received with a Medallion Signature Guarantee will be reviewed for the proper criteria to meet the guidelines of the Program and may not require additional documentation. Please contact Shareholder Services at 1-866-226-6161 for more information.

 

If you redeem shares that were purchased by check or through ACH, you will not receive your redemption proceeds until the check has cleared or the ACH transaction has been completed, which may take up to 15 days from the purchase date.

 

By Mail

 

You may contact the Fund directly by mail at: Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121 (Express Mail Address: Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105). Send a letter to the Fund signed by all registered parties on the account specifying:

 

14

 

 

 

 

The Fund name;

 

 

The share class;

 

 

The account number;

 

 

The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;

 

 

The account name(s); and

 

 

The address to which redemption (sale) proceeds should be sent.

 

All registered share owner(s) must sign the letter in the exact name(s) in which their account is registered and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.

 

Certain shareholders may need to include additional documents or provide a signature guarantee to redeem shares.

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of sell orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the sell order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Telephone

 

You must first establish the telephone redemption privilege (and, if desired, the wire or ACH redemption privilege) by completing the appropriate sections of the account application.

 

Call 1-866-AAM-6161 to redeem your shares. Based on your instructions, the Fund will mail your proceeds to you or send them to your bank by either Fed wire or ACH.

 

By Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH) (Investor Class Shares Only)

 

If your account balance is at least $10,000, you may transfer as little as $100 per month from your account to another financial institution. To participate in this service, you must complete the appropriate sections of the account application and mail it to the Fund.

 

Redemptions In-Kind

 

The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders, the Fund might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in liquid securities

 

15

 

 

 

with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in-kind). It is highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in-kind, but if they were you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale, as with any redemption. In addition, you would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in-kind until the securities are sold.

 

Exchanging Shares

 

 

At no charge, you may exchange one class of shares of the Fund directly to another class of shares of the Fund by writing to or calling the Fund, subject to the eligibility requirements and the fees and expenses of such other class of shares, as set forth in this Prospectus. You may only exchange shares between accounts with identical registrations (i.e., the same names and addresses). An exchange between share classes of the Fund is not a taxable event.

 

Transaction Policies

 

 

Calculating Your Share Price

 

You may buy or sell shares of the Fund on any Business Day at a price equal to the Fund’s NAV next computed after it, or an authorized institution (as defined below), receives and accepts your order in good order. The Fund calculates NAV once each Business Day as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day’s NAV, the Fund or an authorized institution must receive and accept your order in good order (meaning that it is complete, contains all necessary information, and has all supporting documentation such as proper signature guarantees, IRA rollover forms, etc.) before the close of trading on the NYSE that day. If your purchase order is not received and accepted in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV calculated on the subsequent Business Day on which your order is received and accepted in good order. If the NYSE closes early – as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading – the Fund will calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. Shares will only be priced on Business Days.

 

The NAV of a class of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets attributable to the class, less any liabilities attributable to the class, by the total number of shares outstanding of the class. In calculating NAV, the Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price.

 

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If market prices are not readily available or are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that is assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

With respect to any non-U.S. securities held by the Fund, the Adviser may take factors influencing specific markets or issuers into consideration in determining the fair value of a non-U.S. security. International securities markets may be open on days when the U.S. markets are closed. In such cases, the value of any international securities owned by the Fund may be significantly affected on days when investors cannot buy or sell shares. In addition, due to the difference in times between the close of the international markets and the time the Fund prices its shares, the value the Adviser assigns to securities generally will not be the same as the quoted or published prices of those securities on their primary markets or exchanges. In determining fair value prices, the Adviser may consider the performance of securities on its primary exchange, foreign currency appreciation/depreciation, securities market movements in the United States, or other relevant information as related to the securities.

 

There may be limited circumstances in which the Adviser would price securities at fair value for stocks of U.S. companies that are traded on U.S. exchanges – for example, if the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closed early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time the Fund calculated its NAV.

 

Other assets for which market quotations are not readily available will be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

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Buying or Selling Shares through a Financial Intermediary

 

In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from the Fund through its transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of the Fund through accounts with financial intermediaries such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. When you purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to the financial intermediary at an earlier time for your transaction to become effective that day. This allows the financial intermediary time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund prior to the time the Fund calculates its NAV that day. Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. If your financial intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses. Unless your financial intermediary is an authorized institution, orders transmitted by the financial intermediary and received by the Fund after the time NAV is calculated for a particular day will receive the following day’s NAV.

 

Certain financial intermediaries, including certain broker-dealers and shareholder organizations, are authorized to act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to the receipt of purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares (“authorized institutions”). Authorized institutions are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized institution or, if applicable, an authorized institution’s designee, receives the order. Orders will be priced at the Fund’s NAV next computed after they are received by an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee. To determine whether your financial intermediary is an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee such that it may act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

If you deal directly with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with the Fund. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for your purchase and/or redemption transactions. For more information about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

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Redemption Fee

 

In an effort to discourage short-term trading and defray costs incurred by shareholders as a result of short-term trading, the Fund charges a 2.00% redemption fee on redemptions of shares that have been held for less than 30 days. The redemption fee is deducted from the Fund’s sale proceeds and cannot be paid separately, and any proceeds of the fee are credited to the assets of the Fund. The fee does not apply to shares purchased with reinvested dividends or distributions. In determining how long shares of the Fund have been held, the Fund assumes that shares held by the investor the longest period of time will be sold first.

 

The redemption fee is applicable to Fund shares purchased either directly or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the Fund on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. The Fund requests that financial intermediaries assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and collect and remit the proceeds to the Fund. However, the Fund recognizes that, due to operational requirements, the intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the Fund’s.

 

The Fund reserves the right to reduce all or a portion of the redemption fee in its discretion when it believes such reduction is in the best interests of the Fund, including with respect to certain categories of redemptions that the Fund reasonably believes may not raise frequent trading or market timing concerns. These categories include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) participants in certain group retirement plans whose processing systems are incapable of properly applying the redemption fee to underlying shareholders; (ii) redemptions resulting from certain transfers upon the death of a shareholder; (iii) redemptions by certain pension plans as required by law or by regulatory authorities; (iv) systematic redemptions; and (v) retirement loans and withdrawals.

 

Telephone Transactions

 

Purchasing, selling and exchanging Fund shares over the telephone is extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or costs incurred by following telephone instructions the Fund

 

19

 

 

 

reasonably believes to be genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund over the telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.

 

Rights Reserved by the Fund

 

Purchases

 

At any time and without notice, the Fund may:

 

 

Stop offering shares;

 

 

Reject any purchase order; or

 

 

Bar an investor engaged in a pattern of excessive trading from buying shares. Excessive trading can hurt performance by disrupting management and increasing expenses. The Fund will consider various factors in determining whether an investor has engaged in excessive trading. These factors include, but are not limited to, the investor’s historic trading patterns, the number of transactions, the size of the transactions, the time between transactions and the percentage of the investor’s account involved in each transaction. For more information about the Fund’s policies on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

Redemptions

 

At any time, and without notice, the Fund may change or eliminate any of the redemption methods described above, except redemption by mail. The Fund may suspend your right to redeem your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC. More information about this is in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”).

 

For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Taxes.”

 

Account Policies

 

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourages shareholders from engaging in “market timing” or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Fund may present risks to the Fund’s long-term shareholders

 

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and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests, and experiencing increased transaction costs.

 

Because the Fund invests in foreign securities traded primarily on markets that close prior to the time the Fund determines its NAV, the risks posed by frequent trading may have a greater potential to dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders than a fund investing exclusively in U.S. securities. In instances where a significant event that affects the value of one or more foreign securities held by the Fund takes place after the close of the primary foreign market, but before the time that the Fund determines its NAV, certain investors may seek to take advantage of the fact that there will be a delay in the adjustment of the market price for a security caused by this event until the foreign market reopens (sometimes referred to as “price” or “time zone” arbitrage). Shareholders who attempt this type of arbitrage may dilute the value of the Fund’s shares by virtue of their Fund share transaction, if those prices reflect the fair value of the foreign securities. Although the Adviser has procedures designed to determine the fair value of foreign securities for purposes of calculating the Fund’s NAV when such an event has occurred, fair value pricing, because it involves judgments which are inherently subjective, may not always eliminate the risk of price arbitrage. For more information about how the Fund uses fair value pricing, see “Calculating Your Share Price.”

 

In addition, because the Fund invests in small capitalization securities, which often trade in lower volumes and may be less liquid, the Fund may be more susceptible to the risks posed by frequent trading because frequent transactions in the Fund’s shares may have a greater impact on the market prices of these types of securities.

 

The Fund’s service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Fund’s policies and procedures described in this Prospectus and approved by the Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Fund’s service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control. The Fund’s policies and procedures include:

 

 

Shareholders are restricted from making more than five “round trips” into or out of the Fund per calendar year. If a shareholder exceeds this amount, the Fund and/or its service providers may, at their discretion, reject any additional purchase orders. The Fund

 

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defines a “round trip” as a purchase into the Fund by a shareholder, followed by a subsequent redemption out of the Fund, of an amount the Adviser reasonably believes would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

 

The Fund assesses a redemption fee of 2.00% on redemptions by shareholders of Fund shares held for less than 30 days (subject to certain exceptions as discussed in “Redemption Fee”).

 

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

The Fund and/or its service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. The Fund does not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders. Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in the Fund will occur. Systematic purchases and redemptions are exempt from these policies.

 

Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Fund has entered into “information sharing agreements” with these financial intermediaries, which permit the Fund to obtain, upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary’s customers that invest in the Fund. If the Fund or its service providers identify omnibus account level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Fund, the Fund or its service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Fund or its service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Fund, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Fund by that customer. If the Fund is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Fund may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Fund’s shares is requested by the Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary

 

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(an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Fund on behalf of other persons.

 

The Fund and its service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Fund to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary’s customers. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

What this means to you: When you open an account, the Fund will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Fund to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.

 

The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

 

In certain instances, the Fund is required to collect documents to fulfill its legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.

 

Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker. If this information is unable to be obtained within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund, your application will be rejected.

 

Upon receipt of your application in good order (meaning that it is complete, contains all necessary information, and has all supporting documentation such as proper signature guarantees, IRA rollover forms, etc.), or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application, your investment will be received and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV.

 

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The Fund reserves the right to close or liquidate your account at the next-determined NAV and remit proceeds to you via check if it is unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund. Further, the Fund reserves the right to hold your proceeds until your original check clears the bank, which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

Customer identification and verification are part of the Fund’s overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Fund has adopted an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Fund reserves the right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund or in cases when the Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Fund is required to withhold such proceeds.

 

Unclaimed Property

 

Each state has unclaimed property rules that generally provide for escheatment (or transfer) to the state of unclaimed property under various circumstances. Such circumstances include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or “RPO,” as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once it flags property as unclaimed, the Fund will attempt to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state.

 

Shareholders that reside in the state of Texas may designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that can be found on the website of the Texas Comptroller. While the designated representative does not have any rights to claim or access the shareholder’s account or assets,

 

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the escheatment period will cease if the representative communicates knowledge of the shareholder’s location and confirms that the shareholder has not abandoned his or her property. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Fund (if shares are held directly with the Fund) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if shares are not held directly with the Fund).

 

More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-866-AAM-6161 (1-866-226-6161).

 

Small Accounts

 

The Fund may redeem your shares without your permission if the value of your account falls below $1,250 for Investor Class Shares, $50,000 for Y Class Shares or $500,000 for I Class Shares. This provision does not apply:

 

 

To retirement accounts and certain other accounts for which the minimum initial investment amount has been waived; or

 

 

When the value of your account falls because of market fluctuations and not your redemptions.

 

The Fund will provide you at least 30 days’ written notice to allow you time to add to your account and avoid the sale of your shares. If your Fund shares are redeemed for this reason within 30 calendar days of their purchase, the redemption fee will not be applied.

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

Normally, the Fund distributes its net investment income and its net capital gains, if any, at least once a year. The Fund will automatically reinvest dividends and distributions in additional shares of the Fund, unless you elect on your account application to receive them in cash.

 

Taxes

 

Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific questions about U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax issues that affect the Fund and its shareholders. This summary is based on current tax laws, which may change. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future.

 

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The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”). If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable whether you receive them in cash or you reinvest them in additional shares of the Fund. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Fund as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain foreign countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). Once a year the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year. The Fund’s investment strategy may limit its ability to make distributions eligible for the reduced tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information for Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares have a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund

 

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shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review any basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors. Call 1-866-AAM-6161 (1-866-226-6161) to find out when the Fund expects to make a distribution to shareholders.

 

Each sale of Fund shares may be a taxable event. Assuming a shareholder holds Fund shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for 12 months or less or as a long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale of shares of the Fund).

 

The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund receives from sources in foreign countries. If more than 50% of the total assets of the Fund consist of foreign securities, the Fund will be eligible to elect to treat some of those taxes as a distribution to shareholders, which would allow shareholders to offset some of their U.S. federal income tax. The Fund

 

27

 

 

 

(or its administrative agent) will notify you if it makes such an election and provide you with the information necessary to reflect foreign taxes paid on your income tax return.

 

Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

More information about taxes is in the SAI.

 

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More Information about Fund Investments and Risks

 

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in common stocks of emerging market country issuers. The Fund may change its investment objective without shareholder approval.

 

Principal Risks

 

Investing in the Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goals. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good of a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund, just as you could with similar investments.

 

The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the value of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets in which they trade. The effect on the Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings. Certain of the Fund’s principal risks are summarized below.

 

Equity Securities

 

Equity securities include publicly and privately issued equity securities, common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights to subscribe to common stock and convertible securities, as well as instruments that attempt to track the price movement of equity indices. Equity securities also include ADRs and GDRs, which are traded on U.S. exchanges and represent an ownership in a foreign security. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of

 

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individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations, and by businesses, including changes to operations and reducing staff. Fluctuations in the value of the equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the fund’s NAV to fluctuate. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

 

Foreign Securities

 

Investments in securities of foreign companies (including direct investments as well as investments through ADRs) can be more volatile than investments in U.S. companies. Diplomatic, political, or economic developments, including nationalization or appropriation, could affect investments in foreign companies. Foreign securities markets generally have less trading volume and less liquidity than U.S. markets. In addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies, and of dividends from such securities, can change significantly when foreign currencies strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. dollar. Foreign companies or governments generally are not subject to uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards comparable to those applicable to domestic U.S. companies or governments. Transaction costs are generally higher than those in the United States and expenses for custodial arrangements of foreign securities may be somewhat greater than typical expenses for custodial arrangements of similar U.S. securities. Some foreign governments levy withholding taxes against dividend and interest income. Although in some countries a portion of these taxes are recoverable, the non-recovered portion will reduce the income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Additionally, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in the Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. Government designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses. While ADRs and GDRs provide an alternative to

 

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directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their respective national markets and currencies, investments in ADRs and GDRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. Investment in emerging markets subjects the Fund to a greater risk of loss than investments in a developed market. This is due to, among other things, greater market volatility, lower trading volume, political and economic instability, high levels of inflation, deflation or currency devaluation, greater risk of market shut down, and more governmental limitations on foreign investment policy than those typically found in a developed market. In addition, the financial stability of issuers (including governments) in emerging market countries may be more precarious than in other countries. As a result, there will tend to be an increased risk of price volatility in the Fund’s investments in emerging market countries.

 

Other Risks

 

In addition to the principal risks identified above, an investment in the Fund may be subject to other, non-principal risks. Set forth below are summaries of certain other risks associated with investing in the Fund.

 

Derivatives

 

The Fund may invest in derivatives, a category of investments that includes forward foreign currency exchange contracts, futures, options and swaps to protect its investments against changes resulting from market conditions (a practice called “hedging”), to reduce transaction costs or to manage cash flows. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts, futures and options are called derivatives because their value is based on an underlying asset or economic factor. Derivatives are often more volatile than other investments and may magnify the Fund’s gains or losses. Derivatives also may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the Fund would like. The Fund may have to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations under a derivatives transaction. There are various factors that affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its objectives with derivatives. Successful use of a derivative depends on the degree to which prices of the underlying assets correlate with price movements in the derivatives the Fund buys or sells. The Fund could be negatively affected if the change in market value of its securities fails to correlate perfectly or at all with the values of the derivatives it purchased or sold. The Fund’s investments in forward foreign currency exchange contracts and swaps also may be subject to credit risk and valuation risk. Credit risk is the risk that the counterparty to

 

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a derivative contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. Valuation risk is the risk that the derivative may be difficult to value.

 

Additionally, regulation relating to the Fund’s use of derivatives and related instruments, including Rule 18f-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), could potentially limit or impact the Fund’s ability to invest in derivatives, limit the Fund’s ability to employ certain strategies that use derivatives and/or adversely affect the value of derivatives and the Fund’s performance.

 

The Fund may use derivatives as a hedging technique to reduce the risks of its investments in equity securities. However, hedging will not necessarily fully protect the Fund against all anticipated risks. Moreover, hedging transactions involve costs and risks of their own. If the Fund employs a hedge and the market rises, the Fund may lose money or forego the opportunity to capitalize on market increases. As a result, hedging may not improve the Fund’s performance either on an absolute or risk-adjusted basis.

 

Other Investments

 

The investments and strategies described in this Prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal circumstances. During unusual economic, market, political or other circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in short-term, high quality debt instruments, such as U.S. government securities. These instruments would not ordinarily be consistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategy, and may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. The Fund will use temporary strategies if the Adviser believes that pursuing the Fund’s investment objective will subject it to a significant risk of loss. The Fund has a policy requiring it to invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, at the time of initial purchase, in particular types of securities as described in the Fund’s principal investment strategy and will not change this policy without 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. In addition to the temporary defensive measures discussed above, the Fund may also temporarily deviate from this 80% policy in other limited, appropriate circumstances, such as if the Fund experiences unusually large cash inflows or redemptions. When the Adviser pursues a temporary defensive strategy, the Fund may not profit from favorable developments that it would have otherwise profited from if it were pursuing its normal strategies.

 

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The Fund may also employ investment practices that this Prospectus does not describe, such as participating in repurchase agreements, when-issued and forward commitment transactions, lending of securities, borrowing and other techniques. For more information concerning these and any of the Fund’s other investment practices and their risks, please read the SAI.

 

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Information about Portfolio Holdings

 

A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the circumstances under which the Fund discloses its portfolio securities is available in the SAI.

 

Investment Management

 

Investment Adviser

 

Acadian Asset Management LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser and a Delaware limited liability company located at 260 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. Acadian serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. Acadian was founded in 1986 and is an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of US-based BrightSphere Investment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation publicly listed on the NYSE. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $103 billion in assets under management.

 

The Adviser manages and supervises the investment of the Fund’s assets on a discretionary basis, subject to the oversight of the Board. For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.90% based on the average daily net assets of the Fund.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive or reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep net operating expenses (but excluding any class-specific expenses (including distribution and service (12b-1) fees and shareholder servicing fees), interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees and expenses incurred in connection with tax reclaim recovery services, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and other non-routine expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of said Fund’s business (including litigation expenses)) from exceeding 1.10% of the average daily net assets of each of the Fund’s share classes until March 1, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the total annual fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the contractual expense limit to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee waivers or expense reimbursements made during the three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment

 

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if at any point total annual fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the contractual expense limit (i) at the time of the fee waiver or expense payment, and (ii) at the time of the reimbursement. This agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Trust, for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, for any reason, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on March 1, 2025. This agreement terminates automatically upon the termination of the Adviser’s investment advisory agreement with the Trust, on behalf of the Fund.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Adviser received advisory fees in the amount of 0.90% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement is available in the Fund’s annual report dated October 31, 2023, which covers the period from November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2023.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

The following portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Brendan Bradley, Ph.D., Chief Investment Officer, joined Acadian in 2004. Brendan previously served as Director of Portfolio Management, overseeing portfolio management policy, and also as the Director of Acadian’s Managed Volatility strategies. Brendan is a member of several oversight committees at Acadian, including the Board of Managers, Executive Management Team, Executive Committee, and Responsible Investing Committee.

 

Fanesca Young, Ph.D., CFA, Director of Equity Portfolio Management, joined Acadian in 2023. She is also a member of the Senior Investment Leadership Team.

 

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

 

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

 

The Fund and/or the Adviser may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to the Fund and/or its shareholders. Financial intermediaries include affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies,

 

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registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates. This section briefly describes how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing these services. For more information please see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

Shareholder Servicing Plan

 

The Fund has adopted a shareholder servicing plan that provides that the Fund may pay financial intermediaries for shareholder services in an annual amount not to exceed 0.25% based on the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Investor Class Shares and 0.10% based on the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Y Class Shares. The services for which financial intermediaries are compensated may include record-keeping, transaction processing for shareholders’ accounts and other shareholder services.

 

Other Payments by the Fund

 

The Fund may enter into agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which the Fund may pay financial intermediaries for non-distribution-related sub-transfer agency, administrative, sub-accounting, and other shareholder services. Payments made pursuant to such agreements are generally based on either (1) a percentage of the average daily net assets of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary, or (2) the number of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary. Any payments made pursuant to such agreements may be in addition to, rather than in lieu of, shareholder services fees the Fund may pay to financial intermediaries pursuant to the Fund’s shareholder servicing plan.

 

Payments by the Adviser

 

From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support for the Fund. These payments are sometimes characterized as “revenue sharing” payments and are made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own legitimate profits or other resources, and may be in addition to any payments made to financial intermediaries by the Fund. A financial intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans,

 

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qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments for making shares of the Fund available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Fund with “shelf space,” placing it on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Fund in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries.

 

The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary or the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV or price of the Fund’s shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders.

 

In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, commissions or transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Fund, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.

 

Additional Information

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce

 

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the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this Prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

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Financial Highlights

 

The tables that follow present performance information about each class of the Fund. The information is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Some of this information reflects financial information for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 has been audited by Cohen & Company, Ltd., the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. The information for the prior periods was audited by BBD, LLP, the Fund’s prior independent registered public accounting firm. Cohen & Company, Ltd.’s report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the Fund’s Annual Report. You can obtain the Annual Report, which contains more performance information, at no charge by calling 1-866-AAM-6161 (1-866-226-6161).

 

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Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

 

Years Ended October 31,

 

Investor Class Shares

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 16.37     $ 23.93     $ 19.65     $ 19.41     $ 18.35  

Income from Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income*

    0.70       0.96       0.47       0.29       0.39  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    3.21       (7.78 )     4.10       0.32       1.00  

Total from Operations

    3.91       (6.82 )     4.57       0.61       1.39  

Redemption Fees*

    0.00 ^      0.00 ^            0.00 ^      0.00 ^ 

Dividends and Distributions from:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (1.07 )     (0.70 )     (0.29 )     (0.37 )     (0.33 )

Net Realized Gains

    (0.19 )     (0.04 )                  

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (1.26 )     (0.74 )     (0.29 )     (0.37 )     (0.33 )

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 19.02     $ 16.37     $ 23.93     $ 19.65     $ 19.41  

Total Return

    24.62 %     (29.43 )%     23.35 %     3.04 %     7.72 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 283,457     $ 322,684     $ 580,640     $ 674,360     $ 625,488  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets(1)

    1.46 %     1.49 %     1.43 %     1.40 %     1.40 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    3.69 %     4.52 %     1.97 %     1.56 %     2.07 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    68 %     66 %     70 %     55 %     48 %

 

*

Per share amounts for the period are based on average outstanding shares.

 

^

Amount was less than $0.005 per share.

 

Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares.

 

(1)

The Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets excludes the effect of fees paid indirectly. If these expense offsets were included, the ratio would have been the same as the ratio reported.

 

40

 

 

 

 

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

 

Years Ended October 31,

 

I Class Shares

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 16.39     $ 23.97     $ 19.67     $ 19.43     $ 18.38  

Income from Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income*

    0.75       1.00       0.53       0.29       0.41  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    3.20       (7.77 )     4.09       0.35       1.00  

Total from Operations

    3.95       (6.77 )     4.62       0.64       1.41  

Redemption Fees*

    0.00 ^      0.00 ^            0.00 ^      0.00 ^ 

Dividends and Distributions from:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (1.13 )     (0.77 )     (0.32 )     (0.40 )     (0.36 )

Net Realized Gains

    (0.19 )     (0.04 )                  

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (1.32 )     (0.81 )     (0.32 )     (0.40 )     (0.36 )

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 19.02     $ 16.39     $ 23.97     $ 19.67     $ 19.43  

Total Return

    24.87 %     (29.26 )%     23.61 %     3.20 %     7.86 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 299,395     $ 258,008     $ 396,786     $ 330,942     $ 496,662  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets(1)

    1.24 %     1.27 %     1.22 %     1.24 %     1.25 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    3.95 %     4.70 %     2.21 %     1.53 %     2.13 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    68 %     66 %     70 %     55 %     48 %

 

*

Per share amounts for the period are based on average outstanding shares.

 

^

Amount was less than $0.005 per share.

 

Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares.

 

(1)

The Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets excludes the effect of fees paid indirectly. If these expense offsets were included, the ratio would have been the same as the ratio reported.

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

 

Years Ended October 31,

 

Y Class Shares

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 16.35     $ 23.92     $ 19.63     $ 19.40     $ 18.34  

Income from Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income*

    0.74       0.99       0.50       0.25       0.43  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    3.19       (7.76 )     4.11       0.38       0.98  

Total from Operations

    3.93       (6.77 )     4.61       0.63       1.41  

Redemption Fees*

                      0.00 ^       

Dividends and Distributions from:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (1.12 )     (0.76 )     (0.32 )     (0.40 )     (0.35 )

Net Realized Gains

    (0.19 )     (0.04 )                  

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (1.31 )     (0.80 )     (0.32 )     (0.40 )     (0.35 )

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 18.97     $ 16.35     $ 23.92     $ 19.63     $ 19.40  

Total Return

    24.80 %     (29.31 )%     23.61 %     3.15 %     7.89 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 3,131     $ 5,870     $ 6,982     $ 8,334     $ 20,363  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets(1)

    1.29 %     1.32 %     1.24 %     1.24 %     1.25 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    3.95 %     4.71 %     2.10 %     1.34 %     2.26 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    68 %     66 %     70 %     55 %     48 %

 

*

Per share amounts for the period are based on average outstanding shares.

 

^

Amount was less than $0.005 per share.

 

Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Portfolio distributions or the redemption of Portfolio shares.

 

(1)

The Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets excludes the effect of fees paid indirectly. If these expense offsets were included, the ratio would have been the same as the ratio reported.

 

42

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio

 

Investors who would like more information about the Fund should read the Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time (“SAI”). The Annual and Semi-Annual Reports of the Fund provide additional information about its investments. In the Annual Report, you will also find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the performance of the Fund during the last fiscal year. The SAI contains additional detailed information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund and the Fund and is incorporated by reference into (is legally part of) this Prospectus.

 

Investors can receive free copies of the SAI, shareholder reports and other information about the Fund at https://www.acadian-asset.com/emfund. Investors can also receive these documents, as well as make shareholder inquiries, by writing to or calling:

 

Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121
1-866-AAM-6161

 

You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act of 1940 file number is 811-06400.

 

 

 

ACA-PS-001-2400

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

ACADIAN EMERGING MARKETS PORTFOLIO

(Investor Class Shares: AEMGX)

(Y Class Shares: AEMVX)

(I Class Shares: AEMZX)

 

a series of THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

ACADIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”) and the Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio (the “Fund”). This SAI is incorporated by reference into and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s prospectus dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Prospectus. The most recent Annual Report for the Fund, which includes the Fund’s audited financial statements dated October 31, 2023, is incorporated by reference into this SAI. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Fund’s Prospectus or Annual Report free of charge by writing to the Fund at P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009 or by calling the Fund at 1-866-AAM-6161.

 

i 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

THE TRUST S-1
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS S-2
INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUND S-39
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES S-42
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS S-43
THE ADMINISTRATOR S-44
THE DISTRIBUTOR S-45
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES S-45
THE TRANSFER AGENT S-47
THE CUSTODIAN S-47
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM S-47
LEGAL COUNSEL S-47
SECURITIES LENDING S-47
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST S-47
PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES S-57
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE S-58
TAXES S-60
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES S-67
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS S-69
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES S-71
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY S-71
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY S-71
PROXY VOTING S-72
CODES OF ETHICS S-72
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS S-72
APPENDIX A – DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS A-1
APPENDIX B - PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES B-1

 

March 1, 2024ACA-SX-001-2400

 

ii 

 

THE TRUST

 

General. The Fund is a separate series of the Trust. The Trust is an open-end investment management company established under Massachusetts law as a Massachusetts voluntary association (commonly known as a business trust) under a Declaration of Trust dated July 18, 1991, as amended and restated February 18, 1997 and amended May 15, 2012 and August 18, 2020 (the “Declaration of Trust”). The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series (“funds”) of shares of beneficial interest (“shares”). The Trust reserves the right to create and issue shares of additional funds. Each fund is a separate mutual fund or exchange traded fund ("ETF"), and each share of each fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund and all assets of such fund belong solely to that fund and would be subject to liabilities related thereto. Each fund of the Trust pays its: (i) operating expenses, including fees of its service providers, expenses of preparing prospectuses, proxy solicitation material and reports to shareholders, costs of custodial services and registering its shares under federal and state securities laws, pricing and insurance expenses, brokerage costs, interest charges, taxes and organization expenses, and (ii) pro rata share of the fund’s other expenses, including audit and legal expenses. Expenses attributable to a specific fund shall be payable solely out of the assets of that fund. Expenses not attributable to a specific fund are allocated across all of the funds on the basis of relative net assets. The other funds of the Trust are described in one or more separate statements of additional information.

 

Description of Multiple Classes of Shares. The Trust is authorized to offer shares of the Fund in Investor Class Shares, Y Class Shares and I Class Shares. The different classes provide for variations in shareholder servicing expenses and in the minimum investment requirements. Minimum investment requirements and investor eligibility are described in the Prospectus. For more information on shareholder servicing expenses, see the “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” section of this SAI. The Trust reserves the right to create and issue additional classes of shares.

 

History of the Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio. The Fund is the successor to the UAM Funds, Inc. Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio (the “Predecessor Fund”). The Predecessor Fund was managed by Acadian Asset Management LLC (“Acadian” or the “Adviser”) using the same investment objective, strategies, policies and restrictions as those used by the Fund. The Predecessor Fund’s date of inception was June 17, 1993. The Predecessor Fund dissolved and reorganized into the Fund on June 24, 2002. Substantially all of the assets of the Predecessor Fund were transferred to its successor in connection with the Fund’s commencement of operations on June 24, 2002.

 

Voting Rights. Each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote for each share held on the record date for the meeting. The Fund will vote separately on matters relating solely to it. As a Massachusetts voluntary association, the Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Approval of shareholders will be sought, however, for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of members of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (each, a “Trustee” and collectively, the “Trustees” or the “Board”) under certain circumstances. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to liquidate the Fund without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they may do so if the Fund fails to reach a viable size within a reasonable amount of time or for such other reasons as may be determined by the Board.

 

In addition, a Trustee may be removed by the remaining Trustees or by shareholders at a special meeting called upon written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.

 

S-1

 

Any series of the Trust created on or after November 11, 1996 may reorganize or merge with one or more other series of the Trust or of another investment company. Any such reorganization or merger shall be pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization authorized and approved by the Trustees and entered into by the relevant series in connection therewith. In addition, such reorganization or merger may be authorized by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office and, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the Declaration of Trust, without the approval of shareholders of any series.

 

DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS

 

The Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategy are described in the Prospectus. The Fund is classified as a “diversified” investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). This means that with respect to 75% of its total assets, the Fund may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer’s voting securities would be held by the Fund. Under applicable federal securities laws, the diversification of a mutual fund’s holdings is measured at the time a fund purchases a security. If the Fund holds securities that perform well on a relative basis, the value of those securities could appreciate such that the value of the Fund’s securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, in the aggregate, might exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets. In these circumstances, the Adviser might determine that it is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders not to reduce one or more of the Fund’s holdings in securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. If the Adviser makes such a determination, the Fund’s holdings in such securities would continue to exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets, and the Fund would not purchase any additional shares of securities that constituted more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. The Fund would continue to qualify as a diversified fund under applicable federal securities laws. If more than 25% of the Fund’s assets were invested, in the aggregate, in securities of issuers that individually represented more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, the Fund would be subject to the risk that its performance could be disproportionately affected by the performance of such securities.

 

The Fund may invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices unless such investment or activity is inconsistent with or is not permitted by the Fund’s stated investment policies, including those stated below. The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus.

 

Debt Securities

 

Corporations and governments use debt securities to borrow money from investors. Most debt securities promise a variable or fixed rate of return and repayment of the amount borrowed at maturity. Some debt securities, such as zero-coupon bonds, do not pay current interest and are purchased at a discount from their face value.

 

Types of Debt Securities:

 

U.S. Government Securities – The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years. U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi-annually and repay the principal at maturity. Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (“Farmer Mac”).

 

S-2

 

Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency. Additionally, some obligations are issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, which are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so, since the U.S. government is not so obligated by law. Guarantees of principal by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Fund’s shares.

 

On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), placing the two federal instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the takeover, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and obtained warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality (the “Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement” or “Agreement”). Under the Agreement, the U.S. Treasury pledged to provide up to $200 billion per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. This was intended to ensure that the instrumentalities maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was amending the Agreement to allow the $200 billion cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in net worth through the end of 2012. The unlimited support the U.S. Treasury extended to the two companies expired at the beginning of 2013 – Fannie Mae’s support is now capped at $125 billion and Freddie Mac has a limit of $149 billion.

 

On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to terminate the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each pay a 10 percent annual dividend. Instead, the companies will transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceed a capital reserve amount. The capital reserve amount was $3 billion in 2013, and decreased by $600 million in each subsequent year through 2017. It is believed that this amendment put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a better position to service their debt because it eliminated the need for the companies to have to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to make fixed dividend payments. As part of the new terms, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also will be required to reduce their investment portfolios over time. On December 21, 2017, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to reinstate the $3 billion capital reserve amount. On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was further amending the Agreement, now permitting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to retain earnings beyond the $3 billion capital reserves previously allowed through the 2017 amendment. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now permitted to maintain capital reserves of $25 billion and $20 billion, respectively.

 

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the subject of several continuing class action lawsuits and investigations by federal regulators over certain accounting, disclosure or corporate governance matters, which (along with any resulting financial restatements) may adversely affect the guaranteeing entities. Importantly, the future of the entities is in serious question as the U.S. government reportedly is considering multiple options, ranging from nationalization, privatization, consolidation, or abolishment of the entities.

 

S-3

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations – U.S. Treasury obligations consist of direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, including Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations, including those transferable through the Federal book-entry system known as Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities (“STRIPS”). The STRIPS program lets investors hold and trade the individual interest and principal components of eligible Treasury notes and bonds as separate securities. Under the STRIPS program, the principal and interest components are separately issued by the U.S. Treasury at the request of depository financial institutions, which then trade the component parts separately.

 

Corporate Bonds – Corporations issue bonds and notes to raise money for working capital or for capital expenditures such as plant construction, equipment purchases and expansion. In return for the money loaned to the corporation by investors, the corporation promises to pay investors interest, and repay the principal amount of the bond or note.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities – Mortgage-backed securities are interests in pools of mortgage loans that various governmental, government-related and private organizations assemble as securities for sale to investors. Unlike most debt securities, which pay interest periodically and repay principal at maturity or on specified call dates, mortgage-backed securities make monthly payments that consist of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Since homeowners usually have the option of paying either part or all of the loan balance before maturity, the effective maturity of a mortgage-backed security is often shorter than is stated.

 

Governmental entities, private insurers and mortgage poolers may insure or guarantee the timely payment of interest and principal of these pools through various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The Adviser will consider such insurance and guarantees and the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof in determining whether a mortgage-related security meets its investment quality standards. It is possible that the private insurers or guarantors will not meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements.

 

Although the market for such securities is becoming increasingly liquid, securities issued by certain private organizations may not be readily marketable.

 

Ginnie Mae – Ginnie Mae is the principal governmental guarantor of mortgage-related securities. Ginnie Mae is a wholly owned corporation of the U.S. government within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Securities issued by Ginnie Mae are treasury securities, which means the full faith and credit of the U.S. government backs them. Ginnie Mae guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by institutions approved by Ginnie Mae and backed by pools of Federal Housing Administration-insured or Veterans Administration-guaranteed mortgages. Ginnie Mae does not guarantee the market value or yield of mortgage-backed securities or the value of the Fund’s shares. To buy Ginnie Mae securities, the Fund may have to pay a premium over the maturity value of the underlying mortgages, which the Fund may lose if prepayment occurs.

 

Fannie Mae – Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. Fannie Mae is regulated by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Fannie Mae purchases conventional mortgages from a list of approved sellers and service providers, including state and federally-chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Securities issued by Fannie Mae are agency securities, which means Fannie Mae, but not the U.S. government, guarantees their timely payment of principal and interest.

 

S-4

 

Freddie Mac – Freddie Mac is a stockholder-owned corporation established by the U.S. Congress to create a continuous flow of funds to mortgage lenders. Freddie Mac supplies lenders with the money to make mortgages and packages the mortgages into marketable securities. The system is designed to create a stable mortgage credit system and reduce the rates paid by homebuyers. Freddie Mac, not the U.S. government, guarantees timely payment of principal and interest.

 

Commercial Banks, Savings and Loan Institutions, Private Mortgage Insurance Companies, Mortgage Bankers and other Secondary Market Issuers – Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional mortgage loans. In addition to guaranteeing the mortgage-related security, such issuers may service and/or have originated the underlying mortgage loans. Pools created by these issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than pools created by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac because they are not guaranteed by a government agency.

 

Risks of Mortgage-Backed Securities – Yield characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from those of traditional debt securities in a variety of ways. The most significant differences of mortgage-backed securities are:

 

payments of interest and principal are more frequent (usually monthly); and
falling interest rates generally cause individual borrowers to pay off their mortgage earlier than expected, which results in prepayments of principal on the securities, thus forcing the Fund to reinvest the money at a lower interest rate.

 

In addition to the risks associated with changes in interest rates described in “Factors Affecting the Value of Debt Securities,” a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors, such as the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, can cause investors to repay the loans underlying a mortgage-backed security sooner than expected. If the prepayment rates increase, the Fund may have to reinvest its principal at a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on existing mortgage-backed securities.

 

Other Asset-Backed Securities – These securities are interests in pools of a broad range of assets other than mortgages, such as automobile loans, computer leases and credit card receivables. Like mortgage-backed securities, these securities are pass-through. In general, the collateral supporting these securities is of shorter maturity than mortgage loans and is less likely to experience substantial prepayments with interest rate fluctuations, but may still be subject to prepayment risk.

 

Asset-backed securities present certain risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. Primarily, these securities may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets, which raises the possibility that recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on these securities. For example, credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which allow debtors to reduce their balances by offsetting certain amounts owed on the credit cards. Most issuers of asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables permit the servicers of such receivables to retain possession of the underlying obligations. If the servicer were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the related asset-backed securities. Due to the quantity of vehicles involved and requirements under state laws, asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables may not have a proper security interest in all of the obligations backing such receivables.

 

S-5

 

To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments, the entity administering the pool of assets may agree to ensure the receipt of payments on the underlying pool occurs in a timely fashion (“liquidity protection”). In addition, asset-backed securities may obtain insurance, such as guarantees, policies or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties, for some or all of the assets in the pool (“credit support”). Delinquency or loss more than that anticipated or failure of the credit support could adversely affect the return on an investment in such a security.

 

The Fund may also invest in residual interests in asset-backed securities, which consist of the excess cash flow remaining after making required payments on the securities and paying related administrative expenses. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a particular issue of asset-backed securities depends in part on the characteristics of the underlying assets, the coupon rates on the securities, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the actual prepayment experience on the underlying assets.

 

Short-Term Investments – To earn a return on uninvested assets, meet anticipated redemptions, or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in the short-term securities listed below, U.S. government securities and investment-grade corporate debt securities. Unless otherwise specified, a short-term debt security has a maturity of one year or less.

 

Bank Obligations – The Fund will only invest in a security issued by a commercial bank if the bank:

 

Has total assets of at least $1 billion, or the equivalent in other currencies (based on the most recent publicly available information about the bank); and
Is a U.S. bank and a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; or is a foreign branch of a U.S. bank and the Adviser believes the security is of an investment quality comparable with other debt securities that the Fund may purchase.

 

Time Deposits – Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits, such as savings accounts or certificates of deposit, held by a financial institution for a fixed term with the understanding that the depositor can withdraw its money only by giving notice to the institution. However, there may be early withdrawal penalties depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. The Fund may only purchase time deposits maturing from two business days through seven calendar days.

 

Certificates of Deposit – Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank or savings and loan association for a definite period of time and earning a specified return.

 

Bankers’ Acceptance – A bankers’ acceptance is a time draft drawn on a commercial bank by a borrower, usually in connection with an international commercial transaction (to finance the import, export, transfer or storage of goods).

 

Commercial Paper – Commercial paper is a short-term obligation with a maturity ranging from 1 to 270 days issued by banks, corporations and other borrowers. Such investments are unsecured and usually discounted. The Fund may invest in commercial paper rated A-1 or A-2 by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Prime-1 or Prime-2 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or, if not rated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated A or better by Moody’s or by S&P. See “Appendix A – Description of Ratings” for a description of commercial paper ratings.

 

Yankee Bonds – Yankee bonds are dollar-denominated bonds issued inside the United States by foreign entities. Investments in these securities involve certain risks that are not typically associated with investing in domestic securities. See “Foreign Securities.”

 

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Zero Coupon Bonds – These securities are sold at a (usually substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal. When held to maturity, their entire income, which consists of accretion of discount, comes from the difference between the issue price and their value at maturity. The amount of the discount rate varies depending on factors including the time remaining until maturity, prevailing interest rates, the security’s liquidity and the issuer’s credit quality. The market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay interest periodically. Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar maturity and credit qualities. The Fund’s investments in pay-in-kind, delayed and zero coupon bonds may require it to sell certain of its securities to generate sufficient cash to satisfy certain income distribution requirements.

 

These securities may include treasury securities, such as STRIPS, that have had their interest payments (“coupons”) separated from the underlying principal (“corpus”) by their holder, typically a custodian bank or investment brokerage firm. Once the holder of the security has stripped or separated corpus and coupons, it may sell each component separately. The principal or corpus is then sold at a deep discount because the buyer receives only the right to receive a future fixed payment on the security and does not receive any rights to periodic interest (cash) payments. Typically, the coupons are sold separately or grouped with other coupons with like maturity dates and sold bundled in such form. The underlying treasury security is held in book-entry form at the Federal Reserve Bank or, in the case of bearer securities (i.e., unregistered securities which are owned ostensibly by the bearer or holder thereof), in trust on behalf of the owners thereof. Purchasers of stripped obligations acquire, in effect, discount obligations that are economically identical to the zero coupon securities that the U.S. Treasury sells itself.

 

Terms to Understand:

 

Maturity – Every debt security has a stated maturity date when the issuer must repay the amount it borrowed (“principal”) from investors. Some debt securities, however, are callable, meaning the issuer can repay the principal earlier, on or after specified dates (“call dates”). Debt securities are most likely to be called when interest rates are falling because the issuer can refinance at a lower rate, similar to a homeowner refinancing a mortgage. The effective maturity of a debt security is usually its nearest call date.

 

Mutual funds that invest in debt securities have no real maturity. Instead, they calculate their weighted average maturity. This number is an average of the effective or anticipated maturity of each debt security held by the mutual fund, with the maturity of each security weighted by the percentage of the assets of the mutual fund it represents.

 

Duration – Duration is a calculation that seeks to measure the price sensitivity of a debt security, or of a mutual fund that invests in debt securities, to changes in interest rates. It measures sensitivity more accurately than maturity because it takes into account the time value of cash flows generated over the life of a debt security. Future interest payments and principal payments are discounted to reflect their present value and then are multiplied by the number of years they will be received to produce a value expressed in years — the duration. Effective duration takes into account call features and sinking fund prepayments that may shorten the life of a debt security.

 

An effective duration of four years, for example, would suggest that for each 1% reduction in interest rates at all maturity levels, the price of a security is estimated to increase by 4%. An increase in rates by the same magnitude is estimated to reduce the price of the security by 4%. By knowing the yield and the effective duration of a debt security, one can estimate total return based on an expectation of how much interest rates, in general, will change. While serving as a good estimator of prospective returns, effective duration is an imperfect measure.

 

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Factors Affecting the Value of Debt Securities – The total return of a debt instrument is composed of two elements: the percentage change in the security’s price and interest income earned. The yield to maturity of a debt security estimates its total return only if the price of the debt security remains unchanged during the holding period and the coupon interest is reinvested at the same yield to maturity. The total return of a debt instrument, therefore, will be determined not only by how much interest is earned, but also by how much the price of the security and interest rates change.

 

Interest Rates

 

The price of a debt security generally moves in the opposite direction from interest rates (i.e., if interest rates go up, the value of the bond will go down, and vice versa).

 

Prepayment Risk

 

This risk affects mainly mortgage-backed securities. Unlike other debt securities, falling interest rates can adversely affect the value of mortgage-backed securities, which may cause your share price to fall. Lower rates motivate borrowers to pay off the instruments underlying mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities earlier than expected, resulting in prepayments on the securities. The Fund may then have to reinvest the proceeds from such prepayments at lower interest rates, which can reduce its yield. The unexpected timing of mortgage and asset-backed prepayments caused by the variations in interest rates may also shorten or lengthen the average maturity of the Fund. If left unattended, drifts in the average maturity of the Fund can have the unintended effect of increasing or reducing the effective duration of the Fund, which may adversely affect the expected performance of the Fund.

 

Extension Risk

 

The other side of prepayment risk occurs when interest rates are rising. Rising interest rates can cause the Fund’s average maturity to lengthen unexpectedly due to a drop in mortgage prepayments. This would increase the sensitivity of the Fund to rising rates and its potential for price declines. Extending the average life of a mortgage-backed security increases the risk of depreciation due to future increases in market interest rates. For these reasons, mortgage-backed securities may be less effective than other types of U.S. government securities as a means of “locking in” interest rates.

 

Credit Rating

 

Coupon interest is offered to investors of debt securities as compensation for assuming risk, although short-term treasury securities, such as three-month treasury bills, are considered “risk free.” Corporate securities offer higher yields than treasury securities because their payment of interest and complete repayment of principal is less certain. The credit rating or financial condition of an issuer may affect the value of a debt security. Generally, the lower the quality rating of a security, the greater the risks that the issuer will fail to pay interest and return principal. To compensate investors for taking on increased risk, issuers with lower credit ratings usually offer their investors a higher “risk premium” in the form of higher interest rates than those available from comparable treasury securities.

 

Changes in investor confidence regarding the certainty of interest and principal payments of a corporate debt security will result in an adjustment to this “risk premium.” Since an issuer’s outstanding debt carries a fixed coupon, adjustments to the risk premium must occur in the price, which affects the yield to maturity of the bond. If an issuer defaults or becomes unable to honor its financial obligations, the bond may lose some or all of its value.

 

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A security rated within the four highest rating categories by a rating agency is called “investment-grade” because its issuer is more likely to pay interest and repay principal than an issuer of a lower rated bond. Adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances, however, may weaken the capacity of the issuer to pay interest and repay principal. If a security is not rated or is rated under a different system, the Adviser may determine that it is of investment-grade. The Adviser may retain securities that are downgraded, if it believes that keeping those securities is warranted.

 

Debt securities rated below investment-grade “junk bonds” are highly speculative securities that are usually issued by smaller, less credit worthy and/or highly leveraged (indebted) companies. A corporation may issue a Junk Bond because of a corporate restructuring or other similar event. Compared with investment-grade bonds, Junk Bonds carry a greater degree of risk and are less likely to make payments of interest and principal. Market developments and the financial and business condition of the corporation issuing these securities influence their price and liquidity more than changes in interest rates, when compared to investment-grade debt securities. Insufficient liquidity in the Junk Bond market may make it more difficult to dispose of Junk Bonds and may cause the Fund to experience sudden and substantial price declines. A lack of reliable, objective data or market quotations may make it more difficult to value Junk Bonds accurately.

 

Rating agencies are organizations that assign ratings to securities based primarily on the rating agency’s assessment of the issuer’s financial strength. The Fund currently uses ratings compiled by Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch Ratings Inc. (“Fitch”). Credit ratings are only an agency’s opinion, not an absolute standard of quality, and they do not reflect an evaluation of market risk. The section “Appendix A – Description of Ratings” contains further information concerning the ratings of certain rating agencies and their significance.

 

The Adviser may use ratings produced by ratings agencies as guidelines to determine the rating of a security at the time the Fund buys it. A rating agency may change its credit ratings at any time. The Adviser monitors the rating of the security and will take such action, if any, it believes appropriate when it learns that a rating agency has reduced the security’s rating. The Fund is not obligated to dispose of securities whose issuers subsequently are in default or which are downgraded. The Fund may invest in securities of any rating.

 

Derivatives

Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is based on an underlying asset (such as a stock or a bond), an underlying economic factor (such as an interest rate) or a market benchmark. Unless otherwise stated in the Prospectus, the Fund may use derivatives for a number of purposes including managing risk, gaining exposure to various markets in a cost-efficient manner, reducing transaction costs, remaining fully invested and speculating. The Fund may also invest in derivatives with the goal of protecting itself from broad fluctuations in market prices, interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates (a practice known as “hedging”). When hedging is successful, the Fund will have offset any depreciation in the value of its portfolio securities by the appreciation in the value of the derivative position. Although techniques other than the sale and purchase of derivatives could be used to control the exposure of the Fund to market fluctuations, the use of derivatives may be a more effective means of hedging this exposure. In the future, to the extent such use is consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and is legally permissible, the Fund may use instruments and techniques that are not presently contemplated, but that may be subsequently developed.

 

There can be no assurance that a derivative strategy, if employed, will be successful. Because many derivatives have a leverage or borrowing component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself.

 

Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Derivatives Rule”) provides a comprehensive framework for the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. The Derivatives Rule permits a registered investment company, subject to various conditions described below, to enter into derivatives transactions and certain other transactions notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior securities” under Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other things, prohibits open-end funds, including the Fund, from issuing or selling any “senior security,” other than borrowing from a bank (subject to a requirement to maintain 300% “asset coverage”).

 

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Registered investment companies that don’t qualify as “limited derivatives users” as defined below, are required by the Derivatives Rule to, among other things, (i) adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program (“DRMP”) and new testing requirements; (ii) comply with a relative or absolute limit on fund leverage risk calculated based on value-at-risk (“VaR”); and (iii) comply with new requirements related to Board and SEC reporting. The DRMP is administered by a “derivatives risk manager,” who is appointed by the Board and periodically reviews the DRMP and reports to the Board.

 

The Derivatives Rule provides an exception from the DRMP, VaR limit and certain other requirements for a registered investment company that limits its “derivatives exposure” to no more than 10% of its net assets (as calculated in accordance with the Derivatives Rule) (a “limited derivatives user”), provided that the registered investment company establishes appropriate policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage derivatives risks, including the risk of exceeding the 10% “derivatives exposure” threshold.

 

The requirements of the Derivatives Rule may limit the Fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may also increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments and/or the performance of the Fund. The rule also may not be effective to limit the Fund’s risk of loss. In particular, measurements of VaR rely on historical data and may not accurately measure the degree of risk reflected in the Fund’s derivatives or other investments. There may be additional regulation of the use of derivatives transactions by registered investment companies, which could significantly affect their use. The ultimate impact of the regulations remains unclear. Additional regulation of derivatives transactions may make them more costly, limit their availability or utility, otherwise adversely affect their performance or disrupt markets.

 

CFTC Regulations. Pursuant to rules adopted under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), the Fund must either operate within certain guidelines and restrictions with respect to the Fund’s use of futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps, or the Adviser will be subject to registration with the CFTC as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”).

 

Consistent with the CFTC’s regulations, the Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, has filed a notice of exclusion from the definition of the term CPO under the CEA pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 with respect to the Fund's operation. Therefore, the Fund is not subject to regulation as a commodity pool under the CEA and the Adviser is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA with respect to the Fund. As a result, the Fund will be limited in its ability to use futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps. Complying with the limitations may restrict the Adviser’s ability to implement the Fund’s investment strategies and may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

 

Types of Derivatives:

 

Futures – A futures contract is an agreement between two parties whereby one party agrees to sell and the other party agrees to buy a specified amount of a financial instrument at an agreed upon price and time. The financial instrument underlying the contract may be a stock, stock index, bond, bond index, interest rate, foreign exchange rate or other similar instrument. Agreeing to buy the underlying financial instrument is called buying a futures contract or taking a long position in the contract. Likewise, agreeing to sell the underlying financial instrument is called selling a futures contract or taking a short position in the contract.

 

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Futures contracts are traded in the United States on commodity exchanges or boards of trade (known as “contract markets”) approved for such trading and regulated by the CFTC. These contract markets standardize the terms, including the maturity date and underlying financial instrument, of all futures contracts.

 

Unlike other securities, the parties to a futures contract do not have to pay for or deliver the underlying financial instrument until some future date (the “delivery date”). Contract markets require both the purchaser and seller to deposit “initial margin” with a futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant or custodian bank, when they enter into the contract. Initial margin deposits are typically equal to a percentage of the contract’s value. Initial margin is similar to a performance bond or good faith deposit on a contract and is returned to the depositing party upon termination of the futures contract if all contractual obligations have been satisfied. After they open a futures contract, the parties to the transaction must compare the purchase price of the contract to its daily market value. If the value of the futures contract changes in such a way that a party’s position declines, that party must make additional “variation margin” payments so that the margin payment is adequate. On the other hand, the value of the contract may change in such a way that there is excess margin on deposit, possibly entitling the party that has a gain to receive all or a portion of this amount. This process is known as “marking to the market.” Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by a party but is instead a settlement between the party and the futures broker of the amount one party would owe the other if the futures contract terminated. In computing daily net asset value (“NAV”), each party marks to market its open futures positions.

 

Although the terms of a futures contract call for the actual delivery of and payment for the underlying security, in many cases the parties may close the contract early by taking an opposite position in an identical contract. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is less than the original purchase price, the party closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is more than the original purchase price, the party closing out the contract will realize a gain. Conversely, if the purchase price upon closing out the contract is more than the original sale price, the party closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the purchase price upon closing out the contract is less than the original sale price, the party closing out the contract will realize a gain.

 

The Fund may incur commission expenses when it opens or closes a futures position.

 

Options – An option is a contract between two parties for the purchase and sale of a financial instrument for a specified price (known as the “strike price” or “exercise price”) at any time during the option period. Unlike a futures contract, an option grants a right (not an obligation) to buy or sell a financial instrument. Generally, a seller of an option can grant a buyer two kinds of rights: a “call” (the right to buy the security) or a “put” (the right to sell the security). Options have various types of underlying instruments, including specific securities, indices of securities prices, foreign currencies, interest rates and futures contracts. Options may be traded on an exchange (exchange-traded options) or may be customized agreements between the parties (over-the-counter or “OTC” options). Like futures, a financial intermediary, known as a clearing corporation, financially backs exchange-traded options. However, OTC options have no such intermediary and are subject to the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligations under the contract. The principal factors affecting the market value of an option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market value of the underlying instrument relative to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until the option expires.

 

Purchasing Put and Call Options

 

When the Fund purchases a put option, it buys the right to sell the instrument underlying the option at a fixed strike price. In return for this right, the Fund pays the current market price for the option (known as the “option premium”). The Fund may purchase put options to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of its securities (“protective puts”) or to benefit from a decline in the price of securities that it does not own. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs. However, if the price of the underlying instrument does not fall enough to offset the cost of purchasing the option, a put buyer would lose the premium and related transaction costs.

 

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Call options are similar to put options, except that the Fund obtains the right to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the option’s strike price. The Fund would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase in the market value of securities it owns or wants to buy. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying instrument exceeded the exercise price plus the premium paid and related transaction costs. Otherwise, the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.

 

The purchaser of an option may terminate its position by:

 

Allowing it to expire and losing its entire premium;

 

Exercising the option and either selling (in the case of a put option) or buying (in the case of a call option) the underlying instrument at the strike price; or

 

Closing it out in the secondary market at its current price.

 

Selling (Writing) Put and Call Options

 

When the Fund writes a call option it assumes an obligation to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a fixed strike price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. Similarly, when the Fund writes a put option it assumes an obligation to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a fixed strike price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. The Fund may terminate its position in an exchange-traded put option before exercise by buying an option identical to the one it has written. Similarly, the Fund may cancel an OTC option by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparty to the option.

 

The Fund could try to hedge against an increase in the value of securities it would like to acquire by writing a put option on those securities. If security prices rise, the Fund would expect the put option to expire and the premium it received to offset the increase in the security’s value. If security prices remain the same over time, the Fund would hope to profit by closing out the put option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the Fund may lose an amount of money equal to the difference between the value of the security and the premium it received. Writing covered put options may deprive the Fund of the opportunity to profit from a decrease in the market price of the securities it would like to acquire.

 

The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, except that call writers expect to profit if prices remain the same or fall. The Fund could try to hedge against a decline in the value of securities it already owns by writing a call option. If the price of that security falls as expected, the Fund would expect the option to expire and the premium it received to offset the decline of the security’s value. However, the Fund must be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, which may deprive it of the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the securities it holds.

 

The Fund is permitted to write only “covered” options. At the time of selling a call option, the Fund may cover the option by owning, among other things:

 

The underlying security (or securities convertible into the underlying security without additional consideration), index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract;

 

A call option on the same security or index with the same or lesser exercise price;

 

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Cash or liquid securities equal to at least the market value of the optioned securities, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract; or

 

In the case of an index, the portfolio of securities that corresponds to the index.

 

At the time of selling a put option, the Fund may cover the option by, among other things:

 

Entering into a short position in the underlying security;

 

Purchasing a put option on the same security, index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract with the same or greater exercise price; or

 

Maintaining the entire exercise price in liquid securities.

 

Options on Securities Indices

 

Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

Options on Credit Default Swaps

 

An option on a credit default swap (“CDS”) gives the holder the right to enter into a CDS at a specified future date and under specified terms in exchange for a purchase price or premium. The writer of the option bears the risk of any unfavorable move in the value of the CDS relative to the market value on the exercise date, while the purchaser may allow the option to expire unexercised.

 

Options on Futures

 

An option on a futures contract provides the holder with the right to buy a futures contract (in the case of a call option) or sell a futures contract (in the case of a put option) at a fixed time and price. Upon exercise of the option by the holder, the contract market clearing house establishes a corresponding short position for the writer of the option (in the case of a call option) or a corresponding long position (in the case of a put option). If the option is exercised, the parties will be subject to the futures contracts. In addition, the writer of an option on a futures contract is subject to initial and variation margin requirements on the option position. Options on futures contracts are traded on the same contract market as the underlying futures contract.

 

The buyer or seller of an option on a futures contract may terminate the option early by purchasing or selling an option of the same series (i.e., the same exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously purchased or sold. The difference between the premiums paid and received represents the trader’s profit or loss on the transaction.

 

The Fund may purchase put and call options on futures contracts instead of selling or buying futures contracts. The Fund may buy a put option on a futures contract for the same reasons it would sell a futures contract. It also may purchase such a put option in order to hedge a long position in the underlying futures contract. The Fund may buy a call option on a futures contract for the same purpose as the actual purchase of a futures contract, such as in anticipation of favorable market conditions.

 

The Fund may write a call option on a futures contract to hedge against a decline in the prices of the instrument underlying the futures contracts. If the price of the futures contract at expiration were below the exercise price, the Fund would retain the option premium, which would offset, in part, any decline in the value of its portfolio securities.

 

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The writing of a put option on a futures contract is similar to the purchase of the futures contracts, except that, if the market price declines, the Fund would pay more than the market price for the underlying instrument. The premium received on the sale of the put option, less any transaction costs, would reduce the net cost to the Fund.

 

Options on Foreign Currencies

 

A put option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell a foreign currency at the exercise price until the option expires. A call option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to purchase the currency at the exercise price until the option expires. The Fund may purchase or write put and call options on foreign currencies for the purpose of hedging against changes in future currency exchange rates.

 

The Fund may use foreign currency options given the same circumstances under which it could use forward foreign currency exchange contracts. For example, a decline in the U.S. dollar value of a foreign currency in which the Fund’s securities are denominated would reduce the U.S. dollar value of the securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remained constant. In order to hedge against such a risk, the Fund may purchase a put option on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency then declined, the Fund could sell the currency for a fixed amount in U.S. dollars and thereby offset, at least partially, the negative effect on its securities that otherwise would have resulted. Conversely, if the Fund anticipates a rise in the U.S. dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated, the Fund may purchase call options on the currency in order to offset, at least partially, the effects of negative movements in exchange rates. If currency exchange rates do not move in the direction or to the extent anticipated, the Fund could sustain losses on transactions in foreign currency options.

 

Combined Positions

 

The Fund may purchase and write options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward contracts or swap agreements, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall position. For example, the Fund could construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract by purchasing a put option and writing a call option on the same underlying instrument. Alternatively, the Fund could write a call option at one strike price and buy a call option at a lower price to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts – A forward foreign currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific amount of currency at a future date or date range at a specific price. In the case of a cancelable forward contract, the holder has the unilateral right to cancel the contract at maturity by paying a specified fee. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts differ from foreign currency futures contracts in certain respects. Unlike futures contracts, forward contracts:

 

Do not have standard maturity dates or amounts (i.e., the parties to the contract may fix the maturity date and the amount);

 

Are typically traded directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers in the inter-bank markets, as opposed to on exchanges regulated by the CFTC (note, however, that under definitions adopted by the CFTC and SEC, many non-deliverable foreign currency forwards will be considered swaps for certain purposes, including determination of whether such instruments must be traded on exchanges and centrally cleared);

 

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Do not require an initial margin deposit; and

 

May be closed by entering into a closing transaction with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract, as opposed to with a commodities exchange.

 

Foreign Currency Hedging Strategies

 

A “settlement hedge” or “transaction hedge” is designed to protect the Fund against an adverse change in foreign currency values between the date a security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received. Entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in an underlying security transaction for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars “locks in” the U.S. dollar price of the security. The Fund may also use forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency when it anticipates purchasing or selling securities denominated in foreign currency, even if it has not yet selected the specific investments.

 

The Fund may use forward contracts to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. Such a hedge, sometimes referred to as a “position hedge,” would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations, but would not offset changes in security values caused by other factors. The Fund could also hedge the position by selling another currency expected to perform similarly to the currency in which the Fund’s investment is denominated. This type of hedge, sometimes referred to as a “proxy hedge,” could offer advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but generally would not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a direct hedge into U.S. dollars. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.

 

Transaction and position hedging do not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities that the Fund owns or intends to purchase or sell. They simply establish a rate of exchange that one can achieve at some future point in time. Additionally, these techniques tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency and to limit any potential gain that might result from the increase in value of such currency.

 

The Fund may enter into forward contracts to shift its investment exposure from one currency into another. Such transactions may call for the delivery of one foreign currency in exchange for another foreign currency, including currencies in which its securities are not then denominated. This may include shifting exposure from U.S. dollars to a foreign currency, or from one foreign currency to another foreign currency. This type of strategy, sometimes known as a “cross-hedge,” will tend to reduce or eliminate exposure to the currency that is sold, and increase exposure to the currency that is purchased. Cross-hedges may protect against losses resulting from a decline in the hedged currency but will cause the Fund to assume the risk of fluctuations in the value of the currency it purchases. Cross-hedging transactions also involve the risk of imperfect correlation between changes in the values of the currencies involved.

 

It is difficult to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration or maturity of a forward or futures contract. Accordingly, the Fund may have to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot (cash) market if the market value of a security it is hedging is less than the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver. Conversely, the Fund may have to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency it received upon the sale of a security if the market value of such security exceeds the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver.

 

Equity-Linked Securities – The Fund may invest in privately issued securities whose investment results are designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified stock index or “basket” of securities, or sometimes a single stock (referred to as “equity-linked securities”). These securities are used for many of the same purposes as derivative instruments and share many of the same risks. Equity-linked securities may be considered illiquid and thus subject to the Fund’s restrictions on investments in illiquid investments.

 

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Swap Agreements – A swap agreement is a financial instrument that typically involves the exchange of cash flows between two parties on specified dates (settlement dates), where the cash flows are based on agreed-upon prices, rates, indices, etc. The nominal amount on which the cash flows are calculated is called the notional amount. Swap agreements are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, such as interest rates, foreign currency rates, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, security prices or inflation rates.

 

Swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of the Fund and its share price. The performance of swap agreements may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterparty’s creditworthiness declined, the value of a swap agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses.

 

Generally, swap agreements have a fixed maturity date that will be agreed upon by the parties. The agreement can be terminated before the maturity date under certain circumstances, such as default by one of the parties or insolvency, among others, and can be transferred by a party only with the prior written consent of the other party. The Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or by other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. If the counterparty is unable to meet its obligations under the contract, declares bankruptcy, defaults or becomes insolvent, the Fund may not be able to recover the money it expected to receive under the swap agreement. The Fund will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Adviser believes that the counterparty to the transaction is creditworthy.

 

A swap agreement can be a form of leverage, which can magnify the Fund’s gains or losses.

 

Equity Swaps

 

In a typical equity swap, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, stock index or basket of stocks in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Equity index swaps involve not only the risk associated with investment in the securities represented in the index, but also the risk that the performance of such securities, including dividends, will not exceed the return on the interest rate that the Fund will be committed to pay.

 

Total Return Swaps

 

Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from a reference instrument—which may be a single asset, a pool of assets or an index of assets—during a specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from another underlying reference instrument. The total return includes appreciation or depreciation on the underlying asset, plus any interest or dividend payments. Payments under the swap are based upon an agreed upon principal amount but, since the principal amount is not exchanged, it represents neither an asset nor a liability to either counterparty, and is referred to as notional. Total return swaps are marked to market daily using different sources, including quotations from counterparties, pricing services, brokers or market makers. The unrealized appreciation or depreciation related to the change in the valuation of the notional amount of the swap is combined with the amount due to the Fund at termination or settlement. The primary risks associated with total return swaps are credit risks (if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations) and market risk (if there is no liquid market for the swap or unfavorable changes occur to the underlying reference instrument).

 

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Interest Rate Swaps

 

Interest rate swaps are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. Some of the different types of interest rate swaps are “fixed-for-floating rate swaps,” “termed basis swaps” and “index amortizing swaps.” Fixed-for floating rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed interest rate cash flows for floating rate cash flows. Termed basis swaps entail cash flows to both parties based on floating interest rates, where the interest rate indices are different. Index amortizing swaps are typically fixed-for-floating rate swaps where the notional amount changes if certain conditions are met.

 

As with a traditional investment in a debt security, the Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely. For example, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest, the Fund may have to pay more money than it receives. Similarly, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a fixed rate of interest for a floating rate of interest, the Fund may receive less money than it has agreed to pay.

 

Currency Swaps

 

A currency swap is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make interest rate payments in one currency and the other promises to make interest rate payments in another currency. The Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has one currency and desires a different currency. Typically, the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the agreement and returned at the end of the agreement. Changes in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above, may negatively affect currency swaps.

 

Inflation Swaps

 

Inflation swaps are fixed-maturity, over-the-counter derivatives where one party pays a fixed rate in exchange for payments tied to an inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index. The fixed rate, which is set by the parties at the initiation of the swap, is often referred to as the “breakeven inflation” rate and generally represents the current difference between treasury yields and Treasury Inflation Protected Securities yields of similar maturities at the initiation of the swap agreement. Inflation swaps are typically designated as “zero coupon,” where all cash flows are exchanged at maturity. The value of an inflation swap is expected to fluctuate in response to changes in the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. An inflation swap can lose value if the realized rate of inflation over the life of the swap is less than the fixed market implied inflation rate (the “breakeven inflation rate”) the investor agreed to pay at the initiation of the swap.

 

Credit Default Swaps

 

A credit default swap is an agreement between a “buyer” and a “seller” for credit protection. The credit default swap agreement may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not then held by the Fund. The protection buyer is generally obligated to pay the protection seller an upfront payment and/or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the agreement until a credit event on a reference obligation has occurred. If no default occurs, the seller would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the full notional amount (the “par value”) of the swap.

 

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Caps, Collars and Floors

 

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

 

Risks of Derivatives:

 

While transactions in derivatives may reduce certain risks, these transactions themselves entail certain other risks. For example, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance of the Fund than if it had not entered into any derivatives transactions. Derivatives may magnify the Fund’s gains or losses, causing it to make or lose substantially more than it invested.

 

When used for hedging purposes, increases in the value of the securities the Fund holds or intends to acquire should offset any losses incurred with a derivative. Purchasing derivatives for purposes other than hedging could expose the Fund to greater risks.

 

Use of derivatives involves transaction costs, which may be significant, and may also increase the amount of taxable income to shareholders.

 

Correlation of Prices – The Fund’s ability to hedge its securities through derivatives depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index or instrument correlate with price movements in the relevant securities. In the case of poor correlation, the price of the securities the Fund is hedging may not move in the same amount, or even in the same direction as the hedging instrument. The Adviser will try to minimize this risk by investing in only those contracts whose behavior it expects to correlate with the behavior of the portfolio securities it is trying to hedge. However, if the Adviser’s prediction of interest and currency rates, market value, volatility or other economic factors is incorrect, the Fund may lose money, or may not make as much money as it expected.

 

Derivative prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the characteristics of the underlying instruments are very similar to the derivative. Listed below are some of the factors that may cause such a divergence:

 

Current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract;

 

A difference between the derivatives and securities markets, including different levels of demand, how the instruments are traded, the imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or discontinued trading of an instrument; and

 

Differences between the derivatives, such as different margin requirements, different liquidity of such markets and the participation of speculators in such markets.

 

Derivatives based upon a narrower index of securities, such as those of a particular industry group, may present greater risk than derivatives based on a broad market index. Since narrower indices are made up of a smaller number of securities, they are more susceptible to rapid and extreme price fluctuations because of changes in the value of those securities.

 

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While currency futures and options values are expected to correlate with exchange rates, they may not reflect other factors that affect the value of the investments of the Fund. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a yen-denominated security from a decline in the yen, but will not protect the Fund against a price decline resulting from deterioration in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Because the value of the Fund’s foreign-denominated investments changes in response to many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to match the amount of currency options and futures to the value of the Fund’s investments precisely over time.

 

Lack of Liquidity – Before a futures contract or option is exercised or expires, the Fund can terminate it only by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. Moreover, the Fund may close out a futures contract only on the exchange the contract was initially traded. Although the Fund intends to purchase options and futures only where there appears to be an active market, there is no guarantee that such a liquid market will exist. If there is no secondary market for the contract, or the market is illiquid, the Fund may not be able to close out its position. In an illiquid market, the Fund may:

 

Have to sell securities to meet its daily margin requirements at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so;

 

Have to purchase or sell the instrument underlying the contract;

 

Not be able to hedge its investments; and/or

 

Not be able to realize profits or limit its losses.

 

Derivatives may become illiquid (i.e., difficult to sell at a desired time and price) under a variety of market conditions. For example:

 

An exchange may suspend or limit trading in a particular derivative instrument, an entire category of derivatives or all derivatives, which sometimes occurs because of increased market volatility;

 

Unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations of an exchange;

 

The facilities of the exchange may not be adequate to handle current trading volume;

 

Equipment failures, government intervention, insolvency of a brokerage firm or clearing house or other occurrences may disrupt normal trading activity; or

 

Investors may lose interest in a particular derivative or category of derivatives.

 

Management Risk – Successful use of derivatives by the Fund is subject to the ability of the Adviser to forecast stock market and interest rate trends. If the Adviser incorrectly predicts stock market and interest rate trends, the Fund may lose money by investing in derivatives. For example, if the Fund were to write a call option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would fall, but the price were to rise instead, the Fund could be required to sell the security upon exercise at a price below the current market price. Similarly, if the Fund were to write a put option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would rise, but the price were to fall instead, the Fund could be required to purchase the security upon exercise at a price higher than the current market price.

 

Pricing Risk – At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the Fund has valued its securities too high, shareholders may end up paying too much for Fund shares when they buy into the Fund. If the Fund underestimates its price, shareholders may not receive the full market value for their Fund shares when they sell.

 

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Margin – Because of the low margin deposits required upon the opening of a derivative position, such transactions involve an extremely high degree of leverage. Consequently, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to the Fund and it may lose more than it originally invested in the derivative.

 

If the price of a futures contract changes adversely, the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so to meet its minimum daily margin requirement. The Fund may lose its margin deposits if a broker-dealer with whom it has an open futures contract or related option becomes insolvent or declares bankruptcy.

 

Volatility and Leverage – The Fund’s use of derivatives may have a leveraging effect. Leverage generally magnifies the effect of any increase or decrease in value of an underlying asset and results in increased volatility, which means the Fund will have the potential for greater gains, as well as the potential for greater losses, than if the Fund does not use derivative instruments that have a leveraging effect. The prices of derivatives are volatile (i.e., they may change rapidly, substantially and unpredictably) and are influenced by a variety of factors, including:

 

Actual and anticipated changes in interest rates;

 

Fiscal and monetary policies; and

 

National and international political events.

 

Most exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a derivative can change during a single trading day. Daily trading limits establish the maximum amount that the price of a derivative may vary from the settlement price of that derivative at the end of trading on the previous day. Once the price of a derivative reaches this value, the Fund may not trade that derivative at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a given day and does not limit potential gains or losses. Derivative prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days, preventing prompt liquidation of the derivative.

 

Government Regulation – The regulation of derivatives markets in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. For example, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law in 2010, granted significant new authority to the SEC and the CFTC to impose comprehensive regulations on the over-the-counter and cleared derivatives markets. These regulations include, but are not limited to, mandatory clearing of certain derivatives and requirements relating to disclosure, margin and trade reporting. The law and regulations may negatively impact the Fund by increasing transaction and/or regulatory compliance costs, limiting the availability of certain derivatives or otherwise adversely affecting the value or performance of the derivatives the Fund trades.

 

In addition, the SEC adopted the Derivatives Rule on October 28, 2020. Since its compliance date of August 19, 2022, the Derivatives Rule has replaced prior SEC and staff guidance with an updated, comprehensive framework for registered funds’ use of derivatives. See “Derivatives – Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act” above for additional information on the requirements imposed on registered funds by the Derivatives Rule. Complying with the Derivatives Rule may increase the cost of the Fund's investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors. Other potentially adverse regulatory obligations can develop suddenly and without notice.

 

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Equity Securities

 

Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company and consist of common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock, and securities convertible into common stock. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests will cause the NAV of the Fund to fluctuate. The Fund may purchase equity securities traded in the U.S. on registered exchanges or the over-the-counter market. Equity securities are described in more detail below.

 

Types of Equity Securities:

 

Common Stocks – Common stocks represent units of ownership in a company. Common stocks usually carry voting rights and earn dividends. Unlike preferred stocks, which are described below, dividends on common stocks are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the company’s board of directors.

 

Preferred Stocks – Preferred stocks are also units of ownership in a company. Preferred stocks normally have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of the company. However, in all other respects, preferred stocks are subordinated to the liabilities of the issuer. Unlike common stocks, preferred stocks are generally not entitled to vote on corporate matters. Types of preferred stocks include adjustable-rate preferred stock, fixed dividend preferred stock, perpetual preferred stock, and sinking fund preferred stock. Generally, the market values of preferred stock with a fixed dividend rate and no conversion element varies inversely with interest rates and perceived credit risk.

 

Convertible Securities – Convertible securities are securities that may be exchanged for, converted into, or exercised to acquire a predetermined number of shares of the issuer’s common stock at the Fund’s option during a specified time period (such as convertible preferred stocks, convertible debentures and warrants). A convertible security is generally a fixed income security that is senior to common stock in an issuer’s capital structure, but is usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. In exchange for the conversion feature, many corporations will pay a lower rate of interest on convertible securities than debt securities of the same corporation. In general, the market value of a convertible security is at least the higher of its “investment value” (i.e., its value as a fixed income security) or its “conversion value” (i.e., its value upon conversion into its underlying common stock).

 

Convertible securities are subject to the same risks as similar securities without the convertible feature. The price of a convertible security is more volatile during times of steady interest rates than other types of debt securities. The price of a convertible security tends to increase as the market value of the underlying stock rises, whereas it tends to decrease as the market value of the underlying common stock declines.

 

A synthetic convertible security is a combination investment in which the Fund purchases both (i) high-grade cash equivalents or a high grade debt obligation of an issuer or U.S. government securities and (ii) call options or warrants on the common stock of the same or different issuer with some or all of the anticipated interest income from the associated debt obligation that is earned over the holding period of the option or warrant.

 

While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar non-convertible security), a convertible security also affords an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation attendant upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock. A synthetic convertible position has similar investment characteristics, but may differ with respect to credit quality, time to maturity, trading characteristics, and other factors. Because the Fund will create synthetic convertible positions only out of high grade fixed income securities, the credit rating associated with the Fund’s synthetic convertible investments is generally expected to be higher than that of the average convertible security, many of which are rated below high grade. However, because the options used to create synthetic convertible positions will generally have expirations between one month and three years of the time of purchase, the maturity of these positions will generally be shorter than average for convertible securities. Since the option component of a convertible security or synthetic convertible position is a wasting asset (in the sense of losing “time value” as maturity approaches), a synthetic convertible position may lose such value more rapidly than a convertible security of longer maturity; however, the gain in option value due to appreciation of the underlying stock may exceed such time value loss, the market price of the option component generally reflects these differences in maturities, and the Adviser takes such differences into account when evaluating such positions. When a synthetic convertible position “matures” because of the expiration of the associated option, the Fund may extend the maturity by investing in a new option with longer maturity on the common stock of the same or different issuer. If the Fund does not so extend the maturity of a position, it may continue to hold the associated fixed income security.

 

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Rights and Warrants – A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life, usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price. Warrants are freely transferable and are traded on major exchanges. Unlike rights, warrants normally have a life that is measured in years and entitles the holder to buy common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. Corporations often issue warrants to make the accompanying debt security more attractive.

 

An investment in warrants and rights may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. Investing in rights and warrants increases the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities.

 

Risks of Investing in Equity Securities:

 

General Risks of Investing in Stocks – While investing in stocks allows investors to participate in the benefits of owning a company, such investors must accept the risks of ownership. Unlike bondholders, who have preference to a company’s earnings and cash flow, preferred stockholders, followed by common stockholders in order of priority, are entitled only to the residual amount after a company meets its other obligations. For this reason, the value of a company’s stock will usually react more strongly to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects than its debt obligations. Stockholders of a company that fares poorly can lose money.

 

Stock markets tend to move in cycles with short or extended periods of rising and falling stock prices. The value of a company’s stock may fall because of:

 

Factors that directly relate to that company, such as decisions made by its management or lower demand for the company’s products or services;
Factors affecting an entire industry, such as increases in production costs; and
Changes in financial market conditions that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates or inflation rates.

 

Because preferred stock is generally junior to debt securities and other obligations of the issuer, deterioration in the credit quality of the issuer will cause greater changes in the value of a preferred stock than in a more senior debt security with similar stated yield characteristics.

 

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Small and Medium-Sized Companies – Investors in small and medium-sized companies typically take on greater risk and price volatility than they would by investing in larger, more established companies. This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of their small or medium size, more limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines and frequent lack of management depth. The securities of small and medium-sized companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and might not be traded in volumes typical of securities traded on a national securities exchange. Thus, the securities of small and medium capitalization companies are likely to be less liquid, and subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements, than securities of larger, more established companies.

 

Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”) – The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities of companies offering shares in IPOs. IPOs may have a magnified performance impact on a fund with a small asset base. The Fund may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time, which may increase the turnover of the Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses for the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling IPO shares, the Fund may realize taxable gains it will subsequently distribute to shareholders. In addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or inactive for extended periods of time. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may make it more difficult for the Fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Holders of IPO shares can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders.

 

The Fund’s investment in IPO shares may include the securities of unseasoned companies (companies with less than three years of continuous operations), which presents risks considerably greater than common stocks of more established companies. These companies may have limited operating histories and their prospects for profitability may be uncertain. These companies may be involved in new and evolving businesses and may be vulnerable to competition and changes in technology, markets and economic conditions. They may be more dependent on key managers and third parties and may have limited product lines.

 

Foreign Securities

 

Foreign securities are debt and equity securities that are traded in markets outside of the U.S. The markets in which these securities are located can be developed or emerging. The Fund can invest in foreign securities in a number of ways, including:

 

The Fund can invest directly in foreign securities denominated in a foreign currency;
The Fund can invest in American Depositary Receipts, European Depositary Receipts and other similar global instruments; and
The Fund can invest in investment funds.

 

Types of Foreign Securities:

 

American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) – ADRs as well as other “hybrid” forms of ADRs, including European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. A custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer’s home country holds the underlying shares in trust. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. ADRs are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. European Depositary Receipts are similar to ADRs, except that they are typically issued by European banks or trust companies.

 

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ADRs can be sponsored or unsponsored. While these types are similar, there are differences regarding a holder’s rights and obligations and the practices of market participants. A depository may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or acquiescence of) the underlying issuer; typically, however, the depository requests a letter of non-objection from the underlying issuer prior to establishing the facility. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of the facility. The depository usually charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the underlying securities, the conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars or other currency, the disposition of non-cash distributions, and the performance of other services. Sponsored depositary receipt facilities are created in generally the same manner as unsponsored facilities, except that sponsored depositary receipts are established jointly by a depository and the underlying issuer through a deposit agreement. The deposit agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of the underlying issuer, the depository, and the depositary receipt holders. With sponsored facilities, the underlying issuer typically bears some of the costs of the depositary receipts (such as dividend payment fees of the depository), although most sponsored depositary receipts holders may bear costs such as deposit and withdrawal fees. Depositories of most sponsored depositary receipts agree to distribute notices of shareholder meetings, voting instructions, and other shareholder communications and information to the depositary receipt holders at the underlying issuer’s request. The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Emerging Markets – An “emerging market country” is generally a country that the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation would consider to be an emerging or developing country. Typically, emerging markets are in countries that are in the process of industrialization, with lower gross national products (“GNP”) than more developed countries.

 

Sovereign Debt Obligations – Sovereign debt obligations are issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or their agencies. Sovereign debt may be in the form of conventional securities or other types of debt instruments such as loans or loan participations. Governmental entities responsible for repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal and pay interest when due, and may require renegotiation or reschedule of debt payments. In addition, prospects for repayment of principal and payment of interest may depend on political as well as economic factors. Although some sovereign debt, such as Brady Bonds, is collateralized by U.S. government securities, repayment of principal and payment of interest is not guaranteed by the U.S. government.

 

Investment Funds – Some emerging market countries currently prohibit direct foreign investment in the securities of their companies. Certain emerging market countries, however, permit indirect foreign investment in the securities of companies listed and traded on their stock exchanges through investment funds that they have specifically authorized. Investments in these investment funds are subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act. If the Fund invests in such investment funds, shareholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund (including operating expenses and the fees of the Adviser), but also will indirectly bear similar expenses of the underlying investment funds. In addition, these investment funds may trade at a premium over their NAV.

 

Risks of Foreign Securities:

 

Foreign securities, foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.

 

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Political and Economic Factors – Local political, economic, regulatory, or social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments may affect the value of foreign investments. Listed below are some of the more important political and economic factors that could negatively affect an investment in foreign securities:

 

The economies of foreign countries may differ from the economy of the United States in such areas as growth of GNP, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, budget deficits and national debt;
Foreign governments sometimes participate to a significant degree, through ownership interests or regulation, in their respective economies. Actions by these governments could significantly influence the market prices of securities and payment of dividends;
The economies of many foreign countries are dependent on international trade and their trading partners and they could be severely affected if their trading partners were to enact protective trade barriers and economic conditions;
The internal policies of a particular foreign country may be less stable than in the United States. Other countries face significant external political risks, such as possible claims of sovereignty by other countries or tense and sometimes hostile border clashes;
A foreign government may act adversely to the interests of U.S. investors, including expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation and other restrictions on U.S. investment. A country may restrict or control foreign investments in its securities markets. These restrictions could limit the Fund’s ability to invest in a particular country or make it very expensive for the Fund to invest in that country. Some countries require prior governmental approval or limit the types or amount of securities or companies in which a foreigner can invest. Other countries may restrict the ability of foreign investors to repatriate their investment income and capital gains; and
Periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in the Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. Government designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses.

 

Given the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, region or market may adversely affect financial conditions or issuers in other countries, regions or markets. For example, on January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) formally withdrew from the EU (commonly referred to as “Brexit”). Following a transition period, the UK and the EU signed a post-Brexit trade agreement governing their future economic relationship on December 30, 2020. This agreement became effective on a provisional basis on January 1, 2021 and formally entered into force on May 1, 2021. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets. The effects of Brexit on the UK and EU economies and the broader global economy could be significant, resulting in negative impacts, such as business and trade disruptions, increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth of markets in the UK, EU and globally, which could negatively impact the value of the Fund's investments. Brexit could also lead to legal uncertainty and politically divergent national laws and regulations while the new relationship between the UK and EU is further defined and the UK determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Additionally, depreciation of the British pound sterling and/or the euro in relation to the U.S. dollar following Brexit could adversely affect Fund investments denominated in the British pound sterling and/or the euro, regardless of the performance of the investment.

 

In addition, on February 24, 2022, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia, Ukraine, Europe, NATO, and the West. Following Russia’s actions, various countries, including the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, as well as the European Union, issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia. The sanctions consist of the prohibition of trading in certain Russian securities and engaging in certain private transactions, the prohibition of doing business with certain Russian corporate entities, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs, and the freezing of Russian assets. The extent and duration of the war in Ukraine and the longevity and severity of sanctions remain unknown, but they could have a significant adverse impact on the European economy as well as the price and availability of certain commodities, including oil and natural gas, throughout the world. These sanctions, and the resulting disruption of the Russian economy, may cause volatility in other regional and global markets and may negatively impact the performance of various sectors and industries, as well as companies in other countries, which could have a negative effect on the performance of the Fund, even if the Fund does not have direct exposure to securities of Russian issuers.

 

S-25

 

Whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments due to the interconnected nature of the global economy and capital markets.

 

Information and Supervision – There is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than companies based in the United States. For example, there are often no reports and ratings published about foreign companies comparable to the ones written about U.S. companies. Foreign companies are typically not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. The lack of comparable information makes investment decisions concerning foreign companies more difficult and less reliable than those concerning domestic companies.

 

Stock Exchange and Market Risk – The Adviser anticipates that in most cases an exchange or over-the-counter market located outside of the United States will be the best available market for foreign securities. Foreign stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as the markets in the United States. Foreign stock markets tend to differ from those in the United States in a number of ways.

 

Foreign stock markets:

 

Are generally more volatile than, and not as developed or efficient as, those in the United States;
Have substantially less volume;
Trade securities that tend to be less liquid and experience rapid and erratic price movements;
Have generally higher commissions and are subject to set minimum rates, as opposed to negotiated rates;
Employ trading, settlement and custodial practices less developed than those in U.S. markets; and
May have different settlement practices, which may cause delays and increase the potential for failed settlements.

 

Foreign markets may offer less protection to shareholders than U.S. markets because:

 

Foreign accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements may render a foreign corporate balance sheet more difficult to understand and interpret than one subject to U.S. law and standards.
Adequate public information on foreign issuers may not be available, and it may be difficult to secure dividends and information regarding corporate actions on a timely basis.
In general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the United States
Over-the-counter markets tend to be less regulated than stock exchange markets and, in certain countries, may be totally unregulated.
Economic or political concerns may influence regulatory enforcement and may make it difficult for shareholders to enforce their legal rights.
Restrictions on transferring securities within the United States or to U.S. persons may make a particular security less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions.

 

S-26

 

Foreign Currency Risk – While the Fund denominates its NAV in U.S. dollars, the securities of foreign companies are frequently denominated in foreign currencies. Thus, a change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in value of securities denominated in that currency. Some of the factors that may impair the investments denominated in a foreign currency are:

 

It may be expensive to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa;
Complex political and economic factors may significantly affect the values of various currencies, including the U.S. dollar, and their exchange rates;
Government intervention may increase risks involved in purchasing or selling foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts, since exchange rates may not be free to fluctuate in response to other market forces;
There may be no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies or regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis;
Available quotation information is generally representative of very large round-lot transactions in the inter-bank market and thus may not reflect exchange rates for smaller odd-lot transactions (less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable; and
The inter-bank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that a market is closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, certain markets may not always reflect significant price and rate movements.

 

Taxes – Certain foreign governments levy withholding taxes on dividend and interest income. Although in some countries it is possible for the Fund to recover a portion of these taxes, the portion that cannot be recovered will reduce the income the Fund receives from its investments.

 

Emerging Markets – When the Fund invests in securities in emerging markets, it will be subject to risks not typically associated with domestic securities. Foreign investments, especially investments in emerging markets, can be riskier and more volatile than investments in the United States. Adverse political and economic developments or changes in the value of foreign currency can make it more difficult for the Fund to sell its securities and could reduce the value of your shares. Differences in tax and accounting standards and difficulties in obtaining information about foreign companies can negatively affect investment decisions. Unlike more established markets, emerging markets may have governments that are less stable, markets that are less liquid and economies that are less developed.

 

Investing in emerging markets may magnify the risks of foreign investing. Security prices in emerging markets can be significantly more volatile than those in more developed markets, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, countries with emerging markets may:

 

Have relatively unstable governments;
Present greater risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets;
Offer less protection of property rights than more developed countries; and
Have economies that are based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates.

 

Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times.

 

S-27

 

Investment in the People’s Republic of China (“China”)

 

Investments in China. China is an emerging market, and as a result, investments in securities of companies organized and listed in China may be subject to liquidity constraints and significantly higher volatility, from time to time, than investments in securities of more developed markets. China may be subject to considerable government intervention and varying degrees of economic, political and social instability. These factors may result in, among other things, a greater risk of stock market, interest rate, and currency fluctuations, as well as inflation. Accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards in China are different from U.S. standards and, therefore, disclosure of certain material information may not be made, may be less available, or may be less reliable. It may also be difficult or impossible for the Fund to obtain or enforce a judgment in a Chinese court. In addition, periodically there may be restrictions on investments in Chinese companies. For example, on November 12, 2020, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order prohibiting U.S. persons from purchasing or investing in publicly-traded securities of companies identified by the U.S. Government as “Communist Chinese military companies” or in instruments that are derivative of, or are designed to provide investment exposure to, those companies. In addition, periodically there may be restrictions on investments in Chinese companies. For example, on November 12, 2020, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order (the “November 2020 Executive Order”) prohibiting U.S. persons from purchasing or investing in publicly-traded securities of companies identified by the U.S. Government as “Communist Chinese military companies” or in instruments that are derivative of, or are designed to provide investment exposure to, those companies. In addition, on August 9, 2023, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order (the “August 2023 Executive Order” and, together with the November 2020 Executive Order, the “Executive Orders”) directing the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) to promulgate regulations requiring notification of, or restricting, investments in China in certain categories of national security technologies, including semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information, and certain artificial intelligence technologies. Concurrent with the August 2023 Executive Order, the Treasury issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which contemplates the possibility that the regulations adopted would not apply to investments made by collectively offered funds such as the Fund. These regulations have not yet been proposed or adopted by the Treasury and their scope and impact therefore are unclear, but if they were adopted in a way that applies to a Fund, the regulations could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to make certain outbound investments.

 

The universe of securities affected by the Executive Orders can change from time to time. As a result of an increase in the number of investors looking to sell such securities, or because of an inability to participate in an investment that the Adviser otherwise believes is attractive, the Fund may incur losses. Certain securities that are or become designated as prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, potentially causing losses to the Fund. In addition, the market for securities of other Chinese-based issuers may also be negatively impacted, resulting in reduced liquidity and price declines.

 

The economy of China is in a state of transition from a planned economy to a more market oriented economy and investments may be sensitive to changes in law and regulation together with political, social or economic policy which includes possible government intervention.

 

The Fund may incur losses due to limited investment capabilities, or may not be able to fully implement or pursue its investment objective or strategy, due to local investment restrictions, illiquidity of the Chinese domestic securities market, and/or delay or disruption in execution and settlement of trades.

 

Investments in China A Shares. The Fund may invest in A Shares of companies based in China through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program or Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect program (collectively, “Stock Connect”) subject to any applicable regulatory limits. Stock Connect is a securities trading and clearing linked program developed by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (“HKEx”), the Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited (“HKSCC”), Shanghai Stock Exchange (“SSE”), Shenzhen Stock Exchange (“SZSE”) and China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited (“ChinaClear”) with the aim of achieving mutual stock market access between China and Hong Kong. This program allows foreign investors to trade certain SSE-listed or SZSE-listed China A Shares through their Hong Kong based brokers. All Hong Kong and overseas investors in Stock Connect will trade and settle SSE or SZSE securities in the offshore Renminbi (“CNH”) only. The Fund will be exposed to any fluctuation in the exchange rate between the U.S. Dollar and CNH in respect of such investments.

 

S-28

 

By seeking to invest in the domestic securities markets of China via Stock Connect the Fund is subject to the following additional risks:

 

General Risks. The relevant regulations are relatively untested and subject to change. There is no certainty as to how they will be applied, which could adversely affect the Fund. The program requires use of new information technology systems which may be subject to operational risk due to the program’s cross-border nature. If the relevant systems fail to function properly, trading in both Hong Kong and Chinese markets through the program could be disrupted.

 

 Stock Connect will only operate on days when both the Chinese and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banks in both markets are open on the corresponding settlement days. There may be occasions when it is a normal trading day for the Chinese market but Stock Connect is not trading. As a result, the Fund may be subject to the risk of price fluctuations in China A Shares when the Fund cannot carry out any China A Shares trading.

 

Foreign Shareholding Restrictions. The trading, acquisition, disposal and holding of securities under Stock Connect are subject at all times to applicable law, which imposes purchasing and holding limits. These limitations and restrictions may have the effect of restricting an investor’s ability to purchase, subscribe for or hold any China A Shares or to take up any entitlements in respect of such shares, or requiring an investor to reduce its holding in any securities, whether generally or at a particular point of time, and whether by way of forced sale or otherwise. As such, investors may incur loss arising from such limitations, restrictions and/or forced sale.

 

Clearing and Settlement Risk. HKSCC and ChinaClear have established the clearing links and each will become a participant of each other to facilitate clearing and settlement of cross-boundary trades. For cross-boundary trades initiated in a market, the clearing house of that market will on one hand clear and settle with its own clearing participants and on the other hand undertake to fulfill the clearing and settlement obligations of its clearing participants with the counterparty clearing house.

 

In the event ChinaClear defaults, HKSCC’s liabilities under its market contracts with clearing participants may be limited to assisting clearing participants with claims. It is anticipated that HKSCC will act in good faith to seek recovery of the outstanding stocks and monies from ChinaClear through available legal channels or the liquidation of ChinaClear. Regardless, the process of recovery could be delayed and the Fund may not fully recover its losses or its Stock Connect securities.

 

Legal/Beneficial Ownership. Where securities are held in custody on a cross-border basis there are specific legal and beneficial ownership risks linked to the compulsory requirements of the local central securities depositaries, HKSCC and ChinaClear.

 

As in other emerging markets, the legislative framework is only beginning to develop the concept of legal/formal ownership and of beneficial ownership or interest in securities. In addition, HKSCC, as nominee holder, does not guarantee the title to Stock Connect securities held through it and is under no obligation to enforce title or other rights associated with ownership on behalf of beneficial owners. Consequently, the courts may consider that any nominee or custodian as registered holder of Stock Connect securities would have full ownership thereof, and that those Stock Connect securities would form part of the pool of assets of such entity available for distribution to creditors of such entities and/or that a beneficial owner may have no rights whatsoever in respect thereof. Consequently, neither the Fund nor its custodian can ensure that the Fund’s ownership of these securities or title thereto is assured.

 

S-29

 

To the extent that HKSCC is deemed to be performing safekeeping functions with respect to assets held through it, it should be noted that the Fund and its custodian will have no legal relationship with HKSCC and no direct legal recourse against HKSCC in the event that the Fund suffers losses resulting from the performance or insolvency of HKSCC. In the event that the Fund suffers losses due to the negligence, or willful default, or insolvency of HKSCC, the Fund may not be able to institute legal proceedings, file any proof of claim in any insolvency proceeding or take any similar action. In the event of the insolvency of HKSCC, the Fund may not have any proprietary interest in the China A Shares traded through the Stock Connect program and may be an unsecured general creditor in respect of any claim the Fund may have in respect of them. Consequently, the value of the Fund’s investment in China A Shares and the amount of its income and gains could be adversely affected.

 

Operational Risk. The HKSCC provides clearing, settlement, nominee functions and other related services in respect of trades executed by Hong Kong market participants. Chinese regulations which include certain restrictions on selling and buying will apply to all market participants. In the case of a sale, pre-delivery of shares to the broker is required, increasing counterparty risk. As a result, the Fund may not be able to purchase and/or dispose of holdings of China A Shares in a timely manner.

 

Day Trading Restrictions. Day (turnaround) trading is not permitted through Stock Connect. Investors buying A Shares on day T can only sell the shares on and after day T+1 subject to any Stock Connect rules.

 

Quota Limitations. The Stock Connect program is subject to daily quota limitations which may restrict the Fund’s ability to invest in China A Shares through the program on a timely basis.

 

Investor Compensation. The Fund will not benefit from the China Securities Investor Protection Fund in mainland China. The China Securities Investor Protection Fund is established to pay compensation to investors in the event that a securities company in mainland China is subject to compulsory regulatory measures (such as dissolution, closure, bankruptcy, and administrative takeover by the China Securities Regulatory Commission). Since the Fund is carrying out trading of China A Shares through securities brokers in Hong Kong, but not mainland China brokers, therefore, it is not protected by the China Securities Investor Protection Fund.

 

That said, if the Fund suffers losses due to default matters of its securities brokers in Hong Kong in relation to the investment of China A Shares through the Stock Connect program, it would be compensated by Hong Kong’s Investor Compensation Fund.

 

Tax within China. Uncertainties in Chinese tax rules governing taxation of income and gains from investments in A Shares via Stock Connect could result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund. The Fund’s investments in securities, including A Shares, issued by Chinese companies may cause the Fund to become subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by China.

 

If the Fund were considered to be a tax resident of China, it would be subject to Chinese corporate income tax at the rate of 25% on its worldwide taxable income. If the Fund were considered to be a non-resident enterprise with a “permanent establishment” in China, it would be subject to Chinese corporate income tax of 25% on the profits attributable to the permanent establishment. The Adviser intends to operate the Fund in a manner that will prevent it from being treated as a tax resident of China and from having a permanent establishment in China. It is possible, however, that China could disagree with that conclusion, or that changes in Chinese tax law could affect the Chinese corporate income tax status of the Fund.

 

S-30

 

China generally imposes withholding income tax at a rate of 10% on dividends, premiums, interest and capital gains originating in China and paid to a company that is not a resident of China for tax purposes and that has no permanent establishment in China. The withholding is in general made by the relevant Chinese tax resident company making such payments. In the event the relevant Chinese tax resident company fails to withhold the relevant Chinese withholding income tax or otherwise fails to pay the relevant withholding income tax to Chinese tax authorities, the competent tax authorities may, at their sole discretion, impose tax obligations on the Fund.

 

The Ministry of Finance of China, the State Administration of Taxation of China and the China Securities Regulatory Commission issued Caishui No. 81 on October 31, 2014 (“Notice 81”) and Caishui [2016] No. 127 on November 5, 2016 (“Notice 127”), both of which state that the capital gain from disposal of China A Shares by foreign investors enterprises via Stock Connect will be temporarily exempt from withholding income tax. Notice 81 and Notice 127 also state that the dividends derived from A Shares by foreign investors enterprises is subject to a 10% withholding income tax.

 

There is no indication of how long the temporary exemption will remain in effect and the Fund may be subject to such withholding income tax in the future. If, in the future, China begins applying tax rules regarding the taxation of income from investments through Stock Connect and/or begins collecting capital gains taxes on such investments, the Fund could be subject to withholding income tax liability if the Fund determines that such liability cannot be reduced or eliminated by applicable tax treaties. The Chinese tax authorities may in the future issue further guidance in this regard and with potential retrospective effect. The negative impact of any such tax liability on the Fund’s return could be substantial.

 

In light of the uncertainty as to how gains or income that may be derived from the Fund’s investments in China will be taxed, the Fund reserves the right to provide for withholding tax on such gains or income and withhold tax for the account of the Fund. Withholding tax may already be withheld at a broker/custodian level.

 

Any tax provision, if made, will be reflected in the net asset value of the Fund at the time the provision is used to satisfy tax liabilities. If the actual applicable tax levied by the Chinese tax authorities is greater than that provided for by the Fund so that there is a shortfall in the tax provision amount, the net asset value of the Fund may suffer as the Fund will have to bear additional tax liabilities. In this case, then existing and new shareholders in the Fund will be disadvantaged. If the actual applicable tax levied by Chinese tax authorities is less than that provided for by the Fund so that there is an excess in the tax provision amount, shareholders who redeemed Fund shares before the Chinese tax authorities’ ruling, decision or guidance may have been disadvantaged as they would have borne any loss from the Fund’s overprovision. In this case, the then existing and new shareholders in the Fund may benefit if the difference between the tax provision and the actual taxation liability can be returned to the account of the Fund as assets thereof. Any excess in the tax provision amount shall be treated as property of the Fund, and shareholders who previously transferred or redeemed their Fund shares will not be entitled or have any right to claim any part of the amount representing the excess.

 

Stamp duty under the Chinese laws generally applies to the execution and receipt of taxable documents, which include contracts for the sale of A Shares traded on Chinese stock exchanges. In the case of such contracts, the stamp duty is currently imposed on the seller but not on the purchaser, at the rate of 0.1%. According to the announcement jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation of China, starting from August 28, 2023, the stamp duty on securities transactions is reduced by half. The sale or other transfer by the Adviser of A Shares will accordingly be subject to Chinese stamp duty, but the Fund will not be subject to Chinese stamp duty when it acquires A Shares.

 

S-31

 

The Fund may also potentially be subject to Chinese value added tax at the rate of 6% on capital gains derived from trading of A Shares and interest income (if any). Existing guidance provides a temporary value added tax exemption for Hong Kong and overseas investors in respect of their gains derived from the trading of Chinese securities through Stock Connect. Because there is no indication how long the temporary exemption will remain in effect, the Fund may be subject to such value added tax in the future. In addition, urban maintenance and construction tax (currently at rates ranging from 1% to 7%), educational surcharge (currently at the rate of 3%) and local educational surcharge (currently at the rate of 2%) (collectively, the “surtaxes”) are imposed based on value added tax liabilities, so if the Fund were liable for value added tax it would also be required to pay the applicable surtaxes.

 

The Chinese rules for taxation of Stock Connect are evolving, and certain of the tax regulations to be issued by the State Administration of Taxation of China and/or Ministry of Finance of China to clarify the subject matter may apply retrospectively, even if such rules are adverse to the Fund and its shareholders. The imposition of taxes, particularly on a retrospective basis, could have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s returns. Before further guidance is issued and is well established in the administrative practice of the Chinese tax authorities, the practices of the Chinese tax authorities that collect Chinese taxes relevant to the Fund may differ from, or be applied in a manner inconsistent with, the practices with respect to the analogous investments described herein or any further guidance that may be issued. The value of the Fund’s investment in China and the amount of its income and gains could be adversely affected by an increase in tax rates or change in the taxation basis.

 

The above information is only a general summary of the potential Chinese tax consequences that may be imposed on the Fund and its shareholders either directly or indirectly and should not be taken as a definitive, authoritative or comprehensive statement of the relevant matter. Shareholders should seek their own tax advice on their tax position with regard to their investment in the Fund.

 

The Chinese government has implemented a number of tax reform policies in recent years. The current tax laws and regulations may be revised or amended in the future. Any revision or amendment in tax laws and regulations may affect the after-taxation profit of Chinese companies and foreign investors in such companies, such as the Fund.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”)

 

The Fund may invest in exchange-traded funds. ETFs may be structured as investment companies that are registered under the 1940 Act, typically as open-end funds or unit investment trusts. These ETFs are generally based on specific domestic and foreign market securities indices. An “index-based ETF” seeks to track the performance of an index by holding in its portfolio either the contents of the index or a representative sample of the securities in the index. Alternatively, ETFs may be structured as grantor trusts or other forms of pooled investment vehicles that are not registered or regulated under the 1940 Act. These ETFs typically hold commodities, precious metals, currency or other non-securities investments. ETFs, like mutual funds, have expenses associated with their operation, such as advisory and custody fees. When the Fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, including the brokerage costs associated with the purchase and sale of shares of the ETF, the Fund will bear a pro rata portion of the ETF’s expenses. In addition, it may be more costly to own an ETF than to directly own the securities or other investments held by the ETF because of ETF expenses. The risks of owning shares of an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the securities or other investments held by the ETF, although lack of liquidity in the market for the shares of an ETF could result in the ETF’s value being more volatile than the underlying securities or other investments.

 

S-32

 

Investment Companies

 

The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies, to the extent permitted by applicable law, subject to certain restrictions. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund. The Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying the Fund’s expenses.

 

Generally, the federal securities laws limit the extent to which the Fund can invest in securities of other investment companies, subject to certain exceptions. For example, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act prohibits a fund from (i) acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any one investment company, (ii) investing more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, and (iii) investing more than 10% of its total assets in all investment companies combined, including its ETF investments.

 

The Fund may rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, which provides an exemption from Section 12(d)(1) that allows the Fund to invest all of its assets in other registered funds, including ETFs, if, among other conditions, the Fund, together with its affiliates, acquires no more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any acquired fund. The Fund may also rely on Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 12d1-4 permits the Fund to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions specified in the Rule including, among other conditions, that the Fund and its advisory group will not control (individually or in the aggregate) an acquired fund (e.g., hold more than 25% of the outstanding voting securities of an acquired fund that is a registered open-end management investment company). In addition, the Fund may be able to rely on certain other rules under the 1940 Act to invest in shares of money market funds or other investment companies beyond the statutory limits noted above, but subject to certain conditions.

 

For hedging or other purposes, the Fund may invest in investment companies that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific indexes or portions of specific indexes. Certain of these investment companies, known as ETFs, are traded on a securities exchange. (See “Exchange-Traded Funds” above). The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with changes in the underlying portfolio securities of the investment company and also due to supply and demand of the investment company’s shares on the exchange upon which the shares are traded. Index-based investments may not replicate or otherwise match the composition or performance of their specified index due to transaction costs, among other things.

 

Repurchase Agreements

 

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which a fund acquires a fixed income security (generally a security issued by the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a banker’s acceptance, or a certificate of deposit) from a commercial bank, broker, or dealer, and simultaneously agrees to resell such security to the seller at an agreed upon price and date (normally, the next business day). Because the security purchased constitutes collateral for the repurchase obligation, a repurchase agreement may be considered a loan that is collateralized by the security purchased. The acquisition of a repurchase agreement may be deemed to be an acquisition of the underlying securities as long as the obligation of the seller to repurchase the securities is collateralized fully. The Fund follows certain procedures designed to minimize the risks inherent in such agreements. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with creditworthy financial institutions whose condition will be continually monitored by the Adviser. The repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund will provide that the underlying collateral at all times shall have a value at least equal to 102% of the resale price stated in the agreement and consist only of securities permissible under Section 101(47)(A)(i) of the Bankruptcy Code (the Adviser monitors compliance with this requirement). Under all repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund, the custodian or its agent must take possession of the underlying collateral. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Fund’s right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. The Fund may enter into “tri-party” repurchase agreements. In “tri-party” repurchase agreements, an unaffiliated third party custodian maintains accounts to hold collateral for the Fund and its counterparties and, therefore, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of those custodians. The investments of the Fund in repurchase agreements, at times, may be substantial when, in the view of the Adviser, liquidity or other considerations so warrant.

 

S-33

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

 

The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements, which involve the sale of securities with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment and have the characteristics of borrowing. Generally, the effect of such a transaction is that the Fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while the Fund will be able to keep the interest income associated with those portfolio securities. Such transactions are advantageous only if the interest cost to the Fund of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the cost of obtaining the cash otherwise. Opportunities to achieve this advantage may not always be available, and the Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only when it will be advantageous to the Fund. The Fund will in each instance establish a segregated account with the Trust’s custodian bank in which the Fund will maintain cash or cash equivalents or other portfolio securities equal in value to the Fund’s obligations in respect of reverse repurchase agreements.

 

The Derivatives Rule permits the Fund to enter into reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions, notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the 1940 Act. The Derivatives Rule permits the Fund to elect whether to treat a reverse repurchase agreement as a borrowing, subject to the asset coverage requirements of Section 18 of the 1940 Act, or as a derivatives transaction under the Derivatives Rule.

 

Restricted and Illiquid Investments

 

While the Fund does not anticipate doing so, it may purchase illiquid investments, including investments that are not readily marketable and investments that are not registered (“restricted securities”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), but which can be offered and sold to “qualified institutional buyers” under Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. The Fund may not acquire an illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. Illiquid investments are investments that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment.

 

Illiquid investments may include a wide variety of investments, such as repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, OTC options contracts and certain other derivatives (including certain swap agreements), fixed time deposits that are not subject to prepayment or do not provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits), participation interests in loans, commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act, and investments whose disposition is restricted under the federal securities laws. Illiquid investments include restricted, privately placed securities that, under the federal securities laws, generally may be resold only to qualified institutional buyers. If a substantial market develops for a restricted security (or other illiquid investment) held by the Fund, it may be treated as a liquid investment, in accordance with procedures and guidelines approved by the Board.

 

S-34

 

Securities Lending

 

The Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial organizations that meet capital and other credit requirements or other criteria established by the Board. These loans, if and when made, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the total asset value of the Fund (including the loan collateral). The Fund will not lend portfolio securities to the Adviser or its affiliates unless permissible under the 1940 Act and the rules and promulgations thereunder. Loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized by cash, letters of credit or U.S. government securities, and the collateral will be maintained in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities by marking to market daily. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned by the Fund that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the account of the Fund.

 

The Fund may pay a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral, or other fee, to an unaffiliated third party for acting as the Fund’s securities lending agent, but will bear all of any losses from the investment of collateral.

 

By lending its securities, the Fund may increase its income by receiving payments from the borrower that reflect the amount of any interest or any dividends payable on the loaned securities as well as by either investing cash collateral received from the borrower in short-term instruments or obtaining a fee from the borrower when U.S. government securities or letters of credit are used as collateral. Investing cash collateral subjects the Fund to market risk. The Fund remains obligated to return all collateral to the borrower under the terms of its securities lending arrangements, even if the value of investments made with the collateral decline. Accordingly, if the value of a security in which the cash collateral has been invested declines, the loss would be borne by the Fund, and the Fund may be required to liquidate other investments in order to return collateral to the borrower at the end of the loan. The Fund will adhere to the following conditions whenever its portfolio securities are loaned: (i) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral or equivalent securities of the type discussed above from the borrower; (ii) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (iii) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan on demand; (iv) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in market value; (v) the Fund may pay only reasonable fees in connection with the loan (which fees may include fees payable to the lending agent, the borrower, the Fund’s administrator and the custodian); and (vi) voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, provided, however, that if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs, the Fund must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities. The Board has adopted procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the foregoing criteria will be met. Loan agreements involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the borrower, including possible delays or restrictions upon the Fund’s ability to recover the loaned securities or dispose of the collateral for the loan, which could give rise to loss because of adverse market action, expenses and/or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying securities.

 

Short Sales

 

Description of Short Sales:

 

Selling a security short is when an investor sells a security it does not own. To sell a security short an investor must borrow the security from someone else to deliver to the buyer. The investor then replaces the security it borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at or before the time of replacement. Until it replaces the security, the investor repays the person that lent it the security for any interest or dividends that may have accrued during the period of the loan.

 

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Investors typically sell securities short to:

 

Take advantage of an anticipated decline in prices.

 

Protect a profit in a security it already owns.

 

The Fund can lose money if the price of the security it sold short increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. Likewise, the Fund can profit if the price of the security declines between those dates. Because the market price of the security sold short could increase without limit, the Fund could also be subject to a theoretically unlimited loss.

 

To borrow the security, the Fund may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The Fund will also incur transaction costs in effecting short sales. The Fund’s gains and losses will be decreased or increased, as the case may be, by the amount of the premium, dividends, interest, or expenses the Fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale.

 

The broker will retain the net proceeds of the short sale, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

 

Short Sales Against the Box - In addition, the Fund may engage in short sales “against the box.” In a short sale against the box, the Fund agrees to sell at a future date a security that it either currently owns or has the right to acquire at no extra cost. The Fund will incur transaction costs to open, maintain and close short sales against the box. For tax purposes, a short sale against the box may be a taxable event to the Fund.

 

Restrictions on Short Sales:

 

The Fund will not short sell a security if:

 

After giving effect to such short sale, the total market value of all securities sold short would exceed 25% of the value of the Fund’s net assets.

 

The market value of the securities of any single issuer that have been sold short by the Fund would exceed two percent (2%) of the value of the Fund’s net assets.

 

Any security sold short would constitute more than two percent (2%) of any class of the issuer’s securities.

 

When-Issued, Delayed-Delivery and Forward-Delivery Transactions

 

A when-issued security is one whose terms are available and for which a market exists, but which has not been issued. In a forward delivery transaction, the Fund contracts to purchase securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary settlement time. “Delayed-delivery” refers to securities transactions on the secondary market where settlement occurs in the future. In each of these transactions, the parties fix the payment obligation and the interest rate that they will receive on the securities at the time the parties enter the commitment; however, they do not pay money or deliver securities until a later date. Typically, no income accrues on securities the Fund has committed to purchase before the securities are delivered. The Fund will only enter into these types of transactions with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but may sell them before the settlement date.

 

The Fund uses when-issued, delayed-delivery and forward delivery transactions to secure what it considers an advantageous price and yield at the time of purchase. When the Fund engages in when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward delivery transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the sale. If the other party fails to complete the sale, the Fund may miss the opportunity to obtain the security at a favorable price or yield.

 

When purchasing a security on a when-issued, delayed-delivery, or forward delivery basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield changes. At the time of settlement, the market value of the security may be more or less than the purchase price. The yield available in the market when the delivery takes place also may be higher than those obtained in the transaction itself. Because the Fund does not pay for the security until the delivery date, these risks are in addition to the risks associated with its other investments.

 

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The Derivatives Rule permits the Fund to enter into when-issued or delayed delivery basis securities notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the 1940 Act, provided that the Fund intends to physically settle the transaction and the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date. If a when-issued or delayed delivery basis security entered into by the Fund does not satisfy those requirements, the Fund would need to comply with the Derivatives Rule with respect to its when issued or delayed delivery transactions, which are considered derivatives transactions under the Derivatives Rule. See "Derivatives – Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act" above.

 

Borrowing

 

The Fund may borrow money for investment purposes. Borrowing for investment purposes is one form of leverage. Leveraging investments, by purchasing securities with borrowed money, is a speculative technique that increases investment risk, but also increases investment opportunity. Because substantially all of the Fund’s assets will fluctuate in value, whereas the interest obligations on borrowings may be fixed, the NAV per share of the Fund will increase more when the Fund’s portfolio assets increase in value and decrease more when the Fund’s portfolio assets decrease in value than would otherwise be the case. Moreover, interest costs on borrowings may fluctuate with changing market rates of interest and may partially offset or exceed the returns on the borrowed funds. Under adverse conditions, the Fund might have to sell portfolio securities to meet interest or principal payments at a time when investment considerations would not favor such sales. The Fund intends to use leverage during periods when the Adviser believes that the Fund’s investment objective would be furthered.

 

The Fund may also borrow money to facilitate management of the Fund’s portfolio by enabling the Fund to meet redemption requests when the liquidation of portfolio instruments would be inconvenient or disadvantageous. Such borrowing is not for investment purposes and will be repaid by the borrowing Fund promptly. As required by the 1940 Act, the Fund must maintain continuous asset coverage (total assets, including assets acquired with borrowed funds, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of all amounts borrowed. If, at any time, the value of the Fund’s assets should fail to meet this 300% coverage test, the Fund, within three days (not including Sundays and holidays), will reduce the amount of the Fund’s borrowings to the extent necessary to meet this 300% coverage requirement. Maintenance of this percentage limitation may result in the sale of portfolio securities at a time when investment considerations otherwise indicate that it would be disadvantageous to do so.

 

Special Risks of Cyber Attacks

 

As with any entity that conducts business through electronic means in the modern marketplace, the Fund, and its service providers, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber attacks. Cyber attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized monitoring, release, misuse, loss, destruction or corruption of confidential information, unauthorized access to relevant systems, compromises to networks or devices that the Fund and its service providers use to service the Fund’s operations, ransomware, operational disruption or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Fund and its service providers, or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber attacks affecting the Fund or the Adviser, the Fund’s distributor, custodian, or any other of the Fund’s intermediaries or service providers may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders, potentially resulting in, among other things, financial losses or the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes designed to mitigate or prevent the risk of cyber attacks. Such costs may be ongoing because threats of cyber attacks are constantly evolving as cyber attackers become more sophisticated and their techniques become more complex. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investments in such companies to lose value. There can be no assurance that the Fund, the Fund’s service providers, or the issuers of the securities in which the Fund invests will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches in the future.

 

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LIBOR Replacement Risk

 

The Fund may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from, or continue to be tied to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. Such instruments may include bank loans, derivatives, floating rate securities, and other assets or liabilities. The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, has ceased publishing all LIBOR settings on a representative basis. In April 2023, however, the FCA announced that some USD LIBOR settings will continue to be published under a synthetic methodology until September 30, 2024 for certain legacy contracts.

 

The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market, has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. Under U.S. regulations that implement a statutory fallback mechanism to replace LIBOR, benchmark rates based on SOFR have replaced LIBOR in different categories of financial contracts.

 

Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. While some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities, or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The Fund may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.

 

General Market Risk

 

An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus designated as COVID-19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in international, national and local border closings and other significant travel restrictions and disruptions, significant disruptions to business operations, supply chains and customer activity, event cancellations and restrictions, service cancellations, reductions and other changes, significant challenges in healthcare service preparation and delivery, and quarantines, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. These impacts also have caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, which have caused losses for investors. Health crises caused by viral or bacterial outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social, economic, market and financial risks. The impact of this outbreak, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

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INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUND

 

Fundamental Policies

 

The following investment policies are fundamental, which means that the Fund cannot change them without approval by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The phrase “majority of the outstanding shares” means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Fund’s shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares, whichever is less. Unless otherwise noted, the Fund will determine compliance with the investment limitation percentages below (with the exception of a limitation relating to borrowing) and other applicable investment requirements immediately after and as a result of its acquisition of such security or other asset. Accordingly, the Fund generally will not consider changes in values, net assets or other circumstances when determining whether the investment complies with its investment limitations.

 

The Fund will not:

 

Borrow money, except to the extent permitted by applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction and the guidelines set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus and SAI as they may be amended from time to time.

 

Issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted by applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction.

 

Underwrite securities of other issuers, except insofar as the Fund may technically be deemed to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities.

 

Concentrate its investments in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities).

 

Purchase or sell real estate, except: (1) to the extent permitted by applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction; (2) that the Fund may invest in securities of issuers that deal or invest in real estate; and (3) that the Fund may purchase securities secured by real estate or interests therein.

 

Purchase or sell commodities or contracts on commodities except that the Fund may engage in financial futures contracts and related options and currency contracts and related options and may otherwise do so in accordance with applicable law and without registering as a commodity pool operator under the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Make loans to other persons, except that the Fund may lend its portfolio securities in accordance with applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction and the guidelines set forth in the Fund’s Prospectus and SAI as they may be amended from time to time. The acquisition of investment securities or other investment instruments shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan.

 

Purchase securities of an issuer that would cause the Fund to fail to satisfy the diversification requirement for a diversified management company under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

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Non-Fundamental Policies

 

In addition to the investment objective of the Fund, the following investment limitations are non-fundamental, and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.

 

The Fund may:

 

Not borrow money, except that: (1) the Fund may borrow from banks (as defined in the 1940 Act) or enter into reverse repurchase agreements, in amounts up to 331/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed); (2) the Fund may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes; (3) the Fund may obtain such short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities; and (4) the Fund may purchase securities on margin and engage in short sales to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

Notwithstanding the investment restrictions above, the Fund may not borrow amounts in excess of 331/3% of its total assets, taken at market value, and then only from banks as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes such as the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Purchase and sell currencies or securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward-commitment basis.

 

Purchase and sell foreign currency, purchase options on foreign currency and foreign currency exchange contracts.

 

Invest in the securities of foreign issuers.

 

Purchase shares of other investment companies to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Fund may, notwithstanding any fundamental policy or other limitation, invest all of its investable assets in securities of a single open-end management investment company with substantially the same investment objectives, policies and limitations.

 

The 1940 Act currently permits the Fund to invest up to 10% of its total assets in the securities of other investment companies. However, the Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one investment company or acquire more than 3% of the outstanding securities of any one investment company, unless permissible under the 1940 Act and the rules and promulgations thereunder.

 

Write covered call options and may buy and sell put and call options.

 

Enter into repurchase agreements.

 

Lend portfolio securities to registered broker-dealers or other institutional shareholders. These loans may not exceed 331/3% of the Fund’s total assets taken at market value. In addition, the Fund must receive at least 100% collateral.

 

Sell securities short and engage in short sales “against the box.”

 

Enter into swap transactions.

 

Not change its investment strategy to invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of issuers that at the time of initial purchase: (1) have their principal securities trading market in an emerging market country; (2) alone or on a consolidated basis derive 50% or more of annual revenue from goods produced, sales made or services performed in emerging market countries; and (3) are organized under the laws of, and have principal office in, an emerging market country without 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

 

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Except with respect to the Fund’s policies concerning borrowing, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of an investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from changes in values or assets will not constitute a violation of such restriction. With respect to the limitation on borrowing, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances cause the Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitations within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays).

 

The following descriptions of certain provisions of the 1940 Act may assist investors in understanding the above policies and restrictions:

 

Diversification. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified investment management company, as to 75% of its total assets, may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agents or instrumentalities or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer’s outstanding voting securities would be held by the fund.

 

Concentration. The 1940 Act requires that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy regarding concentration. The SEC staff has defined concentration as investing 25% or more of an investment company’s total assets in an industry or group of industries, with certain exceptions. The Fund may, at any time, invest more than 25% of its assets in securities issued by the Federal government or its agencies and instrumentalities, and/or state governments and their political sub-divisions, as the SEC Staff does not consider such entities to be the members of any industry. For purposes of the Fund’s concentration policy, the Fund may classify and re-classify companies in a particular industry and define and re-define industries in any reasonable manner, consistent with SEC and SEC staff guidance.

 

Borrowing. The 1940 Act presently allows a fund to borrow from any bank in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) and to borrow for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of its total assets.

 

Senior Securities. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although the 1940 Act does provide allowances for certain borrowings. In addition, the Derivatives Rule permits a fund to enter into derivatives transactions, notwithstanding the prohibitions and restrictions on the issuance of senior securities under the 1940 Act, provided that the fund complies with the conditions of the Derivatives Rule.

 

Lending. Under the 1940 Act, a fund may only make loans if expressly permitted by its investment policies. The Fund may not make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that the Fund may: (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) engage in securities lending as described in the Statement of Additional Information.

 

Underwriting. Under the 1940 Act, underwriting securities involves a fund purchasing securities directly from an issuer for the purpose of selling (distributing) them or participating in any such activity either directly or indirectly. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified fund may not make any commitment as underwriter, if immediately thereafter the amount of its outstanding underwriting commitments, plus the value of its investments in securities of issuers (other than investment companies) of which it owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities, exceeds 25% of the value of its total assets.

 

Commodities and Real Estate. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company’s ability to invest in commodities or real estate, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments. The Fund has adopted a fundamental policy that would permit direct investment in commodities or real estate. The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate, physical commodities, or commodities contracts, except that the Fund may purchase: (i) marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in real estate (including REITs), commodities, or commodities contracts; and (ii) commodities contracts relating to financial instruments, such as financial futures contracts and options on such contracts.

 

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INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

Investment Adviser. Acadian Asset Management LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser and a Delaware limited liability company located at 260 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. Acadian serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. Acadian was founded in 1986 and is an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of US-based BrightSphere Investment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation publicly listed on the NYSE. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $103 billion in assets under management.

 

Advisory Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Adviser have entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) dated June 24, 2002. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser serves as investment adviser and makes the investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the investment program of the Fund, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Trustees. After the initial two-year term, the continuance of the Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually: (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

 

The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, on not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser, or by the Adviser on 90 days’ written notice to the Trust. As used in the Advisory Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested persons” and “assignment” have the same meaning as such terms in the 1940 Act.

 

Advisory Fees Paid to the Adviser. For its services, the Fund pays the Adviser a fee calculated at an annual rate of 0.90% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

 

Prior to July 1, 2022, the management fee for the Fund was 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive or reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep net operating expenses (but excluding any class-specific expenses (including distribution and service (12b-1) fees and shareholder servicing fees), interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, fees and expenses incurred in connection with tax reclaim recovery services, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and other non-routine expenses not incurred in the ordinary course of said Fund’s business (including litigation expenses)) from exceeding 1.10% of the average daily net assets of each of the Fund’s share classes until March 1, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the total annual fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the contractual expense limit to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee waivers or expense reimbursements made during the three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment if at any point total annual fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the contractual expense limit (i) at the time of the fee waiver or expense payment, and (ii) at the time of the reimbursement. This agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Trust, for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, for any reason, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on March 1, 2025. This agreement terminates automatically upon the termination of the Advisory Agreement.

 

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For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund paid the Adviser the following advisory fees:

 

Contractual Advisory Fees

Fees Waived by

the Adviser

Total Fees Paid by the Adviser (After Waivers)
2021 2022 2023 2021 2022 2023 2021 2022 2023
$11,515,217 $8,574,778 $5,682,504 $0 $0 $0 $11,515,217 $8,574,778 $5,682,504

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

This section includes information about the Fund’s portfolio managers, including information about other accounts managed, the dollar range of Fund shares owned and compensation.

 

Compensation. Compensation structure varies among professionals, although the basic package involves a generous base salary, strong bonus potential, profit sharing participation, various benefits, and, among the majority of senior investment professionals and certain other key employees, equity interest in the firm as part of the Key Employee Limited Partnership.

 

Compensation is highly incentive-driven, with Acadian often paying in excess of 100% of base pay for performance bonuses. Bonuses are tied directly to the individual’s contribution and performance during the year, with members of the investment team evaluated on such factors as their contributions to the investment process, account retention, asset growth, and overall firm performance. Since portfolio management in Acadian’s equity strategies is a team approach, investment team members’ compensation is not linked to the performance of specific accounts but rather to the individual’s overall contribution to the success of the team and the firm’s profitability. This helps to ensure an “even playing field” as investment team members are strongly incentivized to strive for the best possible portfolio performance for all clients rather than only for select accounts.

 

Fund Shares Owned by the Portfolio Managers. The Fund is required to show the dollar amount range of the portfolio managers’ “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Fund as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”).

 

Name Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned1
Brendan Bradley None
Fanesca Young None

 

1Valuation date is October 31, 2023.

 

Other Accounts. In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers may also be responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as indicated by the following table. The information below is provided as of October 31, 2023.

 

Name Registered Investment Companies Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Other Accounts
Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(Billions)

Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(Billions)

Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(Billions)

Brendan Bradley1 15 $7.0 852 $25.0 1943 $57.6
Fanesca Young1 15 $7.0 852 $25.0 1943 $57.6

 

1For all core equity products offered by the firm, including the subject strategy, Acadian manages a single process that is custom-tailored to the objectives of its clients. The investment professionals function as part of a core equity team of 24 portfolio managers, all of whom are responsible for working with the dedicated research team to develop and apply quantitative techniques to evaluate securities and markets and for final quality-control review of portfolios to ensure mandate compliance. The data shown for these managers reflect firm-level numbers of accounts and assets under management, segregated by investment vehicle type. Not reflected: $783 million in model advisory contracts for which Acadian does not have trading authority.

 

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2Includes 12 accounts managed with a performance-based fee, representing approximately $2.0 billion in assets.

 

3Includes 21 accounts managed with a performance-based fee, representing approximately $8.7 billion in assets.

 

Acadian has been appointed as adviser or sub-adviser to numerous public and private funds domiciled in the U.S. and abroad. Acadian is not an investment company and does not directly offer mutual funds. The asset data shown under “Registered Investment Companies” reflects Advisory and sub-advisory relationships with U.S. registered investment companies offering funds to retail investors. The asset data shown under “Other Pooled Investment Vehicles” reflects a combination of; 1) Delaware-based private funds where Acadian has been appointed adviser or sub-adviser and 2) Non-U.S.-based funds where Acadian has been appointed adviser or sub-adviser.

 

Conflicts of Interests. A conflict of interest may arise as a result of a portfolio manager being responsible for multiple accounts, including the Fund, which may have similar or different investment guidelines and objectives. In addition to the Fund, these accounts may include other mutual funds managed on an advisory or sub-advisory basis, separate accounts and collective trust accounts. An investment opportunity may be suitable for the Fund as well as for any of the other managed accounts. However, the investment may not be available in sufficient quantity for all of the accounts to participate fully. In addition, there may be limited opportunity to sell an investment held by both the Fund and the other accounts. The other accounts may have similar investment objectives or strategies as the Fund, may track the same benchmarks or indexes as the Fund tracks, and may sell securities that are eligible to be held, sold or purchased by the Fund. A portfolio manager may be responsible for accounts that have different advisory fee schedules, which may create the incentive for the portfolio manager to favor one account over another in terms of access to investment opportunities. A portfolio manager may also manage accounts whose investment objectives and policies differ from those of the Fund, which may cause the portfolio manager to effect trading in one account that may have an adverse effect on the value of the holdings within another account, including the Fund.

 

To address and manage these potential conflicts of interest, Acadian has adopted compliance policies and procedures to allocate investment opportunities and to ensure that each of its clients is treated on a fair and equitable basis. Such policies and procedures include, but are not limited to, trade allocation and trade aggregation policies, portfolio manager assignment practices and oversight by investment management and the Compliance team.

 

THE ADMINISTRATOR

 

General. SEI Investments Global Funds Services (the “Administrator”), a Delaware statutory trust, has its principal business offices at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. SEI Investments Management Corporation (“SIMC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company (“SEI Investments”), is the owner of all beneficial interest in the Administrator. SEI Investments and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including the Administrator, are leading providers of fund evaluation services, trust accounting systems, and brokerage and information services to financial institutions, institutional investors, and money managers. The Administrator and its affiliates also serve as administrator or sub-administrator to other mutual funds.

 

Administration Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Administrator have entered into an amended and restated administration agreement dated November 13, 2018, as amended (the “Administration Agreement”). Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides the Trust with administrative services, including regulatory reporting and all necessary office space, equipment, personnel and facilities.

 

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The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Administration Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Administrator in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

Administration Fees Paid to the Administrator. For its services under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator is paid a fee, which varies based on the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to certain minimums. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund paid the following amounts for these services:

 

Administration Fees Paid
2021 2022 2023
$910,409 $797,374 $655,117

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

The Trust and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments and an affiliate of the Administrator, are parties to a distribution agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 14, 2005 and as amended August 30, 2010 and November 13, 2018 (the “Distribution Agreement”). The principal business address of the Distributor is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act), and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or by the Distributor, upon not less than 60 days’ written notice to the other party.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

Shareholder Servicing Plan. The Fund has adopted a shareholder servicing plan under which a shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets of the Investor Class Shares and 0.10% of average daily net assets of the Y Class Shares will be paid to financial intermediaries. Under the plan, financial intermediaries may perform, or may compensate other financial intermediaries for performing, certain shareholder and/or administrative services or similar non-distribution services, including: (i) maintaining shareholder accounts; (ii) arranging for bank wires; (iii) responding to shareholder inquiries relating to the services performed by the financial intermediaries; (iv) responding to inquiries from shareholders concerning their investment in the Fund; (v) assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; (vi) providing information periodically to shareholders showing their position in the Fund; (vii) forwarding shareholder communications from the Fund such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual reports, and dividend and capital gain distribution and tax notices to shareholders; (viii) processing purchase, exchange and redemption requests from shareholders and placing orders with the Fund or its service providers; (ix) providing sub-accounting services; (x) processing dividend and capital gain payments from the Fund on behalf of shareholders; (xi) preparing tax reports; and (xii) providing such other similar non-distribution services as the Fund may reasonably request to the extent that the financial intermediary is permitted to do so under applicable laws or regulations.

 

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Other Payments by the Fund. The Fund may enter into agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which the Fund may pay financial intermediaries for non-distribution-related sub-transfer agency, administrative, sub-accounting, and other shareholder services. Payments made pursuant to such agreements are generally based on either (1) a percentage of the average daily net assets of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary, or (2) the number of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary. Any payments made pursuant to such agreements may be in addition to, rather than in lieu of, shareholder servicing fees the Fund may pay to financial intermediaries pursuant to the Fund’s shareholder servicing plan.

 

Payments by the Adviser. The Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments from their own resources and not from Fund assets to affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates, as incentives to help market and promote the Fund and/or in recognition of their distribution, marketing, administrative services, and/or processing support.

 

These additional payments may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Fund, the Distributor or shareholders of the Fund through the financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel and/or fund supermarkets. Payments may also be made through the financial intermediary’s retirement, qualified tuition, fee-based advisory, wrap fee bank trust, or insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. These payments may include, but are not limited to, placing the Fund in a financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel or on a preferred or recommended fund list; providing business or shareholder financial planning assistance; educating financial intermediary personnel about the Fund; providing access to sales and management representatives of the financial intermediary; promoting sales of Fund shares; providing marketing and educational support; maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder transaction processing services. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services.

 

The Adviser and/or its affiliates may also make payments from their own resources to financial intermediaries for costs associated with the purchase of products or services used in connection with sales and marketing, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs, client and investor entertainment and other sponsored events. The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.

 

Revenue sharing payments may be negotiated based on a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the amount of Fund assets attributable to investments in the Fund by financial intermediaries’ customers, a flat fee or other measures as determined from time to time by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. A significant purpose of these payments is to increase the sales of Fund shares, which in turn may benefit the Adviser through increased fees as Fund assets grow.

 

Investors should understand that some financial intermediaries may also charge their clients fees in connection with purchases of shares or the provision of shareholder services.

 

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THE TRANSFER AGENT

 

SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 333 West 11th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105 (the “Transfer Agent”), serves as the Fund’s transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent under a transfer agency agreement with the Trust.

 

THE CUSTODIAN

 

U.S. Bank National Association, 800 Nicollett Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-4302 (the “Custodian”), serves as the custodian of the Fund. The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Fund as required by the 1940 Act.

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Cohen & Company, Ltd. ("Cohen"), 1835 Market Street, Suite 310, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. The financial statements and notes thereto incorporated by reference have been audited by Cohen, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are incorporated by reference in reliance on the authority of their report as experts in accounting and auditing. BBD, LLP ("BBD") served as the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm prior to the acquisition of BBD's Investment Management Group by Cohen in 2023.

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 2222 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-3007, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

 

SECURITIES LENDING

 

The Fund did not engage in securities lending activities during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023.

 

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

 

Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series, including the Fund described in this SAI, are overseen by the Trustees. The Board has approved contracts, as described above, under which certain companies provide essential management services to the Trust.

 

Like most mutual funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of risk, is performed by third party service providers, such as the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, have oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the funds. The funds and their service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust’s business (e.g., the Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the funds’ service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

 

The Trustees’ role in risk oversight begins before the inception of a fund, at which time certain of the fund’s service providers present the Board with information concerning the investment objectives, strategies and risks of the fund as well as proposed investment limitations for the fund. Additionally, the fund’s adviser provides the Board with an overview of, among other things, its investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the adviser and other service providers, such as the fund’s independent accountants, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the funds may be exposed.

 

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The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the funds by the adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the advisory agreement with the adviser, the Board meets with the adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the adviser’s adherence to the funds’ investment restrictions and compliance with various fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the funds’ investments, including, for example, reports on the adviser’s use of derivatives in managing the funds, if any, as well as reports on the funds’ investments in other investment companies, if any.

 

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues and fund and adviser risk assessments. At least annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the adviser. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report; any material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures; and any material compliance matters since the date of the last report.

 

The Board receives reports from the funds’ service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. The Adviser makes regular reports to the Board concerning investments for which market quotations are not readily available. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of the funds’ financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the funds and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the funds’ internal controls. Additionally, in connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees fund management’s implementation of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with the SEC are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust’s internal controls over financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Trust’s financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust’s financial statements.

 

From their review of these reports and discussions with the adviser, the Chief Compliance Officer, the independent registered public accounting firm and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee learn in detail about the material risks of the funds, thereby facilitating a dialogue about how management and service providers identify and mitigate those risks.

 

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the funds can be identified and/or quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the funds’ goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the funds’ investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the funds’ adviser and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the funds’ and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s ability to monitor and manage risk, as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.

 

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Members of the Board. There are seven members of the Board, five of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“independent Trustees”). Robert Nesher, an interested person of the Trust, serves as Chairman of the Board. Joseph T. Grause, Jr., an independent Trustee, serves as the lead independent Trustee. The Trust has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Trust made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the independent Trustees constitute more than two-thirds of the Board, the fact that the chairperson of each Committee of the Board is an independent Trustee, the amount of assets under management in the Trust, and the number of funds (and classes of shares) overseen by the Board. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the independent Trustees from fund management.

 

The Board has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and the Governance Committee. The Audit Committee and the Governance Committee are chaired by an independent Trustee and composed of all of the independent Trustees. In addition, the Board has a lead independent Trustee.

 

In his role as lead independent Trustee, Mr. Grause, among other things: (i) presides over Board meetings in the absence of the Chairman of the Board; (ii) presides over executive sessions of the independent Trustees; (iii) along with the Chairman of the Board, oversees the development of agendas for Board meetings; (iv) facilitates communication between the independent Trustees and management, and among the independent Trustees; (v) serves as a key point person for dealings between the independent Trustees and management; and (vi) has such other responsibilities as the Board or independent Trustees determine from time to time.

 

Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations and other directorships held during at least the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee. There is no stated term of office for the Trustees. Nevertheless, an independent Trustee must retire from the Board as of the end of the calendar year in which such independent Trustee first attains the age of seventy-five years; provided, however, that, an independent Trustee may continue to serve for one or more additional one calendar year terms after attaining the age of seventy-five years (each calendar year a “Waiver Term”) if, and only if, prior to the beginning of such Waiver Term: (1) the Governance Committee (a) meets to review the performance of the independent Trustee; (b) finds that the continued service of such independent Trustee is in the best interests of the Trust; and (c) unanimously approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above; and (2) a majority of the Trustees approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each Trustee is SEI Investments, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

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Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served

Principal Occupations

in the Past 5 Years

Other Directorships Held in the Past 5 Years
Interested Trustees

Robert Nesher

(Born: 1946)

 

Chairman of the Board of Trustees1

(since 1991)

SEI employee 1974 to present; currently performs various services on behalf of SEI Investments for which Mr. Nesher is compensated. President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. President and Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP. Vice Chairman of Winton Series Trust to 2017. Vice Chairman of Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund (closed-end investment company), The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Gallery Trust, Schroder Series Trust and Schroder Global Series Trust to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Catholic Responsible Investments Funds, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP, SEI Global Master Fund plc, SEI Global Assets Fund plc, SEI Global Investments Fund plc, SEI Investments—Global Funds Services, Limited, SEI Investments Global, Limited, SEI Investments (Europe) Ltd., SEI Investments—Unit Trust Management (UK) Limited, SEI Multi-Strategy Funds PLC and SEI Global Nominee Ltd.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

S-50

 

N. Jeffrey Klauder

(Born: 1952)

 

Trustee1

(since 2018)

Senior Advisor of SEI Investments since 2018. Executive Vice President and General Counsel of SEI Investments, 2004 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds. Director of SEI Private Trust Company, SEI Global Fund Services Ltd., SEI Investments Global Limited, SEI Global Master Fund, SEI Global Investments Fund, SEI Global Assets Fund and SEI Investments - Guernsey Limited.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of SEI Investments Management Corporation, SEI Trust Company, SEI Investments (South Africa), Limited and SEI Investments (Canada) Company to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

Independent Trustees

Kathleen Gaffney

(Born: 1961)

Trustee

(since 2022)

Retired since 2019. Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Eaton Vance Management from 2012 to 2019. Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

Joseph T. Grause, Jr.

(Born: 1952)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Lead Independent Trustee

(since 2018)

Self-Employed Consultant since 2012. Director of Endowments and Foundations, Morningstar Investment Management, Morningstar, Inc., 2010 to 2011. Director of International Consulting and Chief Executive Officer of Morningstar Associates Europe Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2007 to 2010. Country Manager – Morningstar UK Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2005 to 2007.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Director of The Korea Fund, Inc. to 2019. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

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Robert Mulhall

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2019)

Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, from 1998 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of Villanova University Alumni Board of Directors to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

Bruce Speca

(Born: 1956)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Global Head of Asset Allocation, Manulife Asset Management (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2010 to 2011. Executive Vice President – Investment Management Services, John Hancock Financial Services (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2003 to 2010.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022. Director of Stone Harbor Investments Funds (8 Portfolios), Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Income Fund (closed-end fund) and Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Total Income Fund (closed-end fund) to 2022.

Monica Walker

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2022)

Retired. Private Investor since 2017. Co-Founder (1991-2017), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (2009 to 2017) and Chief Investment Officer – Equity (2007 to 2017) of Holland Capital Management, LLC (Chicago). Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

1Denotes Trustees who may be deemed to be “interested” persons of the Fund as that term is defined in the 1940 Act by virtue of their affiliation with the Distributor and/or its affiliates.

 

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Individual Trustee Qualifications

 

The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of their ability to review and understand information about the funds provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the funds, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the funds’ shareholders. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on their own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Nesher should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 1974, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 1991.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Klauder should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 2004, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he gained serving as a partner of a large law firm.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Gaffney should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as a vice president and portfolio manager for a large asset management company, her experience in and knowledge of the asset management industry, and the experience she has gained serving in board and leadership positions in a variety of nonprofit and civic organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Grause should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with different financial institutions, his knowledge of the mutual fund and investment management industries, his past experience as an interested trustee and chair of the investment committee for a multi-managed investment company, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Mulhall should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with an audit firm and various financial services firms, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and his experience serving in a variety of leadership capacities for non-profit organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Speca should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained serving as president of a mutual fund company and portfolio manager for a $95 billion complex of asset allocation funds, his over 25 years of experience working in a management capacity with mutual fund boards, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Walker should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained in a variety of leadership roles with an asset management company that she co-founded, her experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience she has gained in various other corporate accounting, finance and investment roles.

 

In its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the funds.

 

Board Committees. The Board has established the following standing committees:

 

Audit Committee. The Board has a standing Audit Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee include: (i) recommending which firm to engage as each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this relationship; (ii) reviewing the independent registered public accounting firm’s compensation, the proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firm’s independence; (iii) pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; (iv) serving as a channel of communication between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; (v) reviewing the results of each external audit, including any qualifications in the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion, any related management letter, management’s responses to recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the audit, reports submitted to the Committee by the internal auditing department of the Administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and management’s responses to any such reports; (vi) reviewing each fund’s audited financial statements and considering any significant disputes between the Trust’s management and the independent registered public accounting firm that arose in connection with the preparation of those financial statements; (vii) considering, in consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trust’s senior internal accounting executive, if any, the independent registered public accounting firms’ reports on the adequacy of the Trust’s internal financial controls; (viii) reviewing, in consultation with each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed when preparing each fund’s financial statements; and (ix) other audit related matters. Mses. Gaffney and Walker and Messrs. Grause, Mulhall and Speca currently serve as members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Mulhall serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met two (2) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

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Governance Committee. The Board has a standing Governance Committee (formerly the Nominating Committee) that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Governance Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Governance Committee include: (i) considering and reviewing Board governance and compensation issues; (ii) conducting a self-assessment of the Board’s operations; (iii) selecting and nominating all persons to serve as independent Trustees; and (iv) reviewing shareholder recommendations for nominations to fill vacancies on the Board if such recommendations are submitted in writing and addressed to the Committee at the Trust’s office. Mses. Gaffney and Walker and Messrs. Grause, Mulhall and Speca currently serve as members of the Governance Committee. Mr. Speca serves as the Chairman of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met one (1) time during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Fund Shares Owned by Board Members. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each Trustee’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Fund as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act. The Trustees and officers of the Trust own less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.

 

Name

Dollar Range of Fund Shares

(Fund)1

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares

(All Funds in the Family of Investment Companies)1,2

Interested Trustees
Nesher None None
Klauder None None
Independent Trustees
Gaffney None None
Grause None None
Mulhall None None
Speca None None
Walker None None

 

1Valuation date is December 31, 2023.

 

2The Fund is the only fund in the family of investment companies.

 

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Board Compensation. The Trust paid the following fees to the Trustees during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Name Aggregate Compensation from the Trust Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement Total Compensation from the Trust and Fund Complex1
Interested Trustees
Nesher $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Klauder $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Independent Trustees
Gaffney $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Grause $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Johnson2 $25,660 N/A N/A $25,660 for service on one (1) board
Krikorian3 $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Mulhall $114,666 N/A N/A $114,666 for service on one (1) board
Speca $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Walker $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board

 

1All funds in the Fund Complex are series of the Trust.

 

2In accordance with the Trust's retirement policy, Mr. Johnson retired from the Board effective December 31, 2022, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.

 

3In accordance with the Trust's retirement policy, Ms. Krikorian retired from the Board effective December 31, 2023, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.

 

Trust Officers. Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations for the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as executive officers of the Trust. There is no stated term of office for officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each officer is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. The Chief Compliance Officer is the only officer who receives compensation from the Trust for his services.

 

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Certain officers of the Trust also serve as officers of one or more mutual funds for which SEI Investments or its affiliates act as investment manager, administrator or distributor.

 

Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served Principal Occupations in Past 5 Years

Michael Beattie

(Born: 1965)

President

(since 2011)

Managing Director, SEI Investments, since 2021. Director of Client Service, SEI Investments, from 2004 to 2021.

James Bernstein

(Born: 1962)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2017)

Attorney, SEI Investments, since 2017.

 

Prior Positions: Self-employed consultant, 2017. Associate General Counsel & Vice President, Nationwide Funds Group and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, from 2002 to 2016. Assistant General Counsel & Vice President, Market Street Funds and Provident Mutual Insurance Company, from 1999 to 2002.

John Bourgeois

(Born: 1973)

Assistant Treasurer

(since 2017)

Fund Accounting Manager, SEI Investments, since 2000.

Donald Duncan

(Born: 1964)

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer and Privacy Officer

(since 2023)

Chief Compliance Officer and Global Head of Anti-Money Laundering Strategy of SEI Investments Company since January 2023. Head of Global Anti-Money Laundering Program for Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC from August 2021 until December 2022. Senior VP and Supervising Principal of Hamilton Lane Securities, LLC from June 2016 to August 2021. Senior Director at AXA-Equitable from June 2011 until May 2016. Senior Director at PRUCO Securities, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. from October 2005 until December 2009.

Eric C. Griffith

(Born: 1969)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2019)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2019. Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co., from 2012 to 2018.

Matthew M. Maher

(Born: 1975)

Vice President

(since 2018)

 

Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2018. Attorney, Blank Rome LLP, from 2015 to 2018. Assistant Counsel & Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon, from 2013 to 2014. Attorney, Dilworth Paxson LLP, from 2006 to 2013.

 

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Andrew Metzger

(Born: 1980)

Treasurer, Controller and Chief Financial Officer

(since 2021)

Director of Fund Accounting, SEI Investments, since 2020. Senior Director, Embark, from 2019 to 2020. Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, from 2002 to 2019.

Robert Morrow

(Born: 1968)

Vice President

(since 2017)

Account Manager, SEI Investments, since 2007.

Stephen F. Panner

(Born: 1970)

Chief Compliance Officer

(since 2022)

Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds, SEI Structured Credit Fund LP, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds since September 2022. Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Alternative Income Fund since May 2023. Chief Compliance Officer of Symmetry Panoramic Trust since December 2023. Fund Compliance Officer of SEI Investments Company from February 2011 to September 2022. Fund Accounting Director and CFO and Controller for the SEI Funds from July 2005 to February 2011.

Alexander F. Smith

(Born: 1977)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary (since 2020) Counsel at SEI Investments since 2020. Associate Counsel & Manager, Vanguard, 2012 to 2020. Attorney, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, 2008 to 2012.

 

PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES

 

Purchases and redemptions may be made through the Transfer Agent on any day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business. Shares of the Fund are offered and redeemed on a continuous basis. Currently, the NYSE is closed for business when the following holidays are observed: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

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It is currently the Trust’s policy to pay all redemptions in cash. The Trust retains the right, however, to alter this policy to provide for redemptions in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of securities held by the Fund in lieu of cash. Shareholders may incur brokerage charges on the sale of any such securities so received in payment of redemptions. A shareholder will at all times be entitled to aggregate cash redemptions from all of the funds of the Trust up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Trust’s net assets during any 90-day period.

 

The Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption and/or to postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, for any period on which trading on the NYSE is restricted (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation), or during the existence of an emergency (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation) as a result of which disposal or valuation of the Fund’s securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC has by order permitted. The Trust also reserves the right to suspend sales of shares of the Fund for any period during which the NYSE, the Adviser, the Administrator, the Transfer Agent and/or the Custodian are not open for business.

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

General Policy. The Fund adheres to Section 2(a)(41), and Rules 2a-4 and 2a-5 thereunder, of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other securities are valued at fair value by the Adviser in good faith, and subject to the oversight of the Board. In complying with the 1940 Act, the Trust relies on guidance provided by the SEC and by the SEC staff in various interpretive letters and other guidance.

 

Equity Securities. Securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system for which quotations are readily available (except for securities traded on NASDAQ), including securities traded over the counter, are valued at the last quoted sale price on an exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on the valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time if such exchange is normally open at that time), or, if there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recent quoted bid price. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price will be used. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Money Market Securities and other Debt Securities. If available, money market securities and other debt securities are priced based upon valuations provided by recognized independent, third-party pricing agents. Such values generally reflect the last reported sales price if the security is actively traded. The third-party pricing agents may also value debt securities by employing methodologies that utilize actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations, or other methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities. Such methodologies generally consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. Money market securities and other debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less may be valued at their amortized cost, which approximates market value. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Foreign Securities. The prices for foreign securities are reported in local currency and converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates. Exchange rates are provided daily by recognized independent pricing agents.

 

Derivatives and Other Complex Securities. Exchange traded options on securities and indices purchased by the Fund generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last bid price. Exchange traded options on securities and indices written by the Fund generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last asked price. In the case of options traded in the over-the-counter market, if the OTC option is also an exchange traded option, the Fund will follow the rules regarding the valuation of exchange traded options. If the OTC option is not also an exchange traded option, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

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Futures and swaps cleared through a central clearing house (“centrally cleared swaps”) are valued at the settlement price established each day by the board of the exchange on which they are traded. The daily settlement prices for financial futures are provided by an independent source. On days when there is excessive volume or market volatility, or the future or centrally cleared swap does not end trading by the time the Fund calculates NAV, the settlement price may not be available at the time at which the Fund calculates its NAV. On such days, the best available price (which is typically the last sales price) may be used to value the Fund’s futures or centrally cleared swaps position.

 

Foreign currency forward contracts are valued at the current day’s interpolated foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day’s spot rate, and the thirty, sixty, ninety and one-hundred eighty day forward rates provided by an independent source.

 

If available, non-centrally cleared swaps, collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations and bank loans are priced based on valuations provided by an independent third party pricing agent. If a price is not available from an independent third party pricing agent, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Use of Third-Party Independent Pricing Services. Pursuant to contracts with the Administrator, prices for most securities held by the Fund with readily available market quotations are provided by third-party independent pricing agents. The valuations for these securities are reviewed by the Administrator. In accordance with the Adviser’s Valuation Procedures, the Adviser may also use third-party independent pricing agents (reviewed and approved by the Adviser) to fair value certain securities without readily available market quotations (or where market quotations are unreliable).

 

Fair Value Procedures. Securities for which market prices are not “readily available” or which cannot be valued using the methodologies described above are valued in accordance with Fair Value Procedures established by the Adviser and implemented through the Adviser's Valuation Committee. In establishing a fair value for an investment, the Adviser will use valuation methodologies established by the Adviser and may consider inputs and methodologies provided by, among others, third-party independent pricing agents, independent broker dealers and/or the Adviser’s own personnel (including investment personnel).

 

Some of the more common reasons that may necessitate a security being valued using Fair Value Procedures include: the security’s trading has been halted or suspended; the security has been de-listed from a national exchange; the security’s primary trading market is temporarily closed at a time when under normal conditions it would be open; the security has not been traded for an extended period of time; the security’s primary pricing source is not able or willing to provide a price; trading of the security is subject to local government-imposed restrictions; or a significant event with respect to a security has occurred after the close of the market or exchange on which the security principally trades and before the time the Fund calculates NAV. When a security is valued in accordance with the Fair Value Procedures, the Adviser's Valuation Committee will determine the value after taking into consideration relevant information reasonably available to the Committee.

 

Fair Valuation of Foreign Securities Based on U.S. Market Movements. A third party fair valuation vendor provides a fair value for foreign securities held by the Fund based on certain factors and methodologies (involving, generally, tracking valuation correlations between the U.S. market and each foreign security) applied by the fair valuation vendor in the event that there are movements in the U.S. market that exceed a specific threshold that has been established by the Adviser. The Adviser has also established a “confidence interval” that is used to determine the level of correlation between the value of a foreign security and movements in the U.S. market that is required for a particular security to be fair valued when the threshold is exceeded. In the event that the threshold established by the Adviser is exceeded on a specific day, the Adviser values the foreign securities in the Fund’s portfolio that exceed the applicable “confidence interval” based upon the fair values provided by the fair valuation vendor. In the event that the Adviser believes that the fair values provided by the fair valuation vendor are not reliable, the Adviser will determine in good faith the fair value of the foreign securities, subject to Board oversight.

 

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TAXES

 

The following is only a summary of certain additional U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that is intended to supplement the discussion contained in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. In particular, it does not address investors subject to special rules, such as investors who hold shares through an individual retirement account ("IRA"), 401(k) or other tax advantaged accounts. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations, including their state, local, and foreign tax liabilities.

 

The following general discussion of certain federal income tax consequences is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.

 

Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company. The Fund has elected and intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”). By following such a policy, the Fund expects to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal taxes to which it may be subject. If the Fund qualifies as a RIC, it will generally not be subject to federal income taxes on the net investment income and net realized capital gains that the Fund timely distributes to its shareholders. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

In order to qualify as a RIC under the Code, the Fund must distribute annually to its shareholders at least 90% of its net investment income (which, includes dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, less operating expenses) and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income, for each tax year, if any (the “Distribution Requirement”) and also must meet certain additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of the Fund’s gross income each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities, or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (the “Qualifying Income Test”); and (ii) at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year: (A) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, including the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership, and (B) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of another RIC) of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Asset Test”).

 

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Although the Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and may distribute its capital gains for any taxable year, the Fund will be subject to federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed.

 

If the Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income or Asset Tests in any taxable year, the Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. If the Fund fails to maintain qualification as a RIC for a tax year, and the relief provisions are not available, the Fund will be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate (currently 21%) without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In such a case, its shareholders would be taxed as if they received ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits, although corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends received deduction (subject to certain limitations) and individuals may be able to benefit from the lower tax rates available to qualified dividend income. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC.

 

The Fund may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year. A “qualified late year loss” generally includes net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (commonly referred to as “post-October losses”) and certain other late-year losses.

 

The treatment of capital loss carryovers for the Fund is similar to the rules that apply to capital loss carryovers of individuals, which provide that such losses are carried over indefinitely. If the Fund has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains), the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year. The carryover of capital losses may be limited under the general loss limitation rules if the Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Code.

 

Federal Excise Tax. Notwithstanding the Distribution Requirement described above, which generally requires the Fund to distribute at least 90% of its annual investment company taxable income and the excess of its exempt interest income (but does not require any minimum distribution of net capital gain), the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax to the extent it fails to distribute, by the end of the calendar year, at least 98% of its ordinary income for that year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income (the excess of short- and long-term capital gains over short- and long-term capital losses) for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year (including any retained amount from the prior calendar year on which the Fund paid no federal income tax). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions to avoid liability for federal excise tax but can make no assurances that such tax will be completely eliminated. For example, the Fund may receive delayed or corrected tax reporting statements from its investments that cause the Fund to accrue additional income and gains after the Fund has already made its excise tax distributions for the year. In such a situation, the Fund may incur an excise tax liability resulting from such delayed receipt of such tax information statements. In addition, the Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate Fund investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal excise tax liability at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Fund to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.

 

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Distributions to Shareholders. The Fund receives income generally in the form of dividends and interest on investments. This income, plus net short-term capital gains, if any, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, constitutes the Fund’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. Any distributions by the Fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary income or at the lower capital gains rates that apply to individuals receiving qualified dividend income, whether you take them in cash or in additional shares.

 

Distributions by the Fund are currently eligible for the reduced maximum tax rate to individuals of 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets) to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income on the securities it holds and the Fund reports the distributions as qualified dividend income. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that: (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become “ex-dividend” (which is the day on which declared distributions (dividends or capital gains) are deducted from the Fund’s assets before it calculates the NAV) with respect to such dividend; (ii) the Fund has not satisfied similar holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder; (iii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property; or (iv) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Code. Therefore, if you lend your shares in the Fund, such as pursuant to a securities lending arrangement, you may lose the ability to treat dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. Distributions that the Fund receives from an underlying fund taxable as a RIC will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such underlying fund. The Fund’s investment strategy may limit its ability to make distributions eligible for the reduced tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income.

 

Distributions by the Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Capital gain distributions consisting of the Fund's net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains for individual shareholders currently set at a maximum rate of 20% regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Fund. Distributions from capital gains are generally made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards.

 

In the case of corporate shareholders, the Fund’s distributions (other than capital gain distributions) generally qualify for the dividends received deduction to the extent such distributions are so reported and do not exceed the gross amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund for the year. Generally, and subject to certain limitations (including certain holding period limitations), a dividend will be treated as a qualifying dividend if it has been received from a domestic corporation. The Fund’s investment strategies may significantly limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

To the extent that the Fund makes a distribution of income received by the Fund in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

If the Fund’s distributions exceed its current and accumulated earnings and profits for the taxable year (as calculated for federal income tax purposes), all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholder’s cost basis in the Fund and result in a higher reported capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold.

 

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A dividend or distribution received shortly after the purchase of shares reduces the net asset value of the shares by the amount of the dividend or distribution and, although in effect a return of capital, will be taxable to the shareholder. If the net asset value of shares were reduced below the shareholder’s cost by dividends or distributions representing gains realized on sales of securities, such dividends or distributions would be a return of investment though taxable to the shareholder in the same manner as other dividends or distributions.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, and will advise you of their tax status for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held your shares for a full year, the Fund may report and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gain, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Fund.

 

Dividends declared to shareholders of record in October, November or December and actually paid in January of the following year will be treated as having been received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which declared. Under this rule, therefore, a shareholder may be taxed in one year on dividends or distributions actually received in January of the following year.

 

Sales, Exchanges or Redemptions. Sales, exchanges and redemptions of Fund shares may be taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. Any gain or loss recognized on a sale, exchange, or redemption of shares of the Fund by a shareholder who holds Fund shares as a capital asset will generally be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months and otherwise will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss. However, if shares on which a shareholder has received a net capital gain distribution are subsequently sold, exchanged or redeemed and such shares have been held for six months or less, any loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the net capital gain distribution. In addition, the loss realized on a sale or other disposition of shares will be disallowed to the extent a shareholder repurchases (or enters into a contract to or option to repurchase) shares within a period of 61 days (beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares). This loss disallowance rule will apply to shares received through the reinvestment of dividends during the 61-day period. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different fund is the same as a sale.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for purchases of Fund shares. In addition to the requirement to report the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as its default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by a Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. If your shares are held in a brokerage account, your broker may use a different method and you should contact your broker to determine which method it will use. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review any basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

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Net Investment Income Tax. U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly), are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including any capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund).

 

Foreign Taxes. Dividends and interest received by the Fund may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions that would reduce the yield on the Fund’s stocks or securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these taxes. Foreign countries generally do not impose taxes on capital gains with respect to investments by foreign investors. If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to, and intends to file an election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. Pursuant to the election, the Fund will treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders. Each such shareholder will be required to include a proportionate share of those taxes in gross income as income received from a foreign source and must treat the amount so included as if the shareholder had paid the foreign tax directly. The shareholder may then either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him or her in computing his or her taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating any foreign tax credit they may be entitled to use against the shareholder's federal income tax liability. If the Fund makes the election, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions. If the Fund does not hold sufficient foreign securities to meet the above threshold, then shareholders will not be entitled to claim a credit or further deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund.

 

A shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by the Fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, which may result in a shareholder not receiving a full credit or deduction (if any) for the amount of such taxes. In particular, shareholders must hold their Fund shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 additional days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a given dividend. Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such foreign taxes. Even if the Fund were eligible to make such an election for a given year, it may determine not to do so. Shareholders that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and those who invest in the Fund through tax-advantaged accounts (including those who invest through IRAs or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by the Fund.

 

Tax Treatment of Complex Securities. The Fund may invest in complex securities, and these investments may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules. These rules could affect the Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC, affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Fund are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to the Fund and/or defer the Fund’s ability to recognize losses, and, in limited cases, subject the Fund to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of its foreign securities. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by the Fund and may require the Fund to sell securities to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

The Fund is required for federal income tax purposes to mark-to-market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures and options contracts subject to section 1256 of the Code (“Section 1256 Contracts”) as of the end of the year as well as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from Section 1256 Contracts on broad-based indexes required to be marked to market will be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. The Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on Section 1256 Contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the Fund. These provisions may also require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirement and for avoiding the excise tax discussed above. Accordingly, in order to avoid certain income and excise taxes, the Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

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If the Fund owns shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to as “passive foreign investment companies” or “PFICs,” the Fund will generally be subject to one of the following special tax regimes: (i) the Fund may be liable for U.S. federal income tax, and an additional interest charge, on a portion of any “excess distribution” from such foreign entity or any gain from the disposition of such shares, even if the entire distribution or gain is paid out by the Fund as a dividend to its shareholders; (ii) if the Fund were able and elected to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” or “QEF”, the Fund would be required each year to include in income, and distribute to shareholders in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above, the Fund’s pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of the PFIC, whether or not such earnings or gains are distributed to the Fund; or (iii) the Fund may be entitled to mark-to-market annually shares of the PFIC, and in such event would be required to distribute to shareholders any such mark-to-market gains in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above. The Fund intends to make the appropriate tax elections, if possible, and take any additional steps that are necessary to mitigate the effect of these rules. Amounts included in income each year by the Fund arising from a QEF election will be “qualifying income” under the Qualifying Income Test (as described above) even if not distributed to the Fund, if the Fund derives such income from its business of investing in stock, securities or currencies.

 

Certain Foreign Currency Tax Issues. The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies and forward foreign currency contracts will generally be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also may require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out) which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirements and for avoiding the excise tax described above. The Fund intends to monitor its transactions, intends to make the appropriate tax elections, and intends to make the appropriate entries in its books and records when it acquires any foreign currency or forward foreign currency contract in order to mitigate the effect of these rules so as to prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC and minimize the imposition of income and excise taxes.

 

The U.S. Treasury Department has authority to issue regulations that would exclude foreign currency gains from the Qualifying Income Test described above if such gains are not directly related to the Fund’s business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect to stock or securities). Accordingly, regulations may be issued in the future that could treat some or all of the Fund’s non-U.S. currency gains as non-qualifying income, thereby potentially jeopardizing the Fund’s status as a RIC for all years to which the regulations are applicable.

 

Backup Withholding. The Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold at a 24% withholding rate and remit to the U.S. Treasury the amount withheld on amounts payable to any shareholder who: (i) has provided the Fund either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all; (ii) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends; (iii) has failed to certify to the Fund that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding; or (iv) has failed to certify to the Fund that the shareholder is a U.S. person (including a resident alien). Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

 

S-65

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Any non-U.S. investors in the Fund may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in the Fund. Foreign shareholders (i.e., nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on distributions derived from taxable ordinary income. The Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a "short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Short-term capital gain dividends received by a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year are not exempt from this 30% withholding tax. Gains realized by foreign shareholders from the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Foreign shareholders who fail to provide an applicable IRS form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from the Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described in this paragraph. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.

 

Under legislation generally known as “FATCA” (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), the Fund is required to withhold 30% of certain ordinary dividends it pays to shareholders that fail to meet prescribed information reporting or certification requirements. In general, no such withholding will be required with respect to a U.S. person or non-U.S. person that timely provides the certifications required by the Fund or its agent on a valid IRS Form W-9 or applicable series of IRS Form W-8, respectively. Shareholders potentially subject to withholding include foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”), such as non-U.S. investment funds, and non-financial foreign entities (“NFFEs”). To avoid withholding under FATCA, an FFI generally must enter into an information sharing agreement with the IRS in which it agrees to report certain identifying information (including name, address, and taxpayer identification number) with respect to its U.S. account holders (which, in the case of an entity shareholder, may include its direct and indirect U.S. owners), and an NFFE generally must identify and provide other required information to the Fund or other withholding agent regarding its U.S. owners, if any. Such non-U.S. shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by regulations and other guidance. A non-U.S. shareholder resident or doing business in a country that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement.

 

A non-U.S. entity that invests in the Fund will need to provide the Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity’s status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding. Non-U.S. investors in the Fund should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, IRAs, salary deferral arrangements, 401(k)s, and other tax-exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Tax-exempt entities are not permitted to offset losses from one trade or business against the income or gain of another trade or business. Certain net losses incurred prior to January 1, 2018 are permitted to offset gain and income created by an unrelated trade or business, if otherwise available. Under current law, the Fund generally serves to block UBTI from being realized by its tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, the tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of an investment in the Fund where, for example: (i) the Fund invests in residual interests of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”), (ii) the Fund invests in a REIT that is a taxable mortgage pool (“TMP”) or that has a subsidiary that is a TMP or that invests in the residual interest of a REMIC, or (iii) shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisor. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding these issues.

 

S-66

 

The Fund’s shares held in a tax-qualified retirement account will generally not be subject to federal taxation on income and capital gains distributions from the Fund until a shareholder begins receiving payments from their retirement account. Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, shareholders should consult their tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, generally, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC such as the Fund are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

State Taxes. Depending upon state and local law, distributions by the Fund to its shareholders and the ownership of such shares may be subject to state and local taxes. Rules of state and local taxation of dividend and capital gains distributions from RICs often differ from the rules for federal income taxation described above. It is expected that the Fund will not be liable for any corporate excise, income or franchise tax in Massachusetts if it qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes.

 

Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by the Fund. Investment in Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae securities, banker’s acceptances, commercial paper, and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities do not generally qualify for such tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders.

 

Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding state and local taxes applicable to an investment in the Fund.

 

BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES

 

Brokerage Transactions. Generally, equity securities, both listed and over-the-counter, are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Purchases from underwriters will include the underwriting commission or concession, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers will include a dealer’s mark-up or reflect a dealer’s mark-down. Money market securities and other debt securities are usually bought and sold directly from the issuer or an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Generally, the Fund will not pay brokerage commissions for such purchases. When a debt security is bought from an underwriter, the purchase price will usually include an underwriting commission or concession. The purchase price for securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealer’s mark-up or reflect a dealer’s mark-down. When the Fund executes transactions in the over-the-counter market, it will generally deal with primary market makers unless prices that are more favorable are otherwise obtainable.

 

In addition, the Adviser may place a combined order for two or more accounts it manages, including the Fund, engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, joint execution is in the best interest of each participant and will result in best price and execution. Transactions involving commingled orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account or fund. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or the Fund may obtain, it is the opinion of the Adviser that the advantages of combined orders outweigh the possible disadvantages of combined orders.

 

S-67

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund paid the following aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions:

 

Aggregate Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions Paid
2021 2022 2023
$650,164 $464,770 $342,810

 

Brokerage Selection. The Trust does not expect to use one particular broker or dealer, and when one or more brokers is believed capable of providing the best combination of price and execution, the Adviser may select a broker based upon brokerage or research services provided to the Adviser. The Adviser may pay a higher commission than otherwise obtainable from other brokers in return for such services only if a good faith determination is made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.

 

Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause the Fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In addition to agency transactions, the Adviser may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). In the case of research services, the Adviser believes that access to independent investment research is beneficial to its investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Fund.

 

To the extent that research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the Adviser might utilize Fund commissions include research reports and other information on the economy, industries, sectors, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, political developments, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and other analysis. The Adviser may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used in connection with the account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Adviser will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. Any advisory or other fees paid to the Adviser are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services.

 

In some cases the Adviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a “research” and a “non-research” use. When this occurs, the Adviser makes a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions, while the Adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the Adviser believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.

 

S-68

 

From time to time, the Adviser may purchase new issues of securities for clients, including the Fund, in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the Adviser with research services. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will provide research “credits” in these situations at a rate that is higher than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund did not pay any commissions on brokerage transactions directed to brokers pursuant to an agreement or understanding whereby the broker provides research services to the Adviser.

 

Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. The Fund may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Fund or the Adviser for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act and rules promulgated by the SEC. The 1940 Act requires that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Fund for exchange transactions not exceed “usual and customary” brokerage commissions. The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” The Trustees, including those who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund did not pay any brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions effected by affiliated brokers.

 

Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealers.” The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers and dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund held during its most recent fiscal year. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund did not hold any securities of its “regular brokers and dealers.”

 

Portfolio Turnover Rates. Portfolio turnover is calculated by dividing the lesser of total purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. Excluded from both the numerator and denominator are amounts relating to securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less. The Fund may at times hold investments in short-term instruments, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rates were as follows:

 

Portfolio Turnover Rates
2022 2023
66% 68%

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Board has approved policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances regarding the disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings information to shareholders and third parties. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that disclosure of information regarding the Fund’s portfolio securities is in the best interests of Fund shareholders, and include procedures to address conflicts between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Fund’s Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Fund, the Adviser, or the principal underwriter, on the other. Pursuant to such procedures, the Board has authorized the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer to authorize the release of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, as necessary, in conformity with the foregoing principles. The Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer, either directly or through reports by the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, reports quarterly to the Board regarding the operation and administration of such policies and procedures.

 

S-69

 

Pursuant to applicable law, the Fund is required to disclose its complete portfolio holdings quarterly, within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (currently, each January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31). The Fund discloses a complete or summary schedule of investments (which includes the Fund’s 50 largest holdings in unaffiliated issuers and each investment in unaffiliated issuers that exceeds one percent of the Fund’s NAV (“Summary Schedule”)) in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports which are distributed to Fund shareholders. The Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the first and third fiscal quarters is available in quarterly holdings reports filed with the SEC as exhibits to Form N-PORT, and the Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the second and fourth fiscal quarters is available in Shareholder Reports filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR.

 

Complete schedules of investments filed with the SEC Form N-CSR and as exhibits to Form N-PORT are not distributed to Fund shareholders but are available, free of charge, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Should the Fund include only a Summary Schedule rather than a complete schedule of investments in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports, its complete schedule of investments will be available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-AAM-6161. The Fund generally publishes a complete list of its portfolio holdings on a monthly basis, as of the end of the previous month. For example, the Fund’s investments as of the end of January would ordinarily be published at the end of February. The Fund also publishes a list of its ten largest portfolio holdings, and the percentage of the Fund’s assets that each of these holdings represents, on a monthly basis, ten (10) days after the end of the month. The portfolio information described above can be found on the internet at https://https://aicfundholdings.seic.com. This information will generally remain available until it is replaced by new portfolio holdings information as described above. The Adviser may exclude any portion of the Fund’s portfolio holdings from publication when deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund.

 

In addition to information provided to shareholders and the general public, portfolio holdings information may be disclosed as frequently as daily to the Fund’s Adviser, Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent, financial printer, pricing vendors, liquidity analytics vendors, class action reclaim vendors and foreign tax reclaim vendors and other vendors that provide the Adviser with various middle office, back office, client reporting and portfolio analytics services in connection with their services to the Fund. From time to time rating and ranking organizations, such as S&P, Lipper, Morningstar, Inc., Frank Russell, Investor Force, PSN, DeMarche and Wilshire Associates may request non-public portfolio holdings information in connection with rating the Fund. Similarly, institutional investors, financial planners, pension plan sponsors and/or their consultants or other third-parties may request portfolio holdings information in order to assess the risks of the Fund’s portfolio along with related performance attribution statistics. The lag time for such disclosures will vary. The Fund believes that these third parties have legitimate objectives in requesting such portfolio holdings information. The Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer will regularly review these arrangements and will make periodic reports to the Board regarding disclosure pursuant to such arrangements.

 

The Fund’s policies and procedures provide that the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer may authorize disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information to such parties at differing times and/or with different lag times. Prior to making any disclosure to a third party, the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer must determine that such disclosure serves a reasonable business purpose, is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders and that, to the extent conflicts between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and those of the Fund’s Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Fund exists, such conflicts are addressed. Portfolio holdings information may be disclosed no more frequently than monthly to ratings agencies, consultants and other qualified financial professionals or individuals. The disclosures will not be made sooner than 10 days after the date of the information.

 

S-70

 

The Fund requires any third party receiving non-public holdings information to enter into a confidentiality agreement with the Adviser. The confidentiality agreement provides, among other things, that non-public portfolio holdings information will be kept confidential and that such information will be used solely to analyze and rank the Fund, or to perform due diligence and asset allocation, depending on the recipient of the information.

 

The Fund’s policies and procedures prohibit any compensation or other consideration from being paid to, or received by, any party in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information, including the Fund, the Adviser and its affiliates or recipients of the Fund’s portfolio holdings information.

 

The Adviser may manage other accounts that are not subject to these policies and procedures with investment objectives and strategies that are substantially similar to those of the Fund. Because the portfolio holdings of such accounts may be substantially similar, and in some cases nearly identical, to those of the Fund, an investor in such an account may be able to infer the portfolio holdings of the Fund from the portfolio holdings of the account.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of funds and shares of each fund. Each share of a fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund with each other share. Shares are entitled upon liquidation to a pro rata share in the net assets of the fund. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees may create additional series or classes of shares. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that fund and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto. Share certificates representing shares will not be issued. The Fund’s shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY

 

The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a “Massachusetts business trust.” Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the trust. Even if, however, the Trust were held to be a partnership, the possibility of the shareholders incurring financial loss for that reason appears remote because the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees, and because the Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the Trust property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust.

 

LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY

 

The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful defaults and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents, employees or investment advisers, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust unless it is determined in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. Nothing contained in this section attempts to disclaim a Trustee’s individual liability in any manner inconsistent with the federal securities laws.

 

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PROXY VOTING

 

The Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund to the Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which are included in Appendix B to this SAI.

 

The Trust is required to disclose annually the Fund’s complete proxy voting record during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 on Form N-PX. This voting record is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-AAM-6161; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

CODES OF ETHICS

 

The Board, on behalf of the Trust, has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers and certain employees (“Access Persons”). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by Access Persons. Under each Code of Ethics, Access Persons are permitted to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. The Codes of Ethics further require certain Access Persons to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings and limited offerings. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.

 

PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS

 

As of February 6, 2024, the following persons were record owners (or to the knowledge of the Trust, beneficial owners) of 5% or more of any class of the shares of the Fund. The Trust believes that most of the shares referred to below were held by the below persons in accounts for their fiduciary, agency or custodial customers. Persons beneficially owning more than 25% of the Fund’s outstanding shares may be deemed to “control” the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Shareholders controlling the Fund may have a significant impact on any shareholder vote of the Fund.

 

Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

CUSTOMERS

499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 5

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-2010

Investor 59.76%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

REINVEST ACCOUNT

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

101 MONTGOMERY ST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-4151

Investor 17.41%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O TRUIST ID 866

ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS, PA 19456-9989

Investor 6.64%

LPL FINANCIAL

FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS

ATTN MUTUAL FUND OPERATIONS

4707 EXECUTIVE DR

SAN DIEGO, CA 92121-3091

Investor 5.57%

 

S-72

 

RELIANCE TRUST CO FBO

COMERICA NON-EB R/R

PO BOX 78446

ATLANTA, GA 30357

Y Class 69.33%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

CUSTOMERS

499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 5

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-2010

Y Class 18.29%

PERSHING LLC

PO BOX 2052

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07303-2052

Y Class 5.39%

EDWARD D JONES & CO

FOR THE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS

12555 MANCHESTER RD

SAINT LOUIS. MO 63131-3710

I Class 32.20%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

101 MONTGOMERY ST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-4151

I Class 13.83%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL ID 636

ATTN: MUTUAL FUND ADMINISTRATOR

ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS, PA 19456-9989

I Class 12.90%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

CUSTOMERS

499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 5

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-2010

I Class 10.70%

WELLS FARGO BANK, NA FBO

OMNIBUS ACCOUNT CASH/CASH

550 S 4TH ST

MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55415-1529

I Class 9.43%

PRINCIPAL LIFE INS. COMPANY CUST.

FBO PFG OMNIBUS WRAPPED AND CUSTOM

FUNDS

ATTN PLIC PROXY COORDINATOR

711 HIGH STREET

DES MOINES, IA 50392-0001

I Class 8.83%

 

S-73

 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

 

Description of Ratings

 

The following descriptions of securities ratings have been published by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), respectively.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Ratings

 

Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Long-Term Ratings

 

Aaa Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

Aa Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

A Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

Baa Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

Ba Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

B Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

Caa Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

Ca Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

C Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

A-1

 

Hybrid Indicator (hyb)

 

The hybrid indicator (hyb) is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms. By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Short-Term Ratings

 

P-1 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-2 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-3 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

NP Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Description of Moody’s U.S. Municipal Short-Term Obligation Ratings

 

The Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale is used to rate U.S. municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less. Under certain circumstances, the MIG scale is used to rate bond anticipation notes with maturities of up to five years.

 

Moody’s U.S. municipal short-term obligation ratings are as follows:

 

MIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

MIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

MIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

Description of Moody’s Demand Obligation Ratings

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), Moody’s assigns both a long-term rating and a short-term payment obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer’s ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term payment obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to meet any purchase price payment obligation resulting from optional tenders (“on demand”) and/or mandatory tenders of the VRDO. The short-term payment obligation rating uses the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (“VMIG”) scale. VMIG ratings with liquidity support use as an input the short-term counterparty risk assessment of the support provider, or the long-term rating of the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support. Transitions of VMIG ratings with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions of Prime ratings reflecting the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade. For VRDOs, Moody’s typically assigns a VMIG rating if the frequency of the payment obligation is less than every three years. If the frequency of the payment obligation is less than three years, but the obligation is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the VMIG short-term rating is not assigned and it is denoted as “NR”.

 

A-2

 

Moody’s demand obligation ratings are as follows:

 

VMIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or legal protections.

 

Description of S&P’s Issue Credit Ratings

 

An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term issue credit ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. S&P would typically assign a long-term issue credit rating to an obligation with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. However, the ratings S&P assigns to certain instruments may diverge from these guidelines based on market practices. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

 

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations:

 

• The likelihood of payment—the capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitments on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

 

• The nature and provisions of the financial obligation, and the promise S&P imputes; and

 

• The protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

 

An issue rating is an assessment of default risk but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

 

A-3

 

NR indicates that a rating has not been assigned or is no longer assigned.

 

Description of S&P’s Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings*

 

AAA An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

AA An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.

 

A An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.

 

BBB An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

BB; B; CCC; CC; and C Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.

 

BB An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CCC An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CC An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

C An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.

 

D An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

A-4

 

* Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.

 

Description of S&P’s Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

 

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

 

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

 

A-3 A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

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

 

D A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

Description of S&P’s Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings

 

An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

• Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

• Source of payment—the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

A-5

 

S&P’s municipal short-term note ratings are as follows:

 

SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

D ‘D’ is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.

 

Description of Fitch’s Credit Ratings

 

Fitch’s credit ratings relating to issuers are an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Credit ratings relating to securities and obligations of an issuer can include a recovery expectation. Credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.

 

Fitch’s credit rating scale for issuers and issues is expressed using the categories ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’ (investment grade) and ‘BB’ to ‘D’ (speculative grade) with an additional +/- for AA through CCC levels indicating relative differences of probability of default or recovery for issues. The terms “investment grade” and “speculative grade” are market conventions and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the speculative grade categories signal either a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred.

 

Fitch may also disclose issues relating to a rated issuer that are not and have not been rated. Such issues are also denoted as ‘NR’ on its web page.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. Credit ratings do not deal with the risk of market value loss due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and/or other market considerations. However, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay or refinance a financial commitment. Ratings nonetheless do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, in the case of payments linked to performance of an index).

 

In the default components of ratings assigned to individual obligations or instruments, the agency typically rates to the likelihood of non-payment or default in accordance with the terms of that instrument’s documentation. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations (i.e. rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation’s documentation).

 

Description of Fitch’s Long-Term Corporate Finance Obligations Ratings

 

AAA Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

A-6

 

AA Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

A High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

BBB Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

BB Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

B Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

CCC Substantial credit risk. ‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.

 

CC Very high levels of credit risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.

 

C Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. ‘C’ ratings indicate exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Ratings in the categories of ‘CCC’, ‘CC’ and ‘C’ can also relate to obligations or issuers that are in default. In this case, the rating does not opine on default risk but reflects the recovery expectation only.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned ‘RD’ or ‘D’ ratings, but are instead rated in the ‘CCC’ to ‘C’ rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Description of Fitch’s Short-Term Ratings

 

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

 

Fitch’s short-term ratings are as follows:

 

F1 Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

F2 Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

F3 Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

A-7

 

B Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

C High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

 

RD Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

D Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

A-8

 

APPENDIX B - PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

ACADIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

(as of January 2023)

Policy

 

Whether Acadian will have proxy voting responsibility on behalf of a separate account client is subject to negotiation as part of the overall investment management agreement executed with each client. We will have voting responsibility for all Acadian branded funds.

 

Should a separate account client desire that Acadian vote proxies on their behalf, Acadian will accept such authority and agree with the client as part of the investment management agreement whether votes should be cast in accordance with Acadian’s proxy voting policy or in accordance with a client specific proxy voting policy. Should the client wish to retain voting responsibility themselves, Acadian would have no further involvement in the voting process but would remain available to provide reasonable assistance to the client as needed.

 

Acadian utilizes the services of Institutional Shareholder Services (“ISS”), an unaffiliated proxy firm, to help manage the proxy voting process and to research and vote proxies. Acadian has adopted the ISS voting policies for use when contractually directed by the client to votes proxies on their behalf in accordance with our proxy voting policy. We review the ISS policies at least annually and believe that they are reasonably designed to ensure that we vote proxies in the best interest of clients and that our voting decisions are insulated from any potential material conflicts of interest.

 

Should a client contractually direct Acadian to vote proxies on their behalf in accordance with Client specific voting policies and procedures, we will still utilize the services of ISS to cast the votes in accordance with the client’s instructions.

 

When voting proxies on behalf of our clients, Acadian assumes a fiduciary responsibility to vote in our clients' best interests. In addition, with respect to benefit plans under the Employee Retirement Income Securities Act (ERISA), Acadian acknowledges its responsibility as a fiduciary to vote proxies prudently and solely in the best interest of plan participants and beneficiaries. So that it may fulfill these fiduciary responsibilities to clients, Acadian has adopted and implemented these written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that it votes proxies in the best interest of clients.

 

Procedures

 

Proxy Voting Guidelines

 

Acadian acknowledges it has a duty of care to its clients that requires it to monitor corporate events and vote client proxies when instructed by the client to do so. To assist in this effort, Acadian has retained ISS to research and vote its proxies. ISS provides proxy-voting analysis and votes proxies in accordance with predetermined guidelines. Relying on ISS to vote proxies is intended to help ensure that Acadian votes in the best interest of its clients and insulates Acadian’s voting decisions from any potential material conflicts of interest. Acadian will also accept specific written proxy voting instructions from a client and communicate those instructions to ISS to implement when voting proxies involving that client’s portfolio.

 

In specific instances where ISS will not vote a proxy, will not provide a voting recommendation, or other instances where there is an unusual cost or requirement related to a proxy vote, Acadian’s Head of Core Strategies Securities Operations will coordinate with members of our investment team to conduct an analysis to determine whether the costs related to the vote outweigh the potential benefit to our client. If we determine, in our discretion, that it is in the best of interest of our client not to participate in the vote Acadian will not participate in the vote on behalf of our client. If we determine that a vote would be in the best interest of our client, Acadian will provide voting direction back to ISS and ensure the vote is cast as they instruct.

 

B-1

 

Unless contrary instructions are received from a client, Acadian has instructed ISS to not vote proxies in so-called "share blocking" markets. Share-blocking markets are markets where proxy voters have their securities blocked from trading during the period of the annual meeting. The period of blocking typically lasts from a few days to two weeks. During the period, any portfolio holdings in these markets cannot be sold without a formal recall. The recall process can take time, and in some cases, cannot be accomplished at all. This makes a client’s portfolio vulnerable to a scenario where a stock is dropping in attractiveness but cannot be sold because it has been blocked. Shareholders who do not vote are not subject to the blocking procedure.

 

Acadian also reserves the right to override ISS vote recommendations under certain circumstances. Acadian will only do so if they believe that voting contrary to the ISS recommendation is in the best interest of clients. The reasons for any overrides and for voting against the ISS recommendation will be documented.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

Occasions may arise during the voting process in which the best interest of our clients conflict with Acadian’s interests. In these situations, ISS will continue to follow the same predetermined guidelines as formally agreed upon between Acadian and ISS before such conflict of interest existed. Conflicts of interest generally include (i) business relationships where Acadian has a substantial business relationship with, or is actively soliciting business from, a company soliciting proxies, or (ii) personal or family relationships whereby an employee of Acadian has a family member or other personal relationship that is affiliated with a company soliciting proxies, such as a spouse who serves as a director of a public company. A conflict could also exist if a substantial business relationship exists with a proponent or opponent of a particular initiative.

 

If Acadian learns that a conflict of interest exists, the Head of Core Strategies Securities Operations will work with our compliance and investment team as needed to document (i) the details of the conflict of interest, (ii) whether or not the conflict is material, and (iii) procedures to ensure that Acadian makes proxy voting decisions based on the best interests of clients. If Acadian determines that a material conflict exists, it will defer to ISS to vote the proxy in accordance with the predetermined voting policy.

 

Voting Policies

 

Acadian has adopted the proxy voting policies developed by ISS, summaries of which can be found at http://www.issgovernance.com/policy and which are deemed to be incorporated herein. The policies have been developed based on ISS’ independent, objective analysis of leading corporate governance practices and their support of long-term shareholder value. Acadian may change its proxy voting policy from time to time without providing notice of changes to clients.

 

Voting Process

 

Acadian’s Head of Core Strategies Securities Operations acts as coordinator with ISS including ensuring proxies Acadian is responsible to vote are forwarded to ISS, overseeing that ISS is voting assigned client accounts and maintaining appropriate authorization and voting records.

 

After ISS is notified by the custodian of a proxy that requires voting and/or after ISS cross references their database with a routine download of Acadian holdings and determines a proxy requires voting, ISS will review the proxy and make a voting proposal based on the recommendations provided by their research group. Any electronic proxy votes will be communicated to the proxy solicitor by ISS Global Proxy Distribution Service and Broadridge’s Proxy Edge Distribution Service, while non-electronic ballots, or paper ballots, will be faxed, telephoned or sent via Internet. ISS assumes responsibility for the proxies to be transmitted for voting in a timely fashion and maintains a record of the vote, which is provided to Acadian on a monthly basis. Proxy voting records specific to a client’s account are available to each client upon request.

 

B-2

 

Proxy Voting Record

 

Acadian will maintain a record containing the following information regarding the voting of proxies: (i) the name of the issuer, (ii) the exchange ticker symbol, (iii) the CUSIP number, (iv) the shareholder meeting date, (v) a brief description of the matter brought to vote; (vi) whether the proposal was submitted by management or a shareholder, (vii) how Acadian/ ISS voted the proxy (for, against, abstained) and (viii) whether the proxy was voted for or against management.

 

Obtaining a Voting Proxy Report

 

Clients may request a copy of these policies and procedures and/or a report on how their individual securities were voted by contacting Acadian at 617-850-3500 or by email at compliance-reporting@acadian-asset.com.

 

B-3

 

 

 

 

Prospectus

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

March 1, 2024

 

 

Cambiar Opportunity Fund

Cambiar Small Cap Fund

Investor Class Shares: CAMOX
Institutional Class Shares: CAMWX

Investor Class Shares: CAMSX
Institutional Class Shares: CAMZX

Cambiar International Equity Fund

Cambiar SMID Fund

Investor Class Shares: CAMIX
Institutional Class Shares: CAMYX

Investor Class Shares: CAMMX
Institutional Class Shares: CAMUX

   
   

 

 

 

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

 

 

Investing With The Courage Of Our Convictions®

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

   

Cambiar Opportunity Fund

1

Fund Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategies

2

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund

4

Performance Information

5

Investment Adviser

6

Fund Management

6

Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares

7

Cambiar International Equity Fund

8

Fund Investment Objective

8

Fund Fees and Expenses

8

Principal Investment Strategies

9

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund

11

Performance Information

14

Investment Adviser

15

Fund Management

15

Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares

16

Cambiar Small Cap Fund

17

Fund Investment Objective

17

Fund Fees and Expenses

17

Principal Investment Strategies

18

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund

20

Performance Information

21

Investment Adviser

22

Fund Management

23

Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares

23

Cambiar SMID Fund

24

Fund Investment Objective

24

Fund Fees and Expenses

24

Principal Investment Strategies

25

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund

27

Performance Information

29

Investment Adviser

30

Fund Management

30

Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares

31

Summary Information about Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation

32

Investing with the Cambiar Funds

33

Buying Fund Shares

34

Redeeming Fund Shares

36

Exchanging Fund Shares

38

Transaction Policies

39

Account Policies

44

 

 

Additional Information about the Funds

52

Other Investment Practices and Risks

52

Investment Management

58

More Information about the Funds’ History and Performance

61

Payments by the Funds or the Adviser to Financial Intermediaries

62

Additional Information

64

Financial Highlights

65

 

 

 

CAMWX INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES

CAMOX INVESTOR CLASS SHARES

Russell 1000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

Cambiar Opportunity Fund

 

Fund Investment Objective

 

 

The Cambiar Opportunity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks total return and capital preservation.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may be required to pay commissions and/or other forms of compensation to a broker for transactions in Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares, which are not reflected in the table or the example below.

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor
Class Shares

Management Fees

0.60%

0.60%

Other Expenses

0.19%

0.40%

Shareholder Service Fees1

None

0.21%

Other Operating Expenses

0.19%

0.19%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

0.79%

1.00%

Less Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements2

(0.14)%

(0.14)%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements

0.65%

0.86%

 

1

The Fund’s Investor Class Shares are subject to a maximum annual shareholder servicing fee of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Investor Class Shares.

2

Cambiar Investors, LLC (“Cambiar,” or, the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding any class-specific expenses (including shareholder servicing fees), interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other costs and expenses relating to the securities that are purchased and sold by the Fund, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and other non-routine expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 0.65% of the average daily net assets of each of the Fund’s share classes until March 1, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of the fees waived or reduced or other payments remitted by the Adviser during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the reimbursement if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver or expense payment; and (ii) at the time of the reimbursement. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time; or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on March 1, 2025. This Agreement automatically terminates upon the termination of the investment advisory agreement.

 

1

 

 

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses (including one year of capped expenses in each period) remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$66

$238

$425

$965

Investor Class Shares

$88

$304

$539

$1,212

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 51% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

 

The Fund invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of common stocks of companies with a market capitalization in excess of $10 billion at time of purchase.

 

In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser uses a fundamental, relative value investment approach to build a diversified portfolio of companies. Companies entering the portfolio generally need to satisfy Cambiar’s criteria on four levels: quality, valuation, value creation/catalyst, and risk-reward criteria:

 

2

 

 

 

Quality – Cambiar’s analysts seek companies that are best-of-breed operators within their industries. Eligible businesses for the portfolio are evaluated based on the following characteristics:

 

 

Management Management teams should have a track record of success that has benefitted not just public shareholders such as the Fund, but a wide range of stakeholders, e.g., employees, customers, suppliers.

 

 

Consistent margins Companies with above average and consistent margins suggest a relatively high value-add product or service and defensible market position.

 

 

Return on invested capital (“ROIC”) Demonstrates a pattern of value creation and capital discipline.

 

 

Low leverage Companies with strong balance sheets do not need to depend on the vagaries of the debt and/or equity markets to sustain their businesses.

 

 

Free cash flow (“FCF”) – We view FCF to be a better measure of economic value creation versus alternative metrics such as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) or earnings per share (“EPS”) because Cambiar believes that FCF is less subject to manipulation.

 

Valuation – Cambiar evaluates broadly accepted and recognized financial measures in gauging valuation. An underlying premise of the Cambiar philosophy is that certain industries tend to follow certain valuation ranges; the market does not randomly value stocks. Our preference is to invest in companies that are trading at a reasonable valuation relative to their historical trading range. The Cambiar team will use a variety of metrics in gauging valuation; examples include Price/Earnings, Price/Book Value and FCF Yield.

 

Value Creation/Catalyst – Cambiar’s research process also seeks to identify some form of fundamental positive development(s) that we believe the market is overlooking/underappreciating. Such catalysts may come in varying forms – examples include new product introductions, managerial changes, divestiture of an underperforming division, or simply better financial performance. Valuation, in and of itself, is not a catalyst – there must be some identifiable event that we believe will cause investors to positively reassess the business.

 

Risk-Reward Criteria – The final criteria is the investment team’s assessment of the issuer’s upside potential: companies entering the portfolio should possess an attractive total return potential that includes both price appreciation and dividends (if applicable) over a forward 1- to 2-year timeframe. While Cambiar may not achieve this return target over the desired timeframe – or at all – the return requirement is intended to channel research efforts toward those situations that appear to offer the most compelling risk/return tradeoffs.

 

3

 

 

 

The Adviser constructs the Fund’s portfolio on a security-by-security basis, with the goal of building a portfolio that strikes a balance between the Adviser’s conviction in an investment and portfolio diversification. The Adviser seeks to manage the Fund’s risk through its research process as well as limits on individual position sizes and allocations to an economic sector.

 

The Adviser will consider liquidating or reducing its investment in a company if: (a) the investment thesis is realized and the stock reaches its price target, (b) the stock price increases disproportionately relative to actual company developments, (c) position size, country or sector limits are reached, or (d) there is a negative change in fundamentals, or the investment thesis fails to develop as expected. The Adviser will not sell a stock simply because of a decline in price, and may add to the position if the investment thesis remains intact.

 

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund

 

 

As with all mutual funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. You should consider your investment goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices may fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate significantly from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies, and hence, the Fund, may suffer a decline in response. Portfolio securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

The large capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may lag the performance of smaller capitalization companies because large capitalization companies may experience slower rates of growth than smaller capitalization companies and may not respond as quickly to market changes and opportunities.

 

A number of factors can affect financial markets generally, which in turn, can impact the value of the Fund’s investments. Economic considerations such as GDP growth, interest rates, inflation, monetary and fiscal policy, barriers to capital formation and reinvestment, market instability, and budgetary deficits are key considerations in how overall markets perform. Political factors, including elections and political instability and unrest, foreign or domestic, can affect the extent to which investors choose to participate in financial markets. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseeable ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

4

 

 

 

The Fund is an actively managed mutual fund that pursues a “value” style of investing. Value investing focuses on companies whose stock appears undervalued in light of factors such as the company’s earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow. If the Adviser’s assessment of market conditions, or a company’s value or prospects for meeting or exceeding earnings expectations is inaccurate, the Fund may not achieve its intended results and could suffer losses or produce poor performance relative to other funds or market benchmarks. In addition, “value stocks” can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time, and may never achieve the Adviser’s expected valuation.

 

Performance Information

 

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Investor Class Shares’ performance from year to year for the past 10 years and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for 1, 5 and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

Updated performance information is available at www.cambiar.com or by calling 1-866-777-8227.

 

 

 

During the periods shown in the chart, the Fund’s Investor Class Shares’ highest return for a quarter was 19.25% (quarter ended 6/30/2020) and the lowest return for a quarter was (21.60)% (quarter ended 3/31/2020).

 

5

 

 

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns are shown for only the Investor Class Shares. After-tax returns for Institutional Class Shares will vary.

 

Institutional Class Shares of the Fund commenced operations on November 3, 2005. As a result, the performance information provided for Institutional Class Shares incorporates the returns of Investor Class Shares of the Fund for periods before November 3, 2005. Institutional Class Shares would have substantially similar performance as Investor Class Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would generally differ only to the extent that total expenses of Institutional Class Shares are lower.

 

 

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since
Inception
(6/30/98)

Investor Class Shares

         

Fund Returns Before Taxes

16.84%

15.01%

9.60%

8.97%

06/30/1998

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

14.37%

13.04%

7.50%

7.62%

06/30/1998

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

11.51%

11.71%

7.24%

7.25%

06/30/1998

Institutional Class Shares

         

Fund Returns Before Taxes

17.07%

15.21%

9.83%

9.14%

06/30/1998

Russell 1000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

11.46%

10.91%

8.40%

7.02%

06/30/1998

 

 

Investment Adviser

 

 

Cambiar Investors, LLC

 

Fund Management

 

 

The Opportunity Fund is managed by the domestic investment team. This team includes:

 

Brian M. Barish, CFA, President, Chief Investment Officer, joined the Adviser in 1997 and has served as Lead Manager of the portfolio team for the Fund since its inception in 1998.

 

6

 

 

 

CAMWX INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES

CAMOX INVESTOR CLASS SHARES

Russell 1000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

 

Anna (Ania) A. Aldrich, CFA, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 1999 and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since 1999.

 

Andrew P. Baumbusch, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 2004 and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since 2004.

 

Colin M. Dunn, CFA, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 2011 and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since 2011.

 

Joseph S. Chin, CFA, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 2019 and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since 2019.

 

Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares

 

 

To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $2,500 ($500 for IRAs and $250 for Spousal IRAs). Thereafter your investments must be at least $100. To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $500,000. There is no minimum for subsequent investments in Institutional Class Shares. The Fund reserves the right to waive any of the minimum investment amounts in its sole discretion. If the value of your Institutional Class Share holdings are below $250,000 at any time, the Fund reserves the right to convert, on a tax-free basis, your Institutional Class Shares to Investor Class Shares of the Fund, in which case you will be subject to the fees and expenses of Investor Class Shares.

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-866-777-8227 or visiting www.cambiar.com.

 

If you own your shares through an account with an investment professional or other institution, contact that investment professional or institution to redeem your shares. Your investment professional or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

For important information about taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page 32 of the prospectus.

 

7

 

 

 

CAMYX INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES

CAMIX INVESTOR CLASS SHARES

MSCI EAFE Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

Cambiar International Equity Fund

 

Fund Investment Objective

 

 

The Cambiar International Equity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks total return and capital preservation.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may be required to pay commissions and/or other forms of compensation to a broker for transactions in Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares, which are not reflected in the table or the example below.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

   

Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if shares redeemed have been held for less than 90 days)

2.00%

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor
Class Shares

Management Fees

0.90%

0.90%

Other Expenses

0.26%

0.35%

Shareholder Service Fees1

None

0.09%

Other Operating Expenses

0.26%

0.26%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

1.16%

1.25%

Less Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements2

(0.26)%

(0.26)%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements

0.90%

0.99%

 

1

The Fund’s Investor Class Shares are subject to a maximum annual shareholder servicing fee of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Investor Class Shares.

2

Cambiar Investors, LLC (“Cambiar,” or, the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding any class-specific expenses (including shareholder servicing fees), interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other costs and expenses relating to the securities that are purchased and sold by the Fund, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and other non-routine expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 0.90% of the average daily net assets of each of the Fund’s share classes until March 1, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of the fees waived or reduced or other payments remitted by the Adviser during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the reimbursement if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver or expense payment; and (ii) at the time of the reimbursement. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time; or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on March 1, 2025. This Agreement automatically terminates upon the termination of the investment advisory agreement.

 

8

 

 

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses (including one year of capped expenses in each period) remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$92

$343

$613

$1,386

Investor Class Shares

$101

$371

$661

$1,488

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 32% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of foreign companies. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The Fund expects, under normal market conditions, to invest in at least three different countries. In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser focuses predominantly on medium to large market capitalization equity securities.

 

9

 

 

 

The Fund may consider a company to be a “foreign company” if: (i) 50% of the company’s assets are located outside of the United States; or (ii) 50% of the company’s revenues are generated outside of the United States; or (iii) the company is domiciled or doing a substantial amount of business outside of the United States. The majority of these companies operate in “established” markets; however, when opportunities warrant, the Fund may invest up to 15% of its assets in securities of companies in “emerging market” countries. An “emerging market” country is any country determined by the Adviser to have an emerging market economy, considering factors such as the country’s credit rating, its political and economic stability and the development of its financial and capital markets. Typically, emerging markets are in countries that are in the process of industrializing, with lower gross national products than more developed countries. In some circumstances, the Fund may purchase American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), which are traded on U.S. exchanges and markets and represent an ownership interest in a foreign security, rather than foreign shares that are traded on foreign exchanges, because the ADRs have greater liquidity or for other reasons.

 

In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser uses a fundamental, relative value investment approach to build a diversified portfolio of companies. Companies entering the portfolio generally need to satisfy Cambiar’s criteria on four levels: quality, valuation, value creation/catalyst, and risk-reward criteria:

 

Quality – Cambiar’s analysts seek companies that are best-of-breed operators within their industries. Eligible businesses for the portfolio are evaluated based on the following characteristics:

 

 

Management Management teams should have a track record of success that has benefitted not just public shareholders such as the Fund, but a wide range of stakeholders, e.g., employees, customers, suppliers.

 

 

Consistent margins – Companies with above average and consistent margins suggest a relatively high value-add product or service and defensible market position.

 

 

Return on invested capital (ROIC) Demonstrates a pattern of value creation and capital discipline.

 

 

Low leverage Companies with strong balance sheets do not need to depend on the vagaries of the debt and/or equity markets to sustain their businesses.

 

 

Free cash flow (“FCF”) – We view FCF to be a better measure of economic value creation versus alternative metrics such as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) or earnings per share (“EPS”) because Cambiar believes that FCF is less subject to manipulation.

 

10

 

 

 

Valuation – Cambiar evaluates broadly accepted and recognized financial measures in gauging valuation. An underlying premise of the Cambiar philosophy is that certain industries tend to follow certain valuation ranges; the market does not randomly value stocks. Our preference is to invest in companies that are trading at a reasonable valuation relative to their historical trading range. The Cambiar team will use a variety of metrics in gauging valuation; examples include Price/Earnings, Price/Book Value and FCF Yield.

 

Value Creation/Catalyst – Cambiar’s research process also seeks to identify some form of fundamental positive development(s) that we believe the market is overlooking / underappreciating. Such catalysts may come in varying forms – examples include new product introductions, managerial changes, divestiture of an underperforming division, or simply better financial performance. Valuation, in and of itself, is not a catalyst – there must be some identifiable event that we believe will cause investors to positively reassess the business.

 

Risk-Reward Criteria – The final criteria is the investment team’s assessment of the issuer’s upside potential: companies entering the portfolio should possess an attractive total return potential that includes both price appreciation and dividends (if applicable) over a forward 1- to 2-year timeframe. While Cambiar may not achieve this return target over the desired timeframe – or at all – the return requirement is intended to channel research efforts toward those situations that appear to offer the most compelling risk/return tradeoffs.

 

The Adviser constructs the Fund’s portfolio on a security-by-security basis, with the goal of building a portfolio that strikes a balance between the Adviser’s conviction in an investment and portfolio diversification. The Adviser seeks to manage the Fund’s risk through its research process as well as limits on individual position sizes and allocations to an economic sector or individual country.

 

The Adviser will consider liquidating or reducing its investment in a company if: (a) the investment thesis is realized and the stock reaches its price target, (b) the stock price increases disproportionately relative to actual company developments, (c) position size, country or sector limits are reached, or (d) there is a negative change in fundamentals, or the investment thesis fails to develop as expected. The Adviser will not sell a stock simply because of a decline in price, and may add to the position if the investment thesis remains intact.

 

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund

 

 

As with all mutual funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. You should consider your investment goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

11

 

 

 

Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices may fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate significantly from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies, and hence, the Fund, may suffer a decline in response. Portfolio securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

The large capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may lag the performance of smaller capitalization companies because large capitalization companies may experience slower rates of growth than smaller capitalization companies and may not respond as quickly to market changes and opportunities.

 

A number of factors can affect financial markets generally, which in turn, can impact the value of the Fund’s investments. Economic considerations such as GDP growth, interest rates, inflation, monetary and fiscal policy, barriers to capital formation and reinvestment, market instability, and budgetary deficits are key considerations in how overall markets perform. Political factors, including elections and political instability and unrest, foreign or domestic, can affect the extent to which investors choose to participate in financial markets. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseeable ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

Because the Fund invests in foreign securities, including securities denominated in foreign currencies and ADRs, it will be subject to certain risks not typically associated with domestic securities. Foreign investments, especially investments in emerging markets, can be riskier and more volatile than investments in the United States, because of, among other things, unstable political and economic conditions, sovereign solvency considerations, and less developed and more thinly-traded securities markets. Adverse political and economic developments or changes in the value of foreign currency can make it more difficult for the Fund to sell its securities and could reduce the value of your shares. Securities of foreign companies may not be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and foreign companies are generally not subject to the types of regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is often less publicly available information about foreign companies than is available about domestic companies.

 

12

 

 

 

Income from foreign securities owned by the Fund are often reduced by a withholding tax at the source, which tax would reduce income received from the securities comprising the Fund’s portfolio. Foreign securities may also be more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers. In addition, periodic U.S. government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may require the Fund to sell such investments at inopportune times, which could result in losses to the Fund. Although ADRs and other depositary receipts are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies, they are also subject to many of the same risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.

 

To the extent that it concentrates its investments in a specific geographic region, the Fund may be particularly susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within that region. As a result, the Fund’s net asset value may be more volatile than that of a fund holding more geographically diverse investments.

 

Fund investments in foreign currencies and securities denominated in foreign currencies are subject to currency risk. As a result, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies can change significantly when foreign currencies strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. dollar. Additionally, the value of the Fund’s assets measured in U.S. dollars may be affected by exchange control regulations. The Fund will generally incur transaction costs in connection with conversions between various currencies which will negatively impact performance. ADRs indirectly bear currency risk because they represent an interest in securities that are not denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

The Fund is an actively managed mutual fund that pursues a “value” style of investing. Value investing focuses on companies whose stock appears undervalued in light of factors such as the company’s earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow. If the Adviser’s assessment of market conditions, or a company’s value or prospects for meeting or exceeding earnings expectations is inaccurate, the Fund may not achieve its intended results and could suffer losses or produce poor performance relative to other funds or market benchmarks. In addition, “value stocks” can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time, and may never achieve the Adviser’s expected valuation.

 

Investments in emerging markets securities are considered speculative and subject to heightened risks in addition to the general risks of investing in foreign securities. Unlike more established markets, emerging markets may have governments that are less stable, markets that are less liquid and economies that are less developed. In addition, the securities markets of emerging market countries may consist of companies with smaller market capitalizations and may suffer periods of relative illiquidity, significant price volatility, restrictions on foreign investment, and possible restrictions on repatriation of investment income and capital. Furthermore, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales, and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies.

 

13

 

 

 

Performance Information

 

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Investor Class Shares’ performance from year to year for the past 10 years and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for 1, 5 and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

Updated performance information is available at www.cambiar.com or by calling 1-866-777-8227.

 

 

 

During the periods shown in the chart, the Fund’s Investor Class Shares’ highest return for a quarter was 16.75% (quarter ended 12/31/2022) and the lowest return for a quarter was (27.05)% (quarter ended 3/31/2020).

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns are shown for only the Investor Class Shares. After-tax returns for Institutional Class Shares will vary.

 

Institutional Class Shares of the Fund commenced operations on November 30, 2012. As a result, the performance information provided for Institutional Class Shares incorporates the returns of Investor Class Shares of the Fund for periods before November 30, 2012. Institutional Class Shares would have substantially

 

14

 

 

 

similar performance as Investor Class Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would generally differ only to the extent that total expenses of Institutional Class Shares are lower.

 

 

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since
Inception
(09/02/97)

Investor Class Shares

       

Fund Returns Before Taxes

12.72%

3.13%

1.23%

6.03%

09/02/1997

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

12.89%

2.94%

1.01%

5.69%1

09/02/1997

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

8.48%

2.72%

1.12%

5.31%1

09/02/1997

Institutional Class Shares

         

Fund Returns Before Taxes

12.78%

3.23%

1.35%

6.09%

09/02/1997

MSCI EAFE Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

18.24%

8.16%

4.28%

4.82%

09/02/1997

 

1

The Since Inception after-tax returns include performance prior to the Fund’s registration as a mutual fund on September 9, 2002, which has not been adjusted to reflect distributions that are generally required for a mutual fund. If the adjustments had been made, the Since Inception after-tax returns may have been lower. More information about the Fund’s history and performance can be found on page 61.

 

 

Investment Adviser

 

 

Cambiar Investors, LLC

 

Fund Management

 

 

The International Equity Fund is managed by the international investment team. This team includes:

 

Brian M. Barish, CFA, President, Chief Investment Officer, joined the Adviser in 1997, is Co-Lead Manager of the Fund and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since its inception in 1997.

 

Di Zhou, CFA, FRM, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 2021, is Co-Lead Manager of the Fund and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since 2021.

 

Robert A. Steiner Jr., CFA, Senior Analyst, joined the Adviser in 2021 and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since 2021.

 

Masha Carey, CFA, Senior Analyst, joined the Adviser in 2019 and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since 2019.

 

15

 

 

 

CAMYX INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES

CAMIX INVESTOR CLASS SHARES

MSCI EAFE Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

Daniel Windoff, Investment Analyst, joined the Adviser in 2021 and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since 2021.

 

 

Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares

 

 

To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $2,500 ($500 for IRAs and $250 for Spousal IRAs). Thereafter your investments must be at least $100. To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $500,000. There is no minimum for subsequent investments in Institutional Class Shares. The Fund reserves the right to waive any of the minimum investment amounts in its sole discretion. If the value of your Institutional Class Share holdings are below $250,000 at any time, the Fund reserves the right to convert, on a tax-free basis, your Institutional Class Shares to Investor Class Shares of the Fund, in which case you will be subject to the fees and expenses of Investor Class Shares.

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-866-777-8227 or visiting www.cambiar.com.

 

If you own your shares through an account with an investment professional or other institution, contact that investment professional or institution to redeem your shares. Your investment professional or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

For important information about taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page 32 of the prospectus.

 

16

 

 

 

CAMZX INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES

CAMSX INVESTOR CLASS SHARES

Russell 2000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

Cambiar Small Cap Fund

 

Fund Investment Objective

 

 

The Cambiar Small Cap Fund (the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may be required to pay commissions and/or other forms of compensation to a broker for transactions in Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares, which are not reflected in the table or the example below.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

   

Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if shares redeemed have been held for less than 90 days)

2.00%

 

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor
Class Shares

Management Fees

0.85%

0.85%

Other Expenses

0.27%

0.42%

Shareholder Service Fees1

None

0.15%

Other Operating Expenses

0.27%

0.27%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

1.12%

1.27%

Less Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements2

(0.22)%

(0.22)%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements

0.90%

1.05%

 

1

The Fund’s Investor Class Shares are subject to a maximum annual shareholder servicing fee of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Investor Class Shares.

2

Cambiar Investors, LLC (“Cambiar,” or, the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding any class-specific expenses (including shareholder servicing fees), interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other costs and expenses relating to the securities that are purchased and sold by the Fund, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and other non-routine expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 0.90% of the average daily net assets of each of the Fund’s share classes until March 1, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of the fees waived or reduced or other payments remitted by the Adviser during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the reimbursement if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver or expense payment; and (ii) at the time of the reimbursement. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on March 1, 2025. This Agreement automatically terminates upon the termination of the investment advisory agreement.

 

17

 

 

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses (including one year of capped expenses in each period) remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$92

$334

$596

$1,343

Investor Class Shares

$107

$381

$676

$1,515

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 48% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in common stocks of small-cap companies. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The Fund generally considers small-cap companies to be those with market capitalizations not greater than either that of the largest company in the Russell 2000® Value Index ($10.0 billion as of December 31, 2023) or $3.5 billion, whichever is greater at the time of initial purchase.

 

18

 

 

 

In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser uses a fundamental, relative value investment approach to build a diversified portfolio of companies. Companies entering the portfolio generally need to satisfy Cambiar’s criteria on four levels: quality, valuation, value creation/catalyst, and risk-reward criteria:

 

Quality – Cambiar’s analysts seek companies that are best-of-breed operators within their industries. Eligible businesses for the portfolio are evaluated based on the following characteristics:

 

 

Management Management teams should have a track record of success that has benefitted not just public shareholders such as the Fund, but a wide range of stakeholders, e.g., employees, customers, suppliers.

 

 

Consistent margins Companies with above average and consistent margins suggest a relatively high value-add product or service and defensible market position.

 

 

Return on invested capital (ROIC) Demonstrates a pattern of value creation and capital discipline.

 

 

Low leverage Companies with strong balance sheets do not need to depend on the vagaries of the debt and/or equity markets to sustain their businesses.

 

 

Free cash flow (“FCF”) – We view FCF to be a better measure of economic value creation versus alternative metrics such as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) or earnings per share (“EPS”) because Cambiar believes that FCF is less subject to manipulation.

 

Valuation – Cambiar evaluates broadly accepted and recognized financial measures in gauging valuation. An underlying premise of the Cambiar philosophy is that certain industries tend to follow certain valuation ranges; the market does not randomly value stocks. Our preference is to invest in companies that are trading at a reasonable valuation relative to their historical trading range. The Cambiar team will use a variety of metrics in gauging valuation; examples include Price/Earnings, Price/Book Value and FCF Yield.

 

Value Creation/Catalyst – Cambiar’s research process also seeks to identify some form of fundamental positive development(s) that we believe the market is overlooking / underappreciating. Such catalysts may come in varying forms – examples include new product introductions, managerial changes, divestiture of an underperforming division, or simply better financial performance. Valuation, in and of itself, is not a catalyst – there must be some identifiable event that we believe will cause investors to positively reassess the business.

 

Risk-Reward Criteria – The final criteria is the investment team’s assessment of the issuer’s upside potential: companies entering the portfolio should possess an attractive total return potential that includes both price appreciation and dividends (if applicable) over a forward 1- to 2-year timeframe. While Cambiar may not achieve

 

19

 

 

 

this return target over the desired timeframe – or at all – the return requirement is intended to channel research efforts toward those situations that appear to offer the most compelling risk/return tradeoffs.

 

The Adviser constructs the Fund’s portfolio on a security-by-security basis, with the goal of building a portfolio that strikes a balance between the Adviser’s conviction in an investment and portfolio diversification. The Adviser seeks to manage the Fund’s risk through its research process as well as limits on individual position sizes and allocations to an economic sector.

 

The Adviser will consider liquidating or reducing its investment in a company if: (a) the investment thesis is realized and the stock reaches its price target, (b) the stock price increases disproportionately relative to actual company developments, (c) position size, country or sector limits are reached, or (d) there is a negative change in fundamentals, or the investment thesis fails to develop as expected. The Adviser will not sell a stock simply because of a decline in price, and may add to the position if the investment thesis remains intact.

 

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund

 

 

As with all mutual funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. You should consider your investment goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices may fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate significantly from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments.

 

A number of factors can affect financial markets generally, which in turn, can impact the value of the Fund’s investments. Economic considerations such as GDP growth, interest rates, inflation, monetary and fiscal policy, barriers to capital formation and reinvestment, market instability, and budgetary deficits are key considerations in how overall markets perform. Political factors, including elections and political instability and unrest, foreign or domestic, can affect the extent to which investors choose to participate in financial markets. The prices of securities issued by such companies, and hence, the Fund, may suffer a decline in response. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseeable ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

20

 

 

 

The Fund is also subject to the risk that small capitalization stocks may underperform other segments of the equity market or the equity market as a whole. Small-capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse corporate, business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in these small-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, may incur higher borrowing costs, and may depend upon a relatively small management team. Therefore, small-cap stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. Portfolio securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

The Fund is an actively managed mutual fund that pursues a “value” style of investing. Value investing focuses on companies whose stock appears undervalued in light of factors such as the company’s earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow. If the Adviser’s assessment of market conditions, or a company’s value or prospects for meeting or exceeding earnings expectations is inaccurate, the Fund may not achieve its intended results and could suffer losses or produce poor performance relative to other funds or market benchmarks. In addition, “value stocks” can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time, and may never achieve the Adviser’s expected valuation.

 

Performance Information

 

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Investor Class Shares’ performance from year to year for the past 10 years and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for 1, 5 and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

Updated performance information is available at www.cambiar.com or by calling 1-866-777-8227.

 

 

 

21

 

 

 

During the periods shown in the chart, the Fund’s Investor Class Shares’ highest return for a quarter was 24.82% (quarter ended 6/30/2020) and the lowest return for a quarter was (31.44)% (quarter ended 3/31/2020).

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns are shown for only the Investor Class Shares. After-tax returns for Institutional Class Shares will vary.

 

Institutional Class Shares of the Fund commenced operations on October 31, 2008. As a result, the performance information provided for Institutional Class Shares incorporates the returns of Investor Class Shares of the Fund for periods before October 31, 2008. Institutional Class Shares would have substantially similar performance as Investor Class Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would generally differ only to the extent that total expenses of Institutional Class Shares are lower.

 

 

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since
Inception
(08/31/04)

Investor Class Shares

         

Fund Returns Before Taxes

11.79%

11.08%

4.97%

8.62%

08/31/2004

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

11.51%

9.02%

2.77%

6.98%

08/31/2004

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

7.18%

8.37%

3.30%

6.77%

08/31/2004

Institutional Class Shares

         

Fund Returns Before Taxes

11.94%

11.27%

5.16%

8.79%

08/31/2004

Russell 2000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

14.65%

10.00%

6.76%

7.73%

08/31/2004

 

 

Investment Adviser

 

 

Cambiar Investors, LLC

 

22

 

 

 

CAMZX INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES

CAMSX INVESTOR CLASS SHARES

Russell 2000® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

 

Fund Management

 

 

The Small Cap Fund is managed by the domestic investment team. This team includes:

 

Andrew P. Baumbusch, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 2004, is Co-Lead Manager of the Fund, and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since its inception in 2004.

 

Colin M. Dunn, CFA, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 2011, is Co-Lead Manager of the Fund, and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since 2011.

 

Brian M. Barish, CFA, President, Chief Investment Officer, joined the Adviser in 1997 and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since its inception in 2004.

 

Anna (Ania) A. Aldrich, CFA, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 1999 and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since its inception in 2004.

 

Joseph S. Chin, CFA, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 2019 and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since 2019.

 

Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares

 

 

To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $2,500 ($500 for IRAs and $250 for Spousal IRAs). Thereafter your investments must be at least $100. To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $500,000. There is no minimum for subsequent investments in Institutional Class Shares. The Fund reserves the right to waive any of the minimum investment amounts in its sole discretion. If the value of your Institutional Class Share holdings are below $250,000 at any time, the Fund reserves the right to convert, on a tax-free basis, your Institutional Class Shares to Investor Class Shares of the Fund, in which case you will be subject to the fees and expenses of Investor Class Shares.

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-866-777-8227 or visiting www.cambiar.com.

 

If you own your shares through an account with an investment professional or other institution, contact that investment professional or institution to redeem your shares. Your investment professional or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

For important information about taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page 32 of the prospectus.

 

23

 

 

 

CAMUX INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES

CAMMX INVESTOR CLASS SHARES

Russell 2500® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

Cambiar SMID Fund

 

Fund Investment Objective

 

 

The Cambiar SMID Fund (the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may be required to pay commissions and/or other forms of compensation to a broker for transactions in Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares, which are not reflected in the table or the example below.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

   

Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if shares redeemed have been held for less than 90 days)

2.00%

 

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor
Class Shares

Management Fees

0.80%

0.80%

Other Expenses

0.24%

0.31%

Shareholder Service Fees1

None

0.08%

Other Operating Expenses

0.24%

0.23%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

1.04%

1.11%

Less Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements2

(0.19)%

(0.18)%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements

0.85%

0.93%

 

1

The Fund’s Investor Class Shares are subject to a maximum annual shareholder servicing fee of 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Investor Class Shares.

2

Cambiar Investors, LLC (“Cambiar,” or, the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding any class-specific expenses (including shareholder servicing fees), interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other costs and expenses relating to the securities that are purchased and sold by the Fund, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and other non-routine expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 0.85% of the average daily net assets of each of the Fund’s share classes until March 1, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of the fees waived or reduced or other payments remitted by the Adviser during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the reimbursement if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver or expense payment; and (ii) at the time of the reimbursement. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time; or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on March 1, 2025. This Agreement automatically terminates upon the termination of the investment advisory agreement.

 

24

 

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses (including one year of capped expenses in each period) remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$87

$312

$556

$1,254

Investor Class Shares

$95

$335

$594

$1,336

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 38% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in common stocks of small- to mid-sized companies. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The Fund generally considers small- and mid-sized companies to be those with market capitalizations not greater than either that of the largest company in the Russell 2500® Value Index ($22.25 billion as of December 31, 2023) or $12 billion, whichever is greater at the time of initial purchase.

 

25

 

 

 

In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser uses a fundamental, relative value investment approach to build a diversified portfolio of companies. Companies entering the portfolio generally need to satisfy Cambiar’s criteria on four levels: quality, valuation, value creation/catalyst, and risk-reward criteria:

 

Quality – Cambiar’s analysts seek companies that are best-of-breed operators within their industries. Eligible businesses for the portfolio are evaluated based on the following characteristics:

 

 

Management Management teams should have a track record of success that has benefitted not just public shareholders such as the Fund, but a wide range of stakeholders, e.g., employees, customers, suppliers.

 

 

Consistent margins Companies with above average and consistent margins suggest a relatively high value-add product or service and defensible market position.

 

 

Return on invested capital (ROIC) Demonstrates a pattern of value creation and capital discipline.

 

 

Low leverage Companies with strong balance sheets do not need to depend on the vagaries of the debt and/or equity markets to sustain their businesses.

 

 

Free cash flow (“FCF”) – We view FCF to be a better measure of economic value creation versus alternative metrics such as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) or earnings per share (“EPS”) because Cambiar believes that FCF is less subject to manipulation.

 

Valuation – Cambiar evaluates broadly accepted and recognized financial measures in gauging valuation. An underlying premise of the Cambiar philosophy is that certain industries tend to follow certain valuation ranges; the market does not randomly value stocks. Our preference is to invest in companies that are trading at a reasonable valuation relative to their historical trading range. The Cambiar team will use a variety of metrics in gauging valuation; examples include Price/Earnings, Price/Book Value and FCF Yield.

 

Value Creation/Catalyst – Cambiar’s research process also seeks to identify some form of fundamental positive development(s) that we believe the market is overlooking/underappreciating. Such catalysts may come in varying forms – examples include new product introductions, managerial changes, divestiture of an underperforming division, or simply better financial performance. Valuation, in and of itself, is not a catalyst – there must be some identifiable event that we believe will cause investors to positively reassess the business.

 

Risk-Reward Criteria – The final criteria is the investment team’s assessment of the issuer’s upside potential: companies entering the portfolio should possess an attractive total return potential that includes both price appreciation and dividends (if applicable) over a forward 1- to 2-year timeframe. While Cambiar

 

26

 

 

 

may not achieve this return target over the desired timeframe – or at all – the return requirement is intended to channel research efforts toward those situations that appear to offer the most compelling risk/return tradeoffs.

 

The Adviser constructs the Fund’s portfolio on a security-by-security basis, with the goal of building a portfolio that strikes a balance between the Adviser’s conviction in an investment and portfolio diversification. The Adviser seeks to manage the Fund’s risk through its research process as well as limits on individual position sizes and allocations to an economic sector.

 

The Adviser will consider liquidating or reducing its investment in a company if: (a) the investment thesis is realized and the stock reaches its price target, (b) the stock price increases disproportionately relative to actual company developments, (c) position size, country or sector limits are reached, or (d) there is a negative change in fundamentals, or the investment thesis fails to develop as expected. The Adviser will not sell a stock simply because of a decline in price, and may add to the position if the investment thesis remains intact.

 

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund

 

 

As with all mutual funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. You should consider your investment goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices may fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate significantly from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies, and hence, the Fund, may suffer a decline in response.

 

A number of factors can affect financial markets generally, which in turn, can impact the value of the Fund’s investments. Economic considerations such as GDP growth, interest rates, inflation, monetary and fiscal policy, barriers to capital formation and reinvestment, market instability, and budgetary deficits are key considerations in how overall markets perform. Political factors, including elections and political instability and unrest, foreign or domestic, can affect the extent to which investors choose to participate in financial markets. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseeable ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

27

 

 

 

The Fund is also subject to the risk that small- and mid-capitalization stocks may underperform other segments of the equity market or the equity market as a whole. Small- and mid-capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse corporate, business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in smaller companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have more limited product lines, markets and financial resources, may incur higher borrowing costs, and may depend upon a relatively small management team. Therefore, stocks of smaller companies may be more volatile than those of larger companies. Portfolio securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

The Fund is an actively managed mutual fund that pursues a “value” style of investing. Value investing focuses on companies whose stock appears undervalued in light of factors such as the company’s earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow. If the Adviser’s assessment of market conditions, or a company’s value or prospects for meeting or exceeding earnings expectations is inaccurate, the Fund may not achieve its intended results and could suffer losses or produce poor performance relative to other funds or market benchmarks. In addition, “value stocks” can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time, and may never achieve the Adviser’s expected valuation.

 

28

 

 

 

Performance Information

 

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Investor Class Shares’ performance from year to year for the past 10 years and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for 1, 5 and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

Updated performance information is available at www.cambiar.com or by calling 1-866-777-8227.

 

 

 

During the periods shown in the chart, the Fund’s Investor Class Shares’ highest return for a quarter was 22.58% (quarter ended 12/31/2020) and the lowest return for a quarter was (31.26)% (quarter ended 3/31/2020).

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns are shown for only the Investor Class Shares. After-tax returns for Institutional Class Shares will vary.

 

29

 

 

 

Institutional Class Shares of the Fund commenced operations on November 3, 2014. As a result, the performance information provided for Institutional Class Shares incorporates the returns of Investor Class Shares of the Fund for periods before November 3, 2014. Institutional Class Shares would have substantially similar performance as Investor Class Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would generally differ only to the extent that total expenses of Institutional Class Shares are lower.

 

 

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since
Inception
(05/31/11)

Investor Class Shares

         

Fund Returns Before Taxes

12.93%

13.43%

8.99%

9.98%

05/31/2011

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

12.74%

12.29%

8.20%

9.23%

05/31/2011

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

7.79%

10.44%

7.12%

8.11%

05/31/2011

Institutional Class Shares

         

Fund Returns Before Taxes

13.01%

13.53%

9.04%

10.03%

05/31/2011

Russell 2500® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

15.98%

10.79%

7.42%

8.78%

05/31/2011

 

 

Investment Adviser

 

 

Cambiar Investors, LLC

 

Fund Management

 

 

The SMID Fund is managed by the domestic investment team. This team includes:

 

Andrew P. Baumbusch, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 2004, is Co-Lead Manager of the Fund, and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since its inception in 2011.

 

Colin M. Dunn, CFA, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 2011, is Co-Lead Manager of the Fund, and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since its inception in 2011.

 

Brian M. Barish, CFA, President, Chief Investment Officer, joined the Adviser in 1997 and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since its inception in 2011.

 

Anna (Ania) A. Aldrich, CFA, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 1999 and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since its inception in 2011.

 

Joseph S. Chin, CFA, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 2019 and has served on the portfolio team for the Fund since 2019.

 

30

 

 

 

CAMUX INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES

CAMMX INVESTOR CLASS SHARES

Russell 2500® Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

 

Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares

 

 

To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $2,500 ($500 for IRAs and $250 for Spousal IRAs). Thereafter your investments must be at least $100. To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $500,000. There is no minimum for subsequent investments in Institutional Class Shares. The Fund reserves the right to waive any of the minimum investment amounts in its sole discretion. If the value of your Institutional Class Share holdings are below $250,000 at any time, the Fund reserves the right to convert, on a tax-free basis, your Institutional Class Shares to Investor Class Shares of the Fund, in which case you will be subject to the fees and expenses of Investor Class Shares.

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day the New York Stock Exchange is open for business by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-866-777-8227 or visiting www.cambiar.com.

 

If you own your shares through an account with an investment professional or other institution, contact that investment professional or institution to redeem your shares. Your investment professional or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

For important information about taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page 32 of the prospectus.

 

31

 

 

 

Summary Information about Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation

 

Tax Information

 

 

Each Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as qualified dividend income, ordinary income or capital gains if you are not investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distribution will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

 

If you purchase shares of the Funds through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Funds and their related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend a Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s web-site for more information.

 

32

 

 

 

Investing with the Cambiar Funds

 

This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called “redeem”) and exchange Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares of the Funds.

 

How to Choose a Share Class

 

The Funds have two classes of shares, Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Although both share classes invest in the same portfolio of securities, each share class has its own shareholder eligibility criteria, investment minimums, cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Funds. Contact your financial intermediary or the Funds for more information about the Funds’ share classes and how to choose between them.

 

Class Name

Eligible Investors

Investment Minimums

Fees

Institutional Class Shares

Primarily institutional investors and individual investors who meet the initial investment minimum

Initial – $500,000

 

Subsequent – None

No 12b-1 Fee.

 

No Shareholder Servicing Fee.

Investor Class Shares

Primarily individual investors

Initial – $2,500 ($500 for IRAs and $250 for Spousal IRAs)

 

Subsequent – $100

No 12b-1 Fee.

 

Shareholder Servicing Fee not to exceed 0.25% annually.

 

Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares are offered to investors who purchase shares directly from the Funds or through certain financial intermediaries such as financial planners, investment advisers, broker-dealers or other financial institutions. An investor may be eligible to purchase more than one share class. However, if you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, you may only purchase the classes of shares which your financial intermediary sells or services. Your financial intermediary can tell you which classes of shares are available.

 

The Funds reserve the right to change the criteria for investor eligibility and accept investments of smaller amounts in their sole discretion.

 

For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of a Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Federal Taxes.”

 

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Buying Fund Shares

 

 

To purchase Investor Class Shares or Institutional Class Shares directly from the Funds through their transfer agent, SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., complete and send in the account application. If you need an account application or have questions, please call 1-866-777-8227 or visit www.cambiar.com.

 

All investments must be made by check, wire or Automated Clearing House (“ACH”). All checks must be payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Funds do not accept purchases made by third-party checks, credit cards, credit card checks, cash, traveler’s checks, money orders or cashier’s checks.

 

The Funds do not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Funds subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Funds for more information.

 

By Mail

 

You can open an account with a Fund by sending a check and your completed and signed account application to the address below. You can add to an existing account by sending the Fund a check and, if possible, the “Invest by Mail” stub that accompanies your confirmation statement. Be sure your check identifies clearly your name, your account number, the share class and the name of the Fund.

 

Regular Mail Address

 

The Cambiar Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

 

The Cambiar Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Funds do not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be their agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of purchase orders does not constitute receipt by a Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill a purchase order is the next price calculated by a Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent, SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

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By Wire

 

To open an account by wire, call 1-866-777-8227 for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the wiring instructions set forth below (be sure to include the Fund name, the share class and your account number). The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by a Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent, SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., receives and accepts the wire in good order.

 

Wiring Instructions

 

UMB Bank, N.A.
ABA# 101000695
The Cambiar Funds
DDA Acct. # 9871063178
Ref: Fund name/account number/account name/share class

 

By Automatic Investment Plan (via Automated Clearing House)

 

You may not open an account via ACH. However, once you have established an account, you can set up an automatic investment plan by mailing a completed application to the Funds. To cancel or change a plan, write to the Funds at: The Cambiar Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail Address: The Cambiar Funds c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105). Please allow up to 15 days to create the plan and 3 days to cancel or change it.

 

Purchases In-Kind

 

Subject to the approval of the Funds, an investor may be permitted to purchase shares of a Fund with liquid securities and other assets that are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Funds. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an appropriate investment for that Fund. Assets purchased by a Fund in such a transaction will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Funds. The Funds reserve the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

 

Minimum Investments

 

You can open an account with Investor Class Shares of the Funds with a minimum initial investment of $2,500 ($500 for IRAs and $250 for Spousal IRAs). Thereafter your investments in Investor Class Shares must be at least $100 for each Fund. You can open an account with Institutional Class Shares of the Funds with a minimum initial investment of $500,000. There is no minimum for subsequent investments in the Institutional Class Shares of any Fund. Each Fund reserves

 

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the right to waive the minimum investment amounts in its sole discretion. If the value of your Institutional Class Share holdings are below $250,000 at any time for any Fund, the Funds reserve the right to convert, on a tax-free basis, your Institutional Class Shares to Investor Class Shares of the Fund, in which case you will be subject to the fees and expenses of Investor Class Shares.

 

Fund Codes

 

Each Fund’s reference information, which is listed below, will be helpful to you when you contact the Funds to purchase or exchange shares, check a Fund’s daily net asset value per share (“NAV”) or obtain additional information.

 

Fund Name

Trading Symbol

CUSIP

Fund Code

Cambiar Opportunity Fund

     

Investor Class Shares

CAMOX

00758M261

1262

Institutional Class Shares

CAMWX

0075W0825

1362

Cambiar International Equity Fund

     

Investor Class Shares

CAMIX

00758M139

1269

Institutional Class Shares

CAMYX

00769G543

1209

Cambiar Small Cap Fund

     

Investor Class Shares

CAMSX

0075W0817

1363

Institutional Class Shares

CAMZX

0075W0593

1364

Cambiar SMID Fund

     

Investor Class Shares

CAMMX

00769G766

1270

Institutional Class Shares

CAMUX

00769G311

6270

 

Redeeming Fund Shares

 

 

By Mail

 

You may redeem Fund shares held directly with the Funds by contacting the Funds at: The Cambiar Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail Address: The Cambiar Funds c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105). Send a letter to the Funds signed by all registered parties on the account specifying:

 

 

The Fund name;

 

 

The account number;

 

 

The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;

 

 

The share class;

 

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The account name(s); and

 

 

The address to which redemption (sale) proceeds should be sent.

 

The Funds do not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be their agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of redemption orders does not constitute receipt by a Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill a redemption order is the next price calculated by a Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent, SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

All registered share owner(s) must sign the letter in the exact name(s) in which their account is registered and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.

 

Certain redemption requests will require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor institution. For example, signature guarantees may be required if your address of record has changed in the last 30 days, if you want the proceeds sent to a bank other than the bank of record on your account, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Eligible guarantors include commercial banks, savings and loans, savings banks, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any other member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. Please note that a notary public is not an acceptable provider of a signature guarantee and that a Fund must be provided with the original guarantee. Signature guarantees are for the protection of our shareholders. Before it grants a redemption request, a Fund may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to ensure proper authorization.

 

Accounts held by a corporation, trust, fiduciary or partnership may require additional documentation along with a signature guaranteed letter of instruction. The Funds participate in the Paperless Legal Program (the “Program”), which eliminates the need for accompanying paper documentation on legal securities transfers. Requests received with a Medallion Signature Guarantee will be reviewed for the proper criteria to meet the guidelines of the Program. Please contact Shareholder Services at 1-866-777-8227 for more information.

 

By Telephone

 

You must first establish the telephone redemption privilege (and, if desired, the wire and/or ACH redemption privilege) by completing the appropriate sections of the account application.

 

Call 1-866-777-8227 or visit www.cambiar.com to redeem your shares. Based on your instructions, the Funds will mail your proceeds to you or send them to your bank by either Fed wire or ACH.

 

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By Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via Automated Clearing House) (Investor Class Shares Only)

 

If your account balance is at least $10,000, you may transfer as little as $100 per month from your account to another financial institution through a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH). To participate in this service, you must complete the appropriate sections of the account application and mail it to the Funds.

 

Redemptions In-Kind

 

The Funds generally pay redemption proceeds in cash. However, in the Funds’ sole discretion and under conditions that make the payment of cash inadvisable and for the protection of the Funds’ remaining shareholders, the Funds might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in-kind). The Funds may also redeem in-kind to discourage short-term trading of shares. It is unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in-kind, but if they were you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale of those securities. In addition, you would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities that you receive in-kind until they are sold. Redemptions of certain shareholders’ Fund shares may take place in-kind, while other contemporaneous shareholder redemptions take place in cash. A shareholder will at all times be entitled to aggregate cash redemptions from all funds of the Trust up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Trust’s net assets during any 90-day period.

 

Exchanging Fund Shares

 

 

At no charge, you may exchange Investor Class Shares of one Fund for Investor Class Shares of another Fund, and Institutional Class Shares of one Fund for Institutional Class Shares of another Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Funds, subject to the eligibility requirements and the fees and expenses of the Fund you exchange into. The exchange privilege is not intended as a vehicle for short-term or excessive trading. A Fund may suspend or terminate your exchange privilege if you engage in a pattern of exchanges that is excessive, as determined at the sole discretion of the Funds. For more information about the Funds’ policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

At no charge, you may also convert Investor Class Shares of one Fund directly to Institutional Class Shares of the same Fund, and Institutional Class Shares of one Fund directly to Investor Class Shares of the same Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Funds, subject to the eligibility requirements and the fees and expenses of the share class of the Fund you convert into. A conversion between share classes of a Fund is not a taxable event.

 

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You may only exchange or convert shares between accounts with identical registrations (i.e., the same names and addresses). If you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, you may only exchange or convert into a share class of a Fund which your financial intermediary sells or services. Your financial intermediary can tell you which classes of shares of the Funds are available through the intermediary.

 

If you exchange or convert shares of a Fund, the number of shares received will be based on the respective NAVs of the shares transferred and the shares received as of the date of the exchange or conversion. Consequently, you may receive fewer shares or more shares than you transfer, depending on that day’s NAVs. The total value of your investment, however, will not change as a result of the exchange or conversion.

 

Transaction Policies

 

 

Calculating Your Share Price

 

You may buy, sell or exchange shares of a Fund on each day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business (a “Business Day”) at a price equal to its NAV next computed after the Fund or an authorized institution receives and accepts your order in good order. Orders that are not in good order cannot be accepted and processed even if money to purchase shares has been submitted by wire, check or ACH. The Funds calculate NAV once each Business Day as of the close of trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day’s NAV, the Funds or an authorized institution (defined below) must receive and accept your order in good order (meaning that it is complete, contains all necessary information, and has all supporting documentation such as proper signature guarantees, IRA rollover forms, etc.) before the close of trading on the NYSE. If your order is not received and accepted in good order before the close of trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV calculated on a subsequent Business Day on which your order is received and accepted in good order. If the NYSE closes early, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading, for example, the Funds will calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. The Funds will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or any other special conditions. Shares will only be priced on Business Days. Since portfolio securities traded on foreign exchanges may trade on days that are not Business Days, the value of a Fund’s assets may change on days when investors are unable to purchase, exchange or redeem shares.

 

Each share class of a Fund calculates its NAV by adding the total value of its assets attributable to the class, subtracting its liabilities attributable to the class and then dividing the result by the number of shares outstanding of the class. In calculating NAV, the Funds generally value their investment portfolios at market price. If market prices are not readily available or they are unreliable, such

 

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as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after their relevant market closes, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Funds’ valuation designee to make fair value determinations with respect to the Funds’ portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of factors, is subjective in nature, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

With respect to foreign securities held by the Funds, the Adviser may take factors influencing specific markets or issuers into consideration in determining the fair value of a foreign security. International securities markets may be open on days when the U.S. markets are closed. In such cases, the value of any international securities owned by the Funds may be significantly affected on days when investors cannot buy or sell shares. In addition, due to the difference in times between the close of certain international markets and the time as of which a Fund prices its shares, as well as the fact that foreign markets and exchanges may be closed on days when the Funds are open for business, the values assigned to securities may not be the same as the closing, quoted or published prices of those securities on their primary markets or exchanges. In determining fair value prices, the Adviser may consider the performance of the securities on their primary exchanges, foreign currency appreciation/depreciation, securities market movements in the United States, past correlations/movements, or other relevant information.

 

There may be limited circumstances in which the Adviser would fair value price securities of U.S. companies that are traded on U.S. exchanges – for example, if the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closed early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume for meaningful trading prior to the time the Fund calculated its NAV.

 

When valuing fixed income securities with remaining maturities of more than 60 days, the Adviser may use the value of the security provided by pricing services. The values provided by a pricing service may be based upon market quotations for the same security if a quotation is readily available, or may be based upon the values of securities expected to trade in a similar manner or a pricing matrix. When valuing fixed income securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less, the Adviser may use the security’s amortized cost. Amortized cost and the use of a pricing matrix in valuing fixed income securities are forms of fair value pricing.

 

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Other assets for which market quotations are not readily available will be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Buying or Selling Shares through a Financial Intermediary

 

In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from the Funds through the transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of the Funds through accounts with financial intermediaries such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. When you purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary (rather than directly from the Funds), you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to the financial intermediary at an earlier time for your transaction to be accepted that day. This allows the financial intermediary time to process your requests and transmit them to the Funds prior to the time the Funds calculate their NAV that day. Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Funds on time. If your financial intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses. Unless your financial intermediary is an authorized institution (defined below), orders transmitted by the financial intermediary and received by the Funds after the time NAV is calculated for a particular day will receive the following day’s NAV.

 

Certain financial intermediaries, including certain broker-dealers and shareholder organizations, are authorized to act as agent on behalf of the Funds with respect to the receipt of purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares (“authorized institutions”). Authorized institutions are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on a Fund’s behalf. A Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized institution or, if applicable, an authorized institution’s designee, receives the order. Orders will be priced at a Fund’s NAV next computed after they are received by an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee. To determine whether your financial intermediary is an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee such that it may act as agent on behalf of a Fund with respect to purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares, you should contact them directly.

 

If you deal directly with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with the Funds. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for your purchase and/or redemption transactions. For more information about compensation that may be paid to your financial intermediary by the Funds and/or the Adviser, please refer to the section entitled “Payments by the Funds or the Adviser to Financial Intermediaries” in this prospectus and the Funds’

 

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Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”). For more information about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

Redemption Fees

 

In an effort to discourage short-term trading and defray costs incurred by shareholders as a result of short-term trading, the Cambiar International Equity Fund, the Cambiar Small Cap Fund, and the Cambiar SMID Fund each charge a 2.00% redemption fee on redemptions (including exchanges) of shares that have been held for less than 90 days. The redemption fee is deducted from the sale proceeds and cannot be paid separately, and any proceeds of the fee are credited to the assets of the Fund from which the redemption was made. The fee does not apply to the redemption of shares purchased with reinvested dividends or distributions. In determining how long shares of a Fund have been held, the Fund assumes that shares held by the investor the longest period of time will be sold first.

 

The redemption fee is applicable to Fund shares purchased either directly from the Funds or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the Funds on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. Each Fund requests that financial intermediaries assess the redemption fee on applicable customer accounts and collect and remit the proceeds to the Fund. However, the Funds recognize that due to operational and systems limitations, intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the Funds’. Therefore, to the extent that financial intermediaries are unable to collect the redemption fee, a Fund may not be able to defray the expenses associated with those short-term trades made by that financial intermediary’s customers.

 

The Cambiar International Equity Fund, the Cambiar Small Cap Fund, and the Cambiar SMID Fund each reserve the right to waive its redemption fee at its discretion when it believes such waiver is in the best interests of the Fund and its shareholders, including with respect to certain categories of redemptions that the Fund reasonably believes may not raise frequent trading or market timing concerns. These categories currently include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) participants in certain group retirement plans whose processing systems are incapable of properly applying the redemption fee to underlying shareholders; (ii) redemptions resulting from certain transfers upon the death of a shareholder; (iii) redemptions by certain pension plans as required by law or by regulatory authorities; (iv) redemptions by sponsors of certain wrap fee account programs; (v) systematic withdrawals; and (vi) retirement loans and withdrawals.

 

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Receiving Your Money

 

Normally, the Funds will send your sale proceeds within one Business Day after they receive and accept your redemption request in good order, meaning that it is complete and contains all necessary information and has any necessary supporting documentation (such as applicable signature guarantees, IRA rollover forms, etc.). The Funds, however, may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account (may be subject to a $10 fee), sent to you by check or sent via ACH to your bank account if you have established banking instructions with the Funds. If you are selling shares that were recently purchased by check or through ACH, redemption proceeds may not be available until your check has cleared or the ACH purchase transaction has been completed (which may take up to 15 days from your date of purchase). In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.

 

The Funds typically expect to sell portfolio assets and/or hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. On a less regular basis, the Funds may also meet redemption requests by drawing on a line of credit, using short-term borrowings from their custodian and/or redeeming shares in-kind (as described above). These methods may be used during both normal and stressed market conditions.

 

Telephone Transactions

 

The Funds will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions communicated by telephone are genuine, but cannot be responsible for any loss, liability, cost or expense for following instructions received by telephone reasonably believed to be genuine.

 

Rights Reserved by the Funds

 

Purchases

 

At any time and without notice, the Funds may:

 

 

Close to new investments (i.e., stop offering shares);

 

 

Reject any purchase order; or

 

 

Bar an investor engaged in a pattern of excessive trading, as determined by the Funds, from buying shares. (Excessive trading can adversely impact investment performance by disrupting management and increasing expenses.) The Funds will consider various factors in determining whether an investor has engaged in excessive trading. These factors include, but are not limited to, the investor’s historic trading patterns, the number of transactions (including exchanges), the size of the transactions, the time between transactions and the percentage of

 

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the investor’s account involved in each transaction. For more information about the Funds’ policies on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

Redemptions

 

At any time and without notice, the Funds may change or eliminate any of the redemption methods described above, except redemption by mail. The Funds may suspend your right to redeem your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by applicable law or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

Exchanges

 

The Funds may:

 

 

Modify or cancel the exchange program at any time on 60 days’ written notice to shareholders;

 

 

Reject any request for an exchange; or

 

 

Limit or cancel a shareholder’s exchange privilege, especially when an investor is believed to be engaged in a pattern of excessive trading.

 

Account Policies

 

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Funds are intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourage shareholders from engaging in “market timing” or other types of excessive short-term trading. Frequent trading into and out of the Funds may present risks to the Funds’ long-term shareholders, and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of each Fund’s investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring each Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests, and experiencing increased transaction costs.

 

In addition, because the Cambiar International Equity Fund invests in foreign securities traded primarily on markets that close prior to the time the Fund determines its NAV, the risks posed by frequent trading may have a greater potential to dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders than funds investing in U.S. securities. In instances where a significant event that affects the value of one or more foreign securities held by the Fund takes place after the close of the primary foreign market, but before the time that the Fund determines its NAV, certain investors may seek to take advantage of the fact that

 

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there is a delay in the adjustment of the market price for a security caused by this event until the foreign market reopens (sometimes referred to as “price” or “time zone” arbitrage). Shareholders who attempt this type of arbitrage by seeking to buy or sell Fund shares may dilute the value of the Fund’s shares if the prices of the Fund’s foreign securities do not reflect their fair value at the time the Fund calculates its NAV. Although the Adviser has procedures designed to determine the fair value of foreign securities for purposes of calculating the Fund’s NAV, fair value pricing, because it involves judgments which are inherently subjective, may not always eliminate the risk of price arbitrage. For more information on how the Adviser uses fair value pricing, see “Calculating Your Share Price.”

 

Because certain of the Funds may invest in small- and mid-capitalization securities which often trade in lower volumes and may be less liquid, Funds holding these types of securities may be more susceptible to the risks posed by frequent trading because frequent transactions in the Funds’ shares may have a greater impact on the market prices of these types of securities.

 

The Funds’ service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Funds’ policies and procedures described in this prospectus and approved by the Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Funds’ service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control. The Funds’ policies and procedures include:

 

 

Shareholders are restricted from making more than 3 “round trips” into or out of each Fund in any one-year period. If, to the knowledge of the Funds, a shareholder exceeds this amount, the Funds and/or their service providers may, at their discretion, seek to reject any additional purchase or exchange orders. The Funds define a “round trip” as a purchase into a Fund, followed by a subsequent redemption out of the Fund, of an amount the Adviser reasonably believes would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

 

The Cambiar International Equity Fund, the Cambiar Small Cap Fund, and the Cambiar SMID Fund each assess a redemption fee of 2.00% on redemptions (including exchanges) by shareholders of Fund shares held for less than 90 days (assessment of redemption fees are subject to certain exceptions, as discussed in “Redemption Fees”).

 

 

Each Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase or exchange request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

Each Fund and/or its service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. The Funds do not knowingly accommodate

 

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frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders. Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in a Fund will occur. Systematic purchases and redemptions are exempt from these policies.

 

Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers, broker-dealers and mutual fund supermarkets) often establish omnibus accounts in the Funds for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Funds have entered into “information sharing agreements” with these financial intermediaries, which permit the Funds to obtain, upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary’s customers that invest in the Funds. If the Funds or their service providers identify omnibus account-level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Funds, the Funds or their service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Funds or their service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Funds, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Funds by that customer. If the Funds are not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Funds may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Funds’ shares is requested by the Funds and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Funds have an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Funds, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Funds on behalf of other persons.

 

The Funds and their service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Funds. However, there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Funds to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary’s customers. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

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What this means to you: When you open an account, the Funds will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Funds to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.

 

The Funds are required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

 

In certain instances, the Funds are required to collect documents to fulfill their legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.

 

Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker. If this information cannot be obtained within a timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Funds, your application will be rejected.

 

Upon receipt of your application in good order (meaning that it is complete, contains all necessary information, and has all supporting documentation such as proper signature guarantees, IRA rollover forms, etc.), or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application, your investment will be received and your order will be processed at the NAV next-determined.

 

The Funds reserve the right to close or liquidate your account at the NAV next-determined and remit proceeds to you via check if they are unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Funds.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

Customer identification and verification are part of the Funds’ overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Funds have adopted an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program designed to prevent the Funds from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Funds reserve the right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Funds or in cases when the Funds are requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Funds are required to withhold such proceeds.

 

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Unclaimed Property

 

Each state has unclaimed property rules that generally provide for escheatment (or transfer) to the state of unclaimed property under various circumstances. Such circumstances include Fund account inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or “RPO,” as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once it flags property as unclaimed, the applicable Fund will attempt to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state.

 

Shareholders that reside in the state of Texas may designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that can be found on the website of the Texas Comptroller. While the designated representative does not have any rights to claim or access the shareholder’s account or assets, the escheatment period will cease if the representative communicates knowledge of the shareholder’s location and confirms that the shareholder has not abandoned his or her property. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Funds (if shares are held directly with the Funds) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if shares are not held directly with the Funds).

 

More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-866-777-8227.

 

Small Accounts

 

A Fund may redeem your shares without your permission if the value of your account falls below $1,250 for Investor Class Shares of a Fund, or below $250,000 for Institutional Class Shares of a Fund. In addition, your Institutional Class Shares may be converted to Investor Class Shares, on a tax-free basis, without your permission if the value of your Institutional Class Shares account falls below $250,000 for any Fund. This provision does not apply:

 

 

To retirement accounts and certain other types of accounts; or

 

 

When the value of your account falls because of market fluctuations and not your redemptions or exchanges.

 

The Funds will provide you at least 30 days’ written notice to allow you time to add to your account and avoid the redemption or conversion, as applicable, of your shares. If your Cambiar International Equity Fund, Cambiar Small Cap Fund, or Cambiar SMID Fund shares are redeemed or converted for this reason within 90 days of their purchase, the redemption fee will not be applied. If your shares are converted from Institutional Class Shares to Investor Class Shares, you will be subject to the fees and expenses of Investor Class Shares.

 

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Dividends and Distributions

 

Normally, each Fund distributes its net investment income and its net capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Fund shares on a Fund’s record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution. A Fund will automatically reinvest dividends and distributions in additional shares of the Fund, unless you elect on your account application to receive them in cash.

 

To elect cash payment, you must notify the Funds in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Funds receive your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Funds written notice.

 

Taxes

 

You should always consult your tax advisor for specific guidance regarding the federal, state and local tax effects of your investment in the Funds. The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing in the Funds. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future. This summary is based on current tax law, which may change.

 

Each Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, a Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

Each Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and its net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from each Fund may be taxable whether you receive them in cash or you reinvest them in additional shares of the applicable Fund. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Funds as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains and currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Certain of the Funds’ investment strategies may limit their ability to distribute dividends

 

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eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. Once a year, each Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year.

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors. Call 1-866-777-8227 to find out when the Funds expect to make a distribution to shareholders.

 

Each sale or exchange of Fund shares may be a taxable event. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different Fund is the same as a sale.

 

Assuming you hold Fund shares as a capital asset, any gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares 12 months or less or as long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of a Fund).

 

The Funds (or their administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information for Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Funds (or their administrative agent) are also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares have a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Funds will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Funds will use the average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by a Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax

 

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situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review any cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

To the extent that a Fund invests in foreign securities, it may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund receives from sources in foreign countries. If more than 50% of the total assets of a Fund consists of foreign securities, such Fund will be eligible to elect to treat some of those taxes as a distribution to shareholders, which would allow shareholders to offset some of their U.S. federal income tax. The Funds (or their administrative agent) will notify you if such an election is made and provide you with the information necessary to reflect foreign taxes paid on your income tax return.

 

Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Funds.

 

More information about taxes is included in the SAI.

 

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Additional Information about the Funds

 

The investment objective of the Cambiar Opportunity Fund and the Cambiar International Equity Fund is to seek total return and capital preservation. The investment objective of the Cambiar Small Cap Fund and the Cambiar SMID Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The investment objective of each Fund may be changed without shareholder approval.

 

Other Investment Practices and Risks

 

 

In addition to the investment strategies described above, each Fund may employ non-principal investment practices that this prospectus does not describe, such as investing in when-issued and forward commitment transactions, lending of securities, borrowing and other techniques. For more information concerning any of the Funds’ investment practices and risks, please read the SAI.

 

Investing in each Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that a Fund will achieve its goals. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, geopolitical events, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in a Fund.

 

The value of your investment in a Fund is based on the value of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities a Fund owns and the markets on which they trade. The effect on a Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on a number of factors, including the number of securities in the portfolio, the security’s relative weighting in the portfolio, and how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings.

 

Overall stock market risks can affect the value of the Funds. Over time, market forces can be highly dynamic and can cause stock markets to move in cycles, including periods when stock prices rise generally and periods when they decline generally. The value of the Funds’ investments may increase or decrease more than the stock market in general.

 

Equity Risk – Equity securities include public and privately issued equity securities, common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights to subscribe to common stock, convertible securities and depositary receipts, as well as shares of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”). Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stock provides a fixed dividend that is paid before any dividends are paid to common stockholders, and which takes precedence over

 

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common stock in the event of a liquidation. Like common stock, preferred stocks represent partial ownership in a company, although preferred stock shareholders do not enjoy the voting rights of common stockholders. Also, unlike common stock, a preferred stock pays a fixed dividend that does not fluctuate, although the company does not have to pay this dividend if it lacks the financial ability to do so. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provisions. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the Fund’s NAV to fluctuate. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

 

In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseeable ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which a Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in a Fund. Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, restrictions on businesses or other activities whose operations are deemed likely to encourage the spread of a virus, including curtailments of operations and reductions in staff and the downstream effects of those restrictions, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations. The impact of a pandemic could be short term or last for extended periods and could result in far reaching and unanticipated consequences.

 

Large-Capitalization Company Risk – The large capitalization companies in which a Fund may invest may lag the performance of smaller capitalization companies because large capitalization companies may experience slower rates of growth than smaller capitalization companies and may not respond as quickly to market changes and opportunities.

 

Foreign Company Risk – Investments in securities of foreign companies (including direct investments as well as investments through depositary receipts) can be more volatile than investments in U.S. companies. Diplomatic, political, or economic developments, including nationalization or appropriation, could affect investments in foreign companies. Foreign securities markets generally have less trading volume and less liquidity than U.S. markets. Financial statements of foreign issuers are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards than the financial statements of U.S. issuers and may be

 

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less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Thus, there may be less information publicly available about foreign issuers than about most U.S. issuers. Transaction costs are generally higher than those in the United States and expenses for custodial arrangements of foreign securities may be somewhat greater than typical expenses for custodial arrangements of similar U.S. securities. Some foreign governments levy withholding taxes against dividend and interest income. Although in some countries a portion of these taxes are recoverable, some countries erect administrative and other barriers that may prevent a Fund from fully reclaiming withheld taxes, and the non-recovered portion will reduce the income received from the securities comprising a Fund’s portfolio. Additionally, periodic U.S. government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in a Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. government designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses. These risks may be heightened with respect to emerging market countries since political turmoil and rapid changes in economic conditions are more likely to occur in these countries. In addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies, and of dividends from such securities, can change significantly when foreign currencies strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. dollar.

 

The Funds may invest in both sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). Unsponsored ADRs are issued by one or more depositaries without a formal agreement with the issuer of the underlying securities. Holders of unsponsored ADRs generally bear all the costs of such ADRs. In addition, the issuers of the securities underlying unsponsored ADRs are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States and, therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and the market value of the ADRs may not fully reflect all relevant information.

 

European Economic Risk – The Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (the “EU”) requires compliance with restrictions on inflation rates, deficits, interest rates and debt levels, as well as fiscal and monetary controls, each of which may significantly affect European countries. Decreasing imports or exports, changes in governmental or EU regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate of the euro (the common currency of certain EU countries), the default or threat of default by an EU member country on its sovereign debt and/or an economic recession in an EU member country may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of EU member countries and their trading partners. The European financial markets have experienced volatility and adverse trends in recent years due to concerns about economic downturns or rising government debt levels in several European countries, including, but not limited to, Austria,

 

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Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Ukraine. These events have adversely affected the exchange rate of the euro and may continue to significantly affect European countries.

 

Responses to financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not produce the desired results, may result in social unrest and may limit future growth and economic recovery or have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or restructurings by governments and other entities of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU. For example, on January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) formally withdrew from the EU (commonly referred to as “Brexit”). Following a transition period, the UK and the EU signed a post-Brexit trade agreement governing their future economic relationship on December 30, 2020. This agreement became effective on a provisional basis on January 1, 2021 and formally entered into force on May 1, 2021. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets.

 

The effects of Brexit on the UK and EU economies and the broader global economy could be significant, resulting in negative impacts, such as business and trade disruptions, increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth of markets in the UK, EU and globally, which could negatively impact the value of a Fund’s investments. Brexit could also lead to legal uncertainty and politically divergent national laws and regulations while the new relationship between the UK and EU is further defined and the UK determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Additionally, depreciation of the British pound sterling and/or the euro in relation to the U.S. dollar following Brexit could adversely affect Fund investments denominated in the British pound sterling and/or the euro, regardless of the performance of the investment.

 

On February 24, 2022, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia, Ukraine, Europe, NATO, and the U.S. Following Russia’s actions, various countries, including the U.S., Canada, the UK, Germany, and France, as well as the EU, issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia. The sanctions consist of the prohibition of trading in certain Russian securities and engaging in certain private transactions, the prohibition of doing business with certain Russian corporate entities, large financial institutions, officials and businesspersons, and the freezing of Russian assets. The extent and duration of the war in Ukraine and the longevity and severity of sanctions remain unknown, but they could have a significant adverse impact on the European economy as well as the price and availability of certain commodities, including oil and natural gas, throughout the world. These sanctions, and the resulting disruption of the Russian economy, may cause volatility in other regional and global markets and may negatively impact

 

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the performance of various sectors and industries, as well as companies in other countries, which could have a negative effect on the performance of a Fund, even if the Fund does not have direct exposure to securities of Russian issuers.

 

Whether or not a Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments due to the interconnected nature of the global economy and capital markets.

 

The occurrence of terrorist incidents throughout Europe also could impact financial markets. The impact of these events is not clear but could be significant and far-reaching and adversely affect the value of the Funds.

 

Asian Economic Risk – Many Asian economies have experienced rapid growth and industrialization in recent years, but there is no assurance that this growth rate will be maintained. Other Asian economies, however, have experienced high inflation, high unemployment, trade sanctions, currency devaluations and restrictions, over-building/expansion, and over-extension of credit. During the recent global recession, many of the export-driven Asian economies experienced the effects of the economic slowdown in the United States and Europe, and certain Asian governments implemented stimulus plans, low-rate monetary policies and currency devaluations. Economic events in any one Asian country may have a significant economic effect on the entire Asian region, as well as on major trading partners outside Asia. Many Asian countries are subject to political risk, including corruption and regional conflict with neighboring countries. In addition, many Asian countries are subject to social and labor risks associated with demands for improved political, economic and social conditions. The Asian region has in the past also experienced earthquakes, mud slides, tsunamis and other natural disasters, and the region continues to be subject to the risks of such events and their attendant effects on financial markets. Outbreaks and pandemics of viruses and other diseases, either in humans and/or animals, can have wide-ranging consequences throughout the world and can result in increased market volatility, diminished economic activity, and other consequences.

 

Derivatives Risk – The Funds may invest in derivatives, including options and swaps, in an effort to increase returns, to hedge against the risk of unfavorable price movements in the underlying instruments, to provide economic exposure to a security or issuer, to manage cash flows or currency exposure, to address tax considerations, as an alternative to selling a security short or for other reasons. Derivatives are often more volatile than other investments and may magnify a Fund’s gains or losses. There are various factors that affect a Fund’s ability to achieve its objective with derivatives. Successful use of a derivative depends upon the degree to which prices of the underlying assets correlate with price movements in the derivatives a Fund buys or sells. A Fund could be negatively affected if the change in market value of its securities fails to correlate closely with

 

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the values of the derivatives it purchased or sold. The lack of a liquid secondary market for a derivative may prevent a Fund from closing its derivative positions and could adversely impact its ability to achieve its objective and to realize profits or limit losses. Since derivatives may be purchased for a fraction of their value, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss or gain to a Fund. Derivatives are often more volatile than other investments and a Fund may lose more in a derivative than it originally invested in it. There can be no assurance that the Adviser’s use of derivatives will be successful in achieving its intended goals. Additionally, regulations relating to a Fund’s use of derivatives and related instruments, including Rule 18f-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, could potentially limit or impact a Fund’s ability to invest in derivatives, limit a Fund’s ability to employ certain strategies that use derivatives and/or adversely affect the value of derivatives and a Fund’s performance.

 

Additionally, derivative instruments are subject to counterparty risk, meaning that the party that issues the derivative may experience a significant credit event and may be unwilling or unable to make timely settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations.

 

The Funds may purchase or sell options, which involve the payment or receipt of a premium by the investor and the corresponding right or obligation, as the case may be, to either purchase or sell the underlying security for a specific price at a certain time or during a certain period. Purchasing options involves the risk that the underlying instrument will not change price in the manner expected, so that the investor loses its premium. Selling options involves potentially greater risk because the investor is exposed to the extent of the actual price movement in the underlying security (which could result in a potentially unlimited loss) rather than only the premium payment received. Over-the-counter options also involve counterparty risk.

 

The Funds may enter into total return swaps, which are contracts whereby one party agrees to make payments of the total return from a reference instrument during a specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from another underlying reference instrument. A reference instrument may be a single asset, a pool of assets or an index of assets. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged and are also subject to counterparty risk. It may also not be possible for the Funds to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses.

 

Short-Term Investing Risk – The investments and strategies described in this prospectus are those that the Funds use under normal circumstances. During unusual economic, market, political or other circumstances, each Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in short-term, high quality debt instruments, such as

 

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U.S. government securities. Significant and/or sustained investments in these instruments would not ordinarily be consistent with a Fund’s principal investment strategies, and may prevent a Fund from achieving its investment objective. A Fund will use a temporary strategy if the Adviser believes that pursuing the Fund’s investment objective will subject it to a significant risk of loss. Each of the Cambiar International Equity Fund, the Cambiar Small Cap Fund, and the Cambiar SMID Fund has a policy requiring it to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in particular types of securities as described in each Fund’s principal investment strategies. In addition to the temporary measures described above, each Fund may also temporarily deviate from its 80% policy in other limited, appropriate circumstances, such as unusually large cash inflows or redemptions.

 

When a Fund pursues a temporary defensive strategy, the Fund may not profit from favorable developments that it would have otherwise profited from if it was pursuing its normal strategy.

 

Information about Portfolio Holdings

 

The Funds generally post a detailed list of their securities (portfolio holdings) as of the most recent calendar month end, 30 days after the end of the calendar month. These postings can be found on the internet at https://aicfundholdings.seic.com/ and generally remain until such information is included in a filing with the SEC. In addition, the Funds generally post at www.cambiar.com their ten largest portfolio holdings, and the percentage that each of these holdings represents of each Fund’s total assets, as of the most recent calendar month end, 10 calendar days after the end of the calendar month. The Adviser may exclude any portion of the Funds’ portfolio holdings from such publication when deemed in the best interest of the Funds. Please consult the SAI for a description of the policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio holdings.

 

Investment Management

 

 

Investment Adviser

 

Cambiar Investors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company located at 200 Columbine Street, Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80206, serves as the investment adviser to each of the Funds. The Adviser manages and supervises the investment of each Fund’s assets on a discretionary basis, subject to oversight by the Board. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $3.4 billion in assets under management. The Adviser has provided investment management services to corporations, foundations, endowments, pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates and other institutions and individuals since 1973.

 

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For its services, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate based on the average daily net assets of each Fund, as set forth in the table below. The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce its fees and reimburse expenses of each Fund in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding any class-specific expenses (including shareholder servicing fees), interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other costs and expenses relating to the securities that are purchased and sold by the Fund, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and other non-routine expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding the amounts listed in the table below for each Fund, as a percentage of average daily net assets of each share class, until March 1, 2025. To maintain these expense limits, the Adviser may reduce a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses of the Funds. In addition, the Adviser may receive from a Fund the difference between the Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the Fund’s expense cap to recoup all or a portion of the fees waived or reduced or other payments remitted by the Adviser during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the reimbursement if at any point a Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the Fund’s expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver or expense payment, and (ii) at the time of the reimbursement. The table also lists the amount each Fund paid the Adviser during the most recent fiscal year, as a percentage of its average daily net assets.

 

 

Cambiar
Opportunity
Fund

Cambiar
International
Equity Fund

Cambiar
Small Cap
Fund

Cambiar
SMID
Fund

Management Fees

0.60%

0.90%

0.85%

0.80%

Expense Limits

0.65%

0.90%

0.90%

0.85%

Advisory Fee Paid During the Most Recent Fiscal Year (after waivers)

0.46%

0.64%

0.63%

0.62%

 

A discussion regarding the basis for Board approval of the Funds’ investment advisory agreements is available in the Funds’ October 31, 2023 Annual Report to Shareholders, which covers the period from November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2023.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

Brian M. Barish, CFA, President, Chief Investment Officer, joined the Adviser in 1997 and has over 35 years of investment experience. He serves as the Lead Manager for the Cambiar Opportunity Fund and the Co-Lead Manager of the Cambiar International Equity Fund. He also serves on the investment team for the Cambiar SMID Fund and the Cambiar Small Cap Fund. Prior to joining the Adviser,

 

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Mr. Barish served as Director of Emerging Markets Research for Lazard Freres & Co., a New York based investment bank. He has also served as a securities analyst with Bear, Stearns & Co. and Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder, a New York based research firm. Mr. Barish received a BA in Economics and Philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

 

Anna (Ania) A. Aldrich, CFA, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 1999 and has over 35 years of investment experience. She serves on the investment team for the Cambiar Opportunity Fund, the Cambiar SMID Fund, and the Cambiar Small Cap Fund. Prior to joining the Adviser, Ms. Aldrich was a global equity analyst at Bankers Trust, a New York based investment company. She began her career as a senior investor relations professional at BET PLC, a New York based communications firm. Ms. Aldrich holds an MBA in Finance from Fordham University and a BA in Computer Science from Hunter College. She also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

 

Andrew P. Baumbusch, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 2004 and has over 26 years of investment experience. He serves as the Co-Lead Manager of the Cambiar SMID Fund and the Cambiar Small Cap Fund. He also serves on the investment team for the Cambiar Opportunity Fund. Prior to joining the Adviser, Mr. Baumbusch served as an investment analyst at Franklin Templeton, Atrium Capital, and Alex Brown & Sons. Mr. Baumbusch holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BA in Economics from Princeton University.

 

Masha Carey, CFA, Senior Analyst, joined the Adviser in 2019 and has over 13 years of investment experience. Ms. Carey serves on the investment team for the Cambiar International Equity Fund. Prior to joining the Adviser, Ms. Carey was an International Analyst at Segall Bryant & Hamill. Prior to that, she served as a Senior Research Associate at Eaton Vance with the Global Macro team. Ms. Carey received a BA in Economics and Classical Civilization from New York University. Ms. Carey holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

 

Joseph S. Chin, CFA, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 2019 and has over 25 years of investment experience. He serves on the investment team for the Cambiar Opportunity Fund, Cambiar SMID Fund, and Cambiar Small Cap Fund. Prior to joining the Adviser, Mr. Chin worked at Obermeyer Wood Investment Counsel, where he was a Portfolio Manager and Senior Analyst. He began his investment career as a Senior Research Analyst at Marsico Capital. Mr. Chin received a BA in Economics from Wesleyan University and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

 

Colin M. Dunn, CFA, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 2011 and has over 24 years of investment experience. He serves as the Co-Lead Manager of the Cambiar SMID Fund and the Cambiar Small Cap Fund. He also serves on the investment team for the Cambiar Opportunity Fund. Prior to joining the Adviser, Mr.

 

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Dunn served as Vice President in the Investment Banking department at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods. He has also served as a securities analyst in the Investment Banking division at UBS. Mr. Dunn received a BS in Finance from Georgetown University and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

 

Robert A. Steiner Jr., CFA, Senior Analyst, joined the Adviser in 2021 and has over 13 years of investment experience. Mr. Steiner serves on the investment team for the Cambiar International Equity Fund and as a Senior Analyst for the Adviser’s International strategies. Prior to joining the Adviser, Mr. Steiner served as a Portfolio Manager/Senior Equity Analyst for the Global Dividend Value strategy at Segall Bryant & Hamill. Prior to that, he served as an investment banking associate with BMO Capital Markets. Mr. Steiner received an MBA in Finance and Corporate Strategy from Emory University and a BBA in Real Estate from the University of Georgia. Mr. Steiner holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

 

Daniel Windoff, Investment Analyst, joined the Adviser in 2021 and has over 15 years of investment experience. Mr. Windoff serves on the investment team for the Cambiar International Equity Fund. Prior to joining the Adviser, Mr. Windoff served as a Portfolio Manager for the Crescit Fund and Crescit Protect Fund at Crescit Asset Management in Stockholm, Sweden. Mr. Windoff began his investment career as an Associate with Macquarie Group Limited. Mr. Windoff received an MBA in Financial Mathematics from University of Notre Dame and a BSc in Finance and International Business from High Point University.

 

Di Zhou, CFA, FRM, Investment Principal, joined the Adviser in 2021 and has over 23 years of investment experience. Ms. Zhou serves as the Co-Lead Manager of the Cambiar International Equity Fund. Prior to joining the Adviser, Ms. Zhou was a Portfolio Manager/Global Equity Analyst for the International Equity Strategies and Better World (ESG) International Fund at Thornburg Investment Management. She began her career at Wilshire Associates as a Senior Associate. Ms. Zhou received an MBA in Analytic Finance, Accounting, and Strategy from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.

 

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

 

More Information about the Funds’ History and Performance

 

 

Cambiar Opportunity Fund

 

Effective June 24, 2002, the Cambiar Opportunity Fund (“Opportunity Fund”) became the successor to a separate mutual fund, the UAM Funds Trust Cambiar Opportunity Portfolio (the “Predecessor Opportunity Fund”). The Predecessor Opportunity Fund was managed by the Adviser and its predecessor, had an identical investment objective as the Opportunity Fund, and had a strategy, fees

 

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and expenses that were substantially similar to those of the Opportunity Fund. The performance shown in the performance table on page 6 of this prospectus represents the performance of the Predecessor Opportunity Fund for periods prior to June 24, 2002.

 

Cambiar International Equity Fund

 

Effective September 9, 2002, the Cambiar International Equity Fund (the “International Equity Fund”) became the successor to the Cambiar International Equity Trust (the “Predecessor International Fund”), an unregistered, similarly managed fund. The Predecessor International Fund was managed by the Adviser and its predecessor, had an identical investment objective as the International Equity Fund, and had a strategy that was substantially similar to that of the International Equity Fund. The performance shown in the performance table on page 15 of this prospectus represents the performance of the Predecessor International Fund for periods prior to September 9, 2002, adjusted to reflect expenses for the International Equity Fund. The Predecessor International Fund was not a registered mutual fund and so it was not subject to the same investment and tax restrictions as the International Equity Fund. If it had been, the Predecessor International Fund’s performance may have been lower.

 

Payments by the Funds or the Adviser to Financial Intermediaries

 

 

The Funds and/or the Adviser may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to the Funds and/or their shareholders. Financial intermediaries include affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and other institutions having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Funds, their service providers or their respective affiliates. This section briefly describes how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing services. For more information, please see “Payments by the Funds or the Adviser to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Funds, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.

 

Other Payments by the Funds

 

The Funds may enter into agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which the Funds may pay financial intermediaries for non-distribution-related sub-transfer agency, administrative, sub-accounting, and other shareholder services. Payments made pursuant to such agreements are generally based on either (1) a percentage of the average daily net assets of Fund shareholders serviced by

 

62

 

 

 

a financial intermediary, or (2) the number of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary. Payments made pursuant to such agreements may be in addition to, rather than in lieu of, shareholder services fees the Funds may pay to financial intermediaries pursuant to the Funds’ shareholder servicing plan.

 

Shareholder Servicing Plan

 

The Funds have adopted a shareholder servicing plan that provides that each Fund may pay financial intermediaries for certain shareholder services in an annual amount not to exceed 0.25% based on each Fund’s Investor Class Shares’ average daily net assets. The services for which financial intermediaries are compensated under the shareholder servicing plan may include record-keeping, transaction processing for shareholders’ accounts and other non-distribution-related shareholder services.

 

Payments by the Adviser

 

From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support for the Funds. These payments are sometimes characterized as “revenue sharing” payments and are made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own legitimate profits or other resources, are not paid by the Funds, and may be in addition to any payments made to financial intermediaries by the Funds. A financial intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments from the Adviser for making shares of the Funds available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Funds with “shelf space,” placing them on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Funds in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries.

 

The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the market power and flexibility of the intermediary, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary, the time period in which the arrangement was entered into or amended, or the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the

 

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sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV of a Fund’s shares.

 

Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders, as well as information about any fees and/or commissions it charges.

 

Additional Information

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Funds’ investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Funds. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against these service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Funds that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Funds. The Funds may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Funds and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

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Financial Highlights

 

The tables that follow present performance information about the Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares of the Funds. The information is intended to help you understand the financial performance of each Fund for the past five fiscal years. Certain information contained in the tables reflects the financial results for a share of each Fund. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Funds assuming all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The information provided below has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of the Funds. The financial statements and the unqualified opinion of Ernst & Young LLP are included in the 2023 Annual Report of the Funds, which is available upon request by calling the Funds at 1-866-777-8227.

 

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Opportunity Fund – Investor Class Shares

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

   

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 25.31     $ 29.58     $ 22.07     $ 22.63     $ 22.62  

Income (Loss) from Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income(1)

    0.31       0.20       0.17       0.27       0.34  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    0.76       (2.35 )     8.34       1.29       2.06  

Total from Operations

    1.07       (2.15 )     8.51       1.56       2.40  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (0.16 )     (0.14 )     (0.19 )     (0.32 )     (0.24 )

Net Realized Gain

    (1.06 )     (1.98 )     (0.81 )     (1.80 )     (2.15 )

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (1.22 )     (2.12 )     (1.00 )     (2.12 )     (2.39 )

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 25.16     $ 25.31     $ 29.58     $ 22.07     $ 22.63  
                                         

Total Return

    4.26 %     (7.74 )%     39.42 %     6.91 %     13.32 %
                                         

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 114,401     $ 124,006     $ 158,921     $ 103,903     $ 107,692  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.86 %     0.86 %     0.85 %     0.84 %     0.80 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    1.00 %     0.98 %     0.94 %     0.94 %     0.88 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.23 %     0.76 %     0.61 %     1.27 %     1.63 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    51 %     46 %     36 %     87 %     70 %

 

Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fee. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(1)

Per share data calculated using the average shares method.

Amounts designated as “—“ are $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

 

66

 

 

 

Opportunity Fund – Institutional Class Shares

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

   

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 25.24     $ 29.50     $ 22.00     $ 22.55     $ 22.57  

Income (Loss) from Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income(1)

    0.37       0.26       0.22       0.31       0.37  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    0.75       (2.35 )     8.32       1.28       2.05  

Total from Operations

    1.12       (2.09 )     8.54       1.59       2.42  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (0.22 )     (0.19 )     (0.23 )     (0.34 )     (0.29 )

Net Realized Gain

    (1.06 )     (1.98 )     (0.81 )     (1.80 )     (2.15 )

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (1.28 )     (2.17 )     (1.04 )     (2.14 )     (2.44 )

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 25.08     $ 25.24     $ 29.50     $ 22.00     $ 22.55  
                                         

Total Return

    4.47 %     (7.55 )%     39.75 %     7.09 %     13.46 %
                                         

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 211,289     $ 160,752     $ 198,332     $ 127,089     $ 121,973  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.65 %     0.65 %     0.65 %     0.65 %     0.71 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers, Expense Reimbursements and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    0.79 %     0.77 %     0.74 %     0.75 %     0.79 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.44 %     0.97 %     0.81 %     1.45 %     1.76 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    51 %     46 %     36 %     87 %     70 %

 

Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fee. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(1)

Per share data calculated using the average shares method.

Amounts designated as “—“ are $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

 

67

 

 

 

SMID Fund – Investor Class Shares

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

   

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 21.00     $ 24.96     $ 17.43     $ 18.78     $ 17.37  

Income (Loss) from Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income(1)

    0.19       0.18       0.21       0.13       0.11  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    0.11       (1.48 )     7.45       (0.69 )     2.35  

Total from Operations

    0.30       (1.30 )     7.66       (0.56 )     2.46  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (0.20 )     (0.19 )     (0.13 )     (0.09 )     (0.09 )

Net Realized Gain

    (0.01 )     (2.47 )           (0.70 )     (0.96 )

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (0.21 )     (2.66 )     (0.13 )     (0.79 )     (1.05 )

Redemption Fees(1)

    0.00 (2)      0.00 (2)     0.00 (2)     0.00 (2)     0.00 (2)

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 21.09     $ 21.00     $ 24.96     $ 17.43     $ 18.78  
                                         

Total Return

    1.38 %     (5.74 )%     44.07 %     (3.42 )%     15.61 %
                                         

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 117,766     $ 103,824     $ 124,536     $ 53,396     $ 48,630  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.93 %     0.92 %     0.93 %     0.95 %     0.94 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    1.11 %     1.09 %     1.07 %     1.20 %     1.21 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    0.87 %     0.81 %     0.87 %     0.76 %     0.61 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    38 %     34 %     52 %     82 %     65 %

 

Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fee. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(1)

Per share data calculated using the average shares method.

(2)

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

68

 

 

 

SMID Fund – Institutional Class Shares

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

   

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 21.01     $ 24.97     $ 17.44     $ 18.78     $ 17.36  

Income (Loss) from Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income(1)

    0.20       0.19       0.22       0.15       0.12  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    0.11       (1.48 )     7.45       (0.69 )     2.35  

Total from Operations

    0.31       (1.29 )     7.67       (0.54 )     2.47  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (0.21 )     (0.20 )     (0.14 )     (0.10 )     (0.09 )

Net Realized Gain

    (0.01 )     (2.47 )           (0.70 )     (0.96 )

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (0.22 )     (2.67 )     (0.14 )     (0.80 )     (1.05 )

Redemption Fees(1)

    0.00 (2)      0.00 (2)     0.01              

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 21.10     $ 21.01     $ 24.97     $ 17.44     $ 18.78  
                                         

Total Return

    1.46 %     (5.67 )%     44.17 %     (3.32 )%     15.69 %
                                         

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 49,779     $ 23,164     $ 25,993     $ 4,745     $ 4,679  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.85 %     0.85 %     0.85 %     0.85 %     0.88 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    1.04 %     1.02 %     0.99 %     1.09 %     1.15 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    0.90 %     0.87 %     0.89 %     0.86 %     0.67 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    38 %     34 %     52 %     82 %     65 %

 

Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fee. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(1)

Per share data calculated using the average shares method.

(2)

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

Amounts designated as “—“ are $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

 

69

 

 

 

Small Cap Fund – Investor Class Shares

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

   

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 14.48     $ 20.95     $ 14.93     $ 16.61     $ 18.45  

Income (Loss) from Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income (Loss)(1)

    0.11       0.01       (0.02 )     0.06       0.07  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    (0.91 )     (1.30 )     6.10       (0.94 )     1.34  

Total from Operations

    (0.80 )     (1.29 )     6.08       (0.88 )     1.41  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Investment Income

                (0.06 )     (0.08 )     (0.01 )

Net Realized Gain

    (0.07 )     (5.18 )           (0.72 )     (3.24 )

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (0.07 )     (5.18 )     (0.06 )     (0.80 )     (3.25 )

Redemption Fees(1)

    0.00 (2)      0.00 (2)     0.00 (2)     0.00 (2)     0.00 (2)

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 13.61     $ 14.48     $ 20.95     $ 14.93     $ 16.61  
                                         

Total Return

    (5.57 )%     (7.36 )%     40.79 %     (5.76 )%     12.17 %
                                         

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 22,912     $ 33,349     $ 40,967     $ 36,234     $ 42,212  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    1.05 %     1.10 %     1.10 %     1.05 %     1.15 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    1.27 %     1.31 %     1.26 %     1.25 %     1.30 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income (Loss) to Average Net Assets

    0.71 %     0.05 %     (0.10 )%     0.41 %     0.42 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    48 %     50 %     64 %     70 %     55 %

 

Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fee. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(1)

Per share data calculated using the average shares method.

(2)

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

Amounts designated as “—“ are $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

70

 

 

 

Small Cap Fund – Institutional Class Shares

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

   

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 15.13     $ 21.63     $ 15.39     $ 17.11     $ 18.89  

Income (Loss) from Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income(1)

    0.13       0.04       0.02       0.08       0.10  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    (0.94 )     (1.36 )     6.30       (0.97 )     1.39  

Total from Operations

    (0.81 )     (1.32 )     6.32       (0.89 )     1.49  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (0.03 )           (0.08 )     (0.11 )     (0.03 )

Net Realized Gain

    (0.07 )     (5.18 )           (0.72 )     (3.24 )

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (0.10 )     (5.18 )     (0.08 )     (0.83 )     (3.27 )

Redemption Fees(1)

    0.00 (2)      0.00 (2)     0.00 (2)     0.00 (2)     0.00 (2)

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 14.22     $ 15.13     $ 21.63     $ 15.39     $ 17.11  
                                         

Total Return

    (5.42 )%     (7.21 )%     41.18 %     (5.64 )%     12.37 %
                                         

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 71,311     $ 38,858     $ 55,691     $ 42,012     $ 42,824  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.90 %     0.90 %     0.90 %     0.90 %     0.96 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    1.12 %     1.11 %     1.07 %     1.10 %     1.10 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    0.81 %     0.26 %     0.08 %     0.55 %     0.61 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    48 %     50 %     64 %     70 %     55 %

 

Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fee. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(1)

Per share data calculated using the average shares method.

(2)

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

Amounts designated as “—“ are $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

71

 

 

 

International Equity Fund – Investor Class Shares

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

   

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 20.37     $ 28.06     $ 22.23     $ 26.26     $ 25.02  

Income (Loss) from Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income(1)

    0.25       0.29       0.34       0.21       0.72  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    2.16       (7.61 )     5.70       (3.23 )     0.73  

Total from Operations

    2.41       (7.32 )     6.04       (3.02 )     1.45  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (0.58 )     (0.37 )     (0.31 )     (0.91 )     (0.16 )

Net Realized Gain

                            (0.05 )

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (0.58 )     (0.37 )     (0.31 )     (0.91 )     (0.21 )

Redemption Fees(1)

    0.00 (2)      0.00 (2)     0.00 (2)     0.00 (2)     0.00 (2)

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 22.20     $ 20.37     $ 28.06     $ 22.33     $ 26.26  
                                         

Total Return

    11.85 %   (26.42 )%     27.13 %     (12.07 )%     5.88 %
                                         

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 84,764     $ 115,167     $ 205,317     $ 194,941     $ 455,008  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.99 %     0.99 %     0.98 %     1.03 %     1.02 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    1.25 %     1.17 %     1.12 %     1.15 %     1.10 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.05 %   1.20 %     1.21 %     0.87 %     2.89 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    32 %   49 %     61 %     58 %     42 %

 

Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fee. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(1)

Per share data calculated using the average shares method.

(2)

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

Amounts designated as “—“ are $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

72

 

 

 

International Equity Fund – Institutional Class Shares

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

   

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 20.41     $ 28.10     $ 22.38     $ 26.31     $ 25.11  

Income (Loss) from Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income(1)

    0.26       0.31       0.33       0.25       0.77  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    2.16       (7.61 )     5.74       (3.24 )     0.70  

Total from Operations

    2.42       (7.30 )     6.07       (2.99 )     1.47  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (0.61 )     (0.39 )     (0.35 )     (0.94 )     (0.22 )

Net Realized Gain

                            (0.05 )

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (0.61 )     (0.39 )     (0.35 )     (0.94 )     (0.27 )

Redemption Fees(1)

          0.00 (2)     0.00 (2)     0.00 (2)     0.00 (2)

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 22.22     $ 20.41     $ 28.10     $ 22.38     $ 26.31  
                                         

Total Return

    11.86 %     (26.32 )%     27.23 %     (11.94 )%     5.99 %
                                         

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 93,689     $ 200,634     $ 718,480     $ 837,570     $ 1,927,379  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.90 %     0.90 %     0.90 %     0.90 %     0.92 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    1.16 %     1.08 %     1.04 %     1.02 %     1.00 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.11 %     1.25 %     1.19 %     1.02 %     3.07 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    32 %     49 %     61 %     58 %     42 %

 

Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fee. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(1)

Per share data calculated using the average shares method.

(2)

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

Amounts designated as “—“ are $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

73

 

 

 

The Cambiar Funds

 

Investors who would like more information about the Funds should read the Funds’ Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”), as it may be amended from time to time. The Annual and Semi-Annual Reports of the Funds provide additional information about their investments. In the Annual Report, you will also find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the performance of the Funds during the last fiscal year. The SAI contains additional detailed information about the Funds and is incorporated by reference into (is legally a part of) this prospectus.

 

Investors can receive free copies of the SAI, shareholder reports, the Funds’ privacy policy and other information about the Funds and can make shareholder inquiries at www.cambiar.com or by writing to or calling:

 

The Cambiar Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009
(Toll free) 1-866-777-8227

 

You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act of 1940 file number is 811-06400.

 

 

CMB-PS-010-1000

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

CAMBIAR OPPORTUNITY FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: CAMWX)

(Investor Class Shares: CAMOX)

 

CAMBIAR INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: CAMYX)

(Investor Class Shares: CAMIX)

 

CAMBIAR SMALL CAP FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: CAMZX)

(Investor Class Shares: CAMSX)

 

CAMBIAR SMID FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: CAMUX)

(Investor Class Shares: CAMMX)

 

each, a series of THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND

 

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

CAMBIAR INVESTORS, LLC

 

This Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”) and the following series of the Trust (each, a “Fund” and collectively, the “Funds”):

 

Cambiar Opportunity Fund (the “Opportunity Fund”)

Cambiar International Equity Fund (the “International Equity Fund”)

Cambiar Small Cap Fund (the “Small Cap Fund”)

Cambiar SMID Fund (the “SMID Fund”)

 

This SAI should be read in conjunction with the Funds’ prospectus dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Prospectus. The most recent Annual Report for the Funds, which includes the Funds’ audited financial statements dated October 31, 2023, is incorporated by reference into this SAI. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Prospectus or Annual Report free of charge by writing to the Cambiar Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail Address: The Cambiar Funds c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105), or by calling the Funds at 1-866-777-8227 (toll free).

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

THE TRUST S-1
INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUNDS S-2
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS S-6
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES S-38
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS S-39
THE ADMINISTRATOR S-42
THE DISTRIBUTOR S-42
PAYMENTS BY THE FUNDS OR THE ADVISER TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES S-43
TRANSFER AGENT S-44
CUSTODIAN S-44
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM S-44
LEGAL COUNSEL S-44
SECURITIES LENDING S-44
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST S-45
PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES S-54
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE S-54
TAXES S-56
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES S-65
DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS S-68
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES S-69
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY S-70
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY S-70
PROXY VOTING S-70
CODES OF ETHICS S-70
5% AND 25% SHAREHOLDERS S-71
APPENDIX A – DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS A-1
APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES B-1

 

March 1, 2024 CMB-SX-003-1600

 

i 

 

THE TRUST

 

General. Each Fund is a separate series of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), an open-end investment management company established under Massachusetts law as a Massachusetts voluntary association (commonly known as a business trust) under a Declaration of Trust dated July 18, 1991, as amended and restated February 18, 1997 and amended May 15, 2012 and August 18, 2020 (the “Declaration of Trust”). The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series (“funds”) of shares of beneficial interest (“shares”). The Trust reserves the right to create and issue shares of additional funds. Each fund is a separate mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (“ETF”), and each share of each fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund, and all assets of such fund, belong solely to that fund and would be subject to any liabilities related thereto. Each fund pays its (i) operating expenses, including fees of its service providers, expenses of preparing prospectuses, proxy solicitation materials and reports to shareholders, costs of custodial services and registering its shares under federal and state securities laws, pricing and insurance expenses, brokerage costs, interest charges, taxes and organization expenses, and (ii) pro rata share of the fund’s other expenses, including audit and legal expenses. Expenses attributable to a specific fund shall be payable solely out of the assets of that fund. Expenses not attributable to a specific fund are pro-rata allocated across all of the funds on the basis of relative net assets. The other funds of the Trust are described in one or more separate prospectuses and statements of additional information.

 

Description of Multiple Classes of Shares. The Trust is authorized to offer shares of the Funds in Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares. The different classes provide for variations in shareholder servicing expenses and in the minimum investment requirements. Minimum investment requirements and investor eligibility are described in the Prospectus. For more information on shareholder servicing expenses, see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in this SAI. The Trust reserves the right to create and issue additional classes of shares.

 

History of the Funds. The Opportunity Fund is the successor to the UAM Funds Trust Cambiar Opportunity Portfolio (the “Predecessor Opportunity Fund”), a separate registered investment company. The Predecessor Opportunity Fund was managed by Cambiar Investors, LLC (“Cambiar” or the “Adviser”) and its predecessor, had an identical investment objective as the Opportunity Fund, and had a strategy, fees and expenses that were substantially similar to those of the Opportunity Fund. The Predecessor Opportunity Fund’s date of inception was June 30, 1998. The Predecessor Opportunity Fund dissolved and reorganized into the Opportunity Fund on June 24, 2002. Substantially all of the assets of the Predecessor Opportunity Fund were acquired by the Opportunity Fund in connection with its commencement of operations on June 24, 2002.

 

The International Equity Fund is the successor to the Cambiar International Equity Trust (the “Predecessor International Equity Fund”), a separate unregistered investment company. The Predecessor International Equity Fund was managed by the Adviser and its predecessor, had an identical investment objective as the International Equity Fund, and had a strategy that was substantially similar to that of the International Equity Fund. The Predecessor International Equity Fund’s date of inception was September 2, 1997. The Predecessor International Equity Fund dissolved and reorganized into the International Equity Fund on September 9, 2002. Substantially all of the assets of the Predecessor International Equity Fund were acquired by the International Equity Fund in connection with its commencement of operations on September 9, 2002.

 

Voting Rights. Each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote for each share held on the record date for the meeting. Each Fund will vote separately on matters relating solely to it. As a Massachusetts voluntary association, the Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Shareholders’ approval will be sought, however, for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of trustees under certain circumstances. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trust’s Board of Trustees (each, a “Trustee” and collectively, the “Board” or the “Trustees”) has the power to liquidate one or more Funds without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they may do so if a Fund fails to reach a viable size within a reasonable amount of time or for such other reasons as may be determined by the Board.

 

S-1 

 

In addition, a Trustee may be removed by the remaining Trustees or by shareholders at a special meeting called upon written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.

 

Any series of the Trust created on or after November 11, 1996 may reorganize or merge with one or more other series of the Trust or of another investment company. Any such reorganization or merger shall be pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization authorized and approved by the majority of the Trustees then in office and entered into by the relevant series in connection therewith. To the extent permitted by applicable law and the Declaration of Trust, such reorganization or merger may be effected without the approval of shareholders of any series.

 

Each Fund is classified as a “diversified” investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). This means that with respect to 75% of its total assets, each Fund may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer’s voting securities would be held by the Fund. Under applicable federal securities laws, the diversification of a mutual fund’s holdings is measured at the time a fund purchases a security. If a Fund holds securities that perform well on a relative basis, the value of those securities could appreciate such that the value of the Fund’s securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, in the aggregate, might exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets. In these circumstances, the Adviser might determine that it is in the best interests of a Fund’s shareholders not to reduce one or more of the Fund’s holdings in securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. If the Adviser makes such a determination, a Fund’s holdings in such securities would continue to exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets, and the Fund would not purchase any additional shares of securities that constituted more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. The Fund would continue to qualify as a diversified fund under applicable federal securities laws. If more than 25% of a Fund’s assets were invested, in the aggregate, in securities of issuers that individually represented more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, the Fund would be subject to the risk that its performance could be disproportionately affected by the performance of such securities.

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUNDS

 

Each Fund will determine compliance with the investment limitation percentages below (with the exception of a limitation relating to borrowing) and other applicable investment requirements in this SAI immediately after and as a result of its acquisition of such security or other asset. Accordingly, each Fund generally will not consider changes in values, net assets or other circumstances when determining whether the investment complies with its investment limitations.

 

Fundamental Policies:

 

The following investment limitations are fundamental, which means that a Fund cannot change them without approval by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The phrase “majority of the outstanding shares” means the vote of (i) 67% or more of a Fund’s shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares, whichever is less.

 

S-2 

 

Each Fund may not:

 

Borrow money, except to the extent permitted by applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction and the guidelines set forth in the Prospectus and SAI as they may be amended from time to time.

 

Issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted by applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction.

 

Underwrite securities of other issuers, except insofar as the Fund may technically be deemed to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities.

 

Concentrate (invest 25% of its assets) its investments in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry or group of industries (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities).

 

Purchase or sell real estate, except: (1) to the extent permitted by applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction; (2) that the Fund may invest in securities of issuers that deal or invest in real estate; and (3) that the Fund may purchase securities secured by real estate or interests therein.

 

Purchase or sell commodities or contracts on commodities except that the Fund may engage in financial futures contracts and related options and currency contracts and related options and may otherwise do so in accordance with applicable law and without registering as a CPO under the Commodity Exchange Act ("CEA").

 

Make loans to other persons, except that the Fund may lend its portfolio securities in accordance with applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction and the guidelines set forth in the Prospectus and SAI as they may be amended from time to time. The acquisition of investment securities or other investment instruments shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan.

 

In addition, each Fund may not make any investment inconsistent with its classification as a diversified series of an open-end investment company under the 1940 Act.

 

For purposes of a Fund's concentration policy described above, the Fund may classify and re-classify companies in a particular industry and define and re-define industries in any reasonable manner, consistent with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and any SEC staff guidance.

 

Non-Fundamental Policies:

 

In addition to each Fund’s investment objective, the following limitations are non-fundamental, which means a Fund may change them without shareholder approval. Each Fund (except the SMID Fund) may:

 

Not (i) purchase securities of any issuer (except securities of other investment companies, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements involving such securities) if, as a result, more than 5% of the total assets of the Fund would be invested in the securities of such issuer; or (ii) acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. This restriction applies to 75% of the Fund’s total assets.

 

S-3 

 

Not borrow money, except that the Fund may: (1) borrow from banks (as defined in the 1940 Act) or enter into reverse repurchase agreements, in amounts up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed); (2) borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes; (3) obtain such short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities; and (4) purchase securities on margin and engage in short sales to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

The Fund will not purchase securities while borrowings are outstanding except to exercise prior commitments and to exercise subscription rights.

 

Purchase and sell currencies or securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward-commitment basis.

 

Purchase and sell foreign currency, purchase options on foreign currency and foreign currency exchange contracts.

 

Invest in the securities of foreign issuers.

 

Purchase shares of other investment companies to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

Notwithstanding any fundamental policy or other limitation, invest all of its investable assets in securities of a single open-end management investment company with substantially the same investment objectives, policies and limitations.

 

Hold illiquid and restricted securities to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Fund intends to follow the rules under the 1940 Act and the policies of the SEC as they are adopted from time to time with respect to illiquid securities, including: (1) treating as illiquid any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment; and (2) not acquiring any illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets.

 

Write covered call options and may buy and sell put and call options.

 

Enter into repurchase agreements.

 

Lend portfolio securities to registered broker-dealers or other institutional investors. These loans may not exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total assets taken at market value. In addition, the Fund must receive at least 100% collateral.

 

Sell securities short and engage in short sales “against the box.”

 

Enter into swap transactions.

 

In addition:

 

The Small Cap Fund may not change its investment strategy to invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in common stocks of small-cap companies without 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

 

The International Equity Fund may not change its investment strategy to invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of foreign companies without 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

 

S-4 

 

The SMID Fund may:

 

Not (i) purchase securities of any issuer (except securities of other investment companies, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements involving such securities) if, as a result, more than 5% of the total assets of the Fund would be invested in the securities of such issuer; or (ii) acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. This restriction applies to 75% of the Fund’s total assets.

 

Not borrow money in an amount exceeding 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets. To the extent that its borrowings exceed 5% of its assets: (i) all borrowings will be repaid before the Fund makes additional investments; and (ii) asset coverage of at least 300% is required.

 

Purchase and sell currencies or securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward-commitment basis.

 

Purchase and sell foreign currency, purchase options on foreign currency and foreign currency exchange contracts.

 

Invest in the securities of foreign issuers.

 

Purchase shares of other investment companies to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

Notwithstanding any fundamental policy or other limitation, invest all of its investable assets in securities of a single open-end management investment company with substantially the same investment objectives, policies and limitations.

 

Hold illiquid and restricted securities to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Fund intends to follow the rules under the 1940 Act and the policies of the SEC as they are adopted from time to time with respect to illiquid securities, including: (1) treating as illiquid any investment that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment; and (2) not acquiring any illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets.

 

Write covered call options and may buy and sell put and call options.

 

Enter into repurchase agreements.

 

Lend portfolio securities to registered broker-dealers or other institutional investors. These loans may not exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total assets taken at market value. In addition, the Fund must receive at least 100% collateral.

 

Sell securities short and engage in short sales “against the box.”

 

Enter into swap transactions.

 

Not change its investment strategy to invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in common stocks of small- to mid-sized companies without 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

 

S-5 

 

DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS

 

Each Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies are described in the Prospectus. The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus. Each Fund may invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices unless such investment or activity is inconsistent with or is not permitted by the Fund's stated investment policies, including those discussed in this SAI.

 

Equity Securities

 

Types of Equity Securities:

 

Common Stocks - Common stocks represent units of ownership in a company. Common stocks usually carry voting rights and earn dividends. Unlike preferred stocks, which are described below, dividends on common stocks are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the company’s board of directors.

 

Preferred Stocks - Preferred stocks are also units of ownership in a company. Preferred stocks generally pay dividends, which are fixed in advance. Preferred stocks normally have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of the company. Dividends on preferred stocks are usually cumulative, meaning that, in the event the issuer fails to make one or more dividend payments on the preferred stock, no dividends may be paid on the issuer’s common stock until all unpaid preferred stock dividends have been paid. However, in other respects, preferred stocks are subordinated to the liabilities of the issuer, including debt instruments. Unlike common stocks, preferred stocks are generally not entitled to vote on corporate matters. Types of preferred stocks include adjustable-rate preferred stock, fixed dividend preferred stock, perpetual preferred stock, and sinking fund preferred stock. Generally, the market values of preferred stock with a fixed dividend rate and no conversion element varies inversely with interest rates and perceived credit risk.

 

Convertible Securities - Convertible securities are securities that may be exchanged for, converted into, or exercised to acquire a pre-determined number of shares of the issuer’s common stock at the investor’s option during a specified time period (such as convertible preferred stocks, convertible debentures and warrants). By investing in convertible securities, the Funds may seek opportunity through the conversion feature to participate in the capital appreciation of the common stock or other interests into which the securities are convertible, while potentially earning a higher fixed rate of return than is ordinarily available on common stocks. A convertible security is generally a fixed income security that is senior to common stock in an issuer’s capital structure, but is usually subordinated to similar non-convertible fixed income securities. In exchange for the conversion feature, many corporations pay a lower rate of interest on convertible securities than that paid on their non-convertible fixed income securities. In general, the market value of a convertible security is at least the higher of its “investment value” (i.e., its value as a fixed income security) or its “conversion value” (i.e., its value upon conversion into its underlying common stock).

 

Convertible securities are subject to the same risks as similar securities without the convertible feature. The price of a convertible security can be more volatile during times of steady interest rates than other types of debt securities. The price of a convertible security tends to increase as the market value of the underlying stock rises, whereas it tends to decrease as the market value of the underlying common stock declines.

 

A synthetic convertible security is a combination investment in which an investor purchases both (i) high-grade cash equivalents or a high grade debt obligation of an issuer or U.S. government securities and (ii) call options or warrants on the common stock of the same or different issuer with some or all of the anticipated interest income from the associated debt obligation that is earned over the holding period of the option or warrant.

 

S-6 

 

While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar non-convertible security), a convertible security also affords an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation attendant upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock. A synthetic convertible position has similar investment characteristics, but may differ with respect to credit quality, time to maturity, trading characteristics, and other factors. Because a Fund will create synthetic convertible positions only out of high grade fixed income securities, the credit rating associated with the Fund’s synthetic convertible investments is generally expected to be higher than that of the average convertible security, many of which are rated below high grade. However, because the options used to create synthetic convertible positions will generally have expirations between one month and three years of the time of purchase, the maturity of these positions will generally be shorter than average for convertible securities. Since the option component of a convertible security or synthetic convertible position is a wasting asset (in the sense of losing “time value” as maturity approaches), a synthetic convertible position may lose such value more rapidly than a convertible security of longer maturity; however, the gain in option value due to appreciation of the underlying stock may exceed such time value loss, the market price of the option component generally reflects these differences in maturities, and the Adviser takes such differences into account when evaluating such positions. When a synthetic convertible position “matures” because of the expiration of the associated option, a Fund may extend the maturity by investing in a new option with longer maturity on the common stock of the same or different issuer. If a Fund does not so extend the maturity of a position, it may continue to hold the associated fixed income security.

 

Rights and Warrants - Common stock rights and warrants are securities that may be attached to an issuer’s common stock, preferred stock, or other existing securities, or may be issued independently of other securities. A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life of usually two to four weeks, may be freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price. Rights typically offer an issuer’s shareholders an opportunity to avoid or minimize dilution of their ownership interests when new shares are issued to others. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price. Warrants may be freely transferable and are often traded on major exchanges. Unlike rights, warrants normally have a life that is measured in years and entitles the holder to buy common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. Corporations often issue warrants to make the accompanying debt security more attractive.

 

Both rights and warrants may be issued in connection with corporate actions without requiring payment, or may require payment of a purchase price. An investment in warrants and rights may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. Investing in rights and warrants increases the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities.

 

Risks of Investing in Equity Securities:

 

General Risks of Investing in Stocks - While investing in stocks allows investors to participate in the benefits of owning a company, such investors also accept the risks of ownership. Investing in equity securities can be riskier than other types of investments, often involve more volatility than other investments, and can result in losses. Investors should expect that the value of their account(s) will rise and fall more dynamically than some strategies that emphasize other types of investments. Over time, market forces can be highly dynamic and can cause stock markets to move in cycles, including periods when stock prices rise generally and periods when they generally decline. The value of an account’s investments may increase or decrease more than the stock market in general, and overall stock market risks will affect the value of client accounts.

 

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Unlike bondholders, who have preference to a company’s earnings and cash flow, preferred stockholders, followed by common stockholders in order of priority, are entitled only to the residual amount after a company meets its other obligations. For this reason, the value of a company’s stock will usually react more strongly to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects than its debt obligations.

 

Stock markets tend to move in cycles with short or extended periods of rising and falling stock prices. The value of a company’s stock may fall because of:

 

Factors that directly relate to that company, such as decisions made by its management or lower demand for the company’s products or services;

 

Factors affecting an entire industry, such as increases in production costs; and

 

Changes in general financial market conditions that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as domestic and foreign economic growth and market conditions, changes in interest rates, credit conditions, currency exchange rates or inflation rates, health-related considerations, volatility and political events.

 

There is a risk that the Adviser will not accurately predict the applicability or impact of these and other factors on markets or investments, and individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. As a result, investment decisions may not accomplish what they were intended to achieve. These risks may be elevated during certain periods, including periods when the values of equity securities are highly correlated with one another.

 

The value of equity securities also may be influenced by changes in investor sentiment, such as perceptions as to whether investments in value equity assets provide attractive returns in the context of the risks being assumed. At times, negative sentiment and advisers’ perception of certain investments may predominate, price-earnings multiples may contract, or investors may avoid investment in equity securities altogether. Similarly, there may be periods during which certain segments of the equity assets spectrum, such as growth stocks, are favored over other equity segments. In addition, the securities of “value” companies can continue to be undervalued for long periods of time, and may never reach the Adviser’s expectation as to their worth.

 

Small- and Medium-Sized Companies - Investors in small- and medium-sized companies typically take on greater risk and price volatility than they would by investing in larger, more established companies. This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of their small or medium size, more limited markets and financial resources, reduced access to capital markets, potentially higher borrowing costs, narrower product lines and lack of management depth. The securities of small- and medium-sized companies more frequently trade in the over-the-counter markets and might not be traded in volumes typical of securities of larger issuers. Thus, the securities of small and medium capitalization companies may be less liquid, and subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements, than securities of larger, more established companies.

 

Technology Companies - Stocks of technology companies have tended to be subject to greater volatility than securities of companies that are not dependent upon or associated with technological issues. Companies that rely heavily on technology operate in various industries and it may not always be evident that an issuer is a “tech” company. Since these industries frequently share common characteristics, an event or issue affecting one industry may significantly influence other, related industries. For example, technology companies may be strongly affected by factors such as interest rates, worldwide scientific or technological developments and their products and services may be subject to governmental regulation or adversely affected by governmental policies.

 

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Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”) - A Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities of companies offering shares in IPOs. IPO securities are subject to, among other risks, market and liquidity risk. In addition, the purchase of IPO securities often involves higher transaction costs than those associated with the purchase of securities already trading on exchanges or markets. IPOs may have a magnified performance impact on a Fund with a smaller asset base. Whether a Fund participates in these types of investments depends upon a number of factors, including the attractiveness and the availability of IPO securities and portfolio manager interest. There can be no assurance that any Fund will participate in IPOs. A Fund may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time, which may increase the turnover of a Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses for the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling IPO shares, a Fund may realize taxable gains it will subsequently distribute to shareholders.

 

In addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or inactive for extended periods of time. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may make it more difficult for a Fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Holders of IPO shares can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders. The market value of IPO shares may fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a prior public market, lack of support for the issuer or offering, unseasoned trading and speculation, a potentially small number of securities available for trading, more limited information about the issuer, and other factors.

 

The Funds’ investment in IPO shares may include the securities of unseasoned companies (companies with less than three years of continuous operations), which can present risks considerably greater than common stocks of more established companies. These companies may have limited operating histories and their prospects for profitability may be uncertain. These companies may be involved in new and evolving businesses and may be vulnerable to competition and changes in technology, markets and economic conditions. They may be more dependent on key managers and third parties and may have limited product lines.

 

Foreign Securities

 

Equity and debt securities of issuers may be considered to be “foreign company” securities if 50% of the company’s assets are located outside of the United States, 50% of the company’s revenues are generated outside of the United States, or the company is domiciled or does a substantial amount of business outside of the United States. Foreign companies can operate in both developed and emerging market countries. Foreign securities include instruments denominated in foreign currencies and traded on foreign exchanges and markets, as well as depositary receipts.

 

American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) - ADRs, as well as other “hybrid” forms of depositary receipts, including European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), are certificates evidencing ownership interests in shares of a foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. A custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer’s home country holds the underlying shares in trust. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs in which the Fund invests trade on national exchanges and markets, or can trade over-the-counter. Over-the-counter ADRs generally trade at wider spreads, are less liquid, and can take additional time to accumulate positions in or liquidate.

 

Are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign (ordinary) securities in their national markets and currencies; however, ADRs are still subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities traded in their national markets and currencies. EDRs are similar to ADRs, except that they are typically issued by European banks or trust companies. In addition to brokerage commissions charged for the purchase or sale of ADRs, a Fund may incur additional fees if it converts ADRs into foreign (ordinary) securities, and vice-versa.

 

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ADRs can be sponsored or unsponsored. While similar, there are differences regarding a holder's rights and obligations and the practices of market participants. Sponsored depositary receipt facilities are established jointly by a depository and the underlying issuer through a deposit agreement. The deposit agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of the underlying issuer, the depository, and the depositary receipt holders. With sponsored facilities, the underlying issuer typically bears some of the costs of the depositary receipts (such as dividend payment fees of the depository), although most sponsored depositary receipt holders may bear costs such as deposit and withdrawal fees. Depositories of most sponsored depositary receipts agree to distribute notices of shareholder meetings, voting instructions, and other shareholder communications and information to the depositary receipt holders at the underlying issuer’s request. Unsponsored facilities are generally established without participation by (or acquiescence of) the underlying issuer; typically, however, the depository requests a letter of non-objection from the underlying issuer prior to establishing the facility. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of the facility. The depository usually charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the underlying securities, the conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars or other currency, the disposition of non-cash distributions, and the performance of other services. The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The Funds may also invest in EDRs, GDRs, and similar instruments representing foreign-traded depositary interests in securities of foreign companies.

 

Emerging Markets – An “emerging market” country is any country determined by the Adviser to have an emerging market economy, considering factors such as the country’s credit rating, its political and economic stability and the development of its financial and capital markets. Typically, emerging markets are in countries that are in the process of industrializing, with lower gross national products (“GNP”) than more developed countries.

 

Investing in emerging market economies may involve greater risks than investing in developed market economies, including, but not limited to, greater political and economic instability (including elevated risks of war, civil disturbances, and acts of terrorism), enhanced boom and bust cycles, dependence on revenues from particular commodities, dependence on international aid, price controls, immature economic and market structures, and burdensome investment or trading requirements.

 

Some emerging countries currently prohibit or impose restrictions on direct foreign investment in the securities of their companies. Certain emerging countries, however, permit indirect foreign investment in the securities of companies listed and traded on their stock exchanges through investment funds that they have specifically authorized. Investments in these investment funds are subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act. If a Fund invests in such investment funds, Fund shareholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund (including operating expenses and the fees of the Adviser), but also will indirectly bear similar expenses of the underlying investment funds. In addition, these investment funds may trade at a premium over their net asset value.

 

Risks of Foreign Securities:

 

Foreign securities (including ADRs), foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.

 

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Political and Economic Factors - Local political, economic, regulatory, or social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments may affect the value of foreign investments. Listed below are some of the more important political and economic factors that could negatively affect an investment in foreign securities:

 

The economies of foreign countries may differ from the economy of the United States in such areas as growth of GNP, interest rates, rate of inflation, capital formation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, economic diversification, inclusion in economic or monetary unions, budget deficits, sovereign solvency, and national debt;

 

Foreign governments sometimes participate to a significant degree, through ownership interests or regulation, in their respective economies. Actions by these governments could significantly impact the interests of investors, as well as influence the market prices of securities and payment of dividends;

 

The economies of many foreign countries are dependent on international trade and their trading partners and they could be severely affected if their trading partners were to enact protective trade barriers and economic conditions;

 

Securities issued by foreign companies in one country may be particularly susceptible to economic, regulatory or other conditions affecting issuers and countries within their region;

 

The internal policies of a particular foreign country may be less stable than in the United States. Other countries face significant external political risks, such as possible claims of sovereignty by other countries or tense and sometimes hostile border clashes;

 

A foreign government may act adversely to the interests of U.S. (and other) investors, including expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation and other restrictions on U.S. investment. A country may restrict or control foreign investments in its securities markets. These restrictions could limit the Funds’ ability to invest in a particular country or make it more expensive for the Funds to invest in that country. Some countries require prior governmental approval, may limit the types or amount of securities or companies in which a foreigner can invest, or may restrict the ability of foreign investors to repatriate their investment income and capital gains; and

 

Periodic U.S. government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in a Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times, which may result in losses. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. government designation causing the market price of such prohibited securities to decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses.

 

Given the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, region or market can adversely affect financial conditions or issuers in other countries, regions or markets. For example, on January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) formally withdrew from the European Union (the "EU") (commonly referred to as “Brexit”). Following a transition period, the UK and the EU signed a post-Brexit trade agreement governing their future economic relationship on December 30, 2020. This agreement became effective on a provisional basis on January 1, 2021 and formally entered into force on May 1, 2021. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets. The effects of Brexit on the UK and EU economies and the broader global economy could be significant, resulting in negative impacts, such as business and trade disruptions, increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth of markets in the UK, EU and globally, which could negatively impact the value of the Funds' investments. Brexit could also lead to legal uncertainty and politically divergent national laws and regulations while the new relationship between the UK and EU is further defined and the UK determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Additionally, depreciation of the British pound sterling and/or the euro in relation to the U.S. dollar following Brexit could adversely affect Fund investments denominated in the British pound sterling and/or the euro, regardless of the performance of the investment.

 

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In addition, on February 24, 2022, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia, Ukraine, Europe, NATO, and the West. Following Russia’s actions, various countries, including the U.S., Canada, the UK, Germany, and France, as well as the EU, issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia. The sanctions consist of the prohibition of trading in certain Russian securities and engaging in certain private transactions, the prohibition of doing business with certain Russian corporate entities, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs, and the freezing of Russian assets. The extent and duration of the war in Ukraine and the longevity and severity of sanctions remain unknown, but they could have a significant adverse impact on the European economy as well as the price and availability of certain commodities, including wheat, oil, and natural gas, throughout the world. These sanctions, and the resulting disruption of the Russian economy, may cause volatility in other regional and global markets and may negatively impact the performance of various sectors and industries, as well as companies in other countries, which could have a negative effect on the performance of a Fund, even if the Fund does not have direct exposure to securities of Russian issuers or to issuers that conduct extensive business in Russia.

 

Whether or not a Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments due to the interconnected nature of the global economy and capital markets.

 

Information and Supervision - There is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than companies based in the United States. For example, there are typically fewer reports and ratings published about foreign companies comparable to those analyzing U.S. companies, and information concerning foreign corporate actions such as acquisitions or divestitures, rights offerings, dividends, legal or compliance developments, requirements or restrictions, or other matters that can affect the value of foreign companies, may be more difficult to obtain. Certain foreign companies may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. The lack of comparable information makes investment decisions concerning foreign companies more difficult and less reliable than those concerning domestic companies.

 

Stock Exchange and Market Risk - The Adviser will determine if an exchange or over-the-counter market located outside of the United States is the best available market for transacting in foreign securities traded in their national markets or currencies. Many foreign stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, generally remain less developed than the trading venues in the United States. Foreign stock markets tend to differ from those in the United States in a number of ways.

 

Foreign stock markets:

 

Are generally more volatile than, and not as developed or efficient as, those in the United States;

 

Typically have less trading volume;

 

Trade securities that tend to be less liquid and experience more rapid and erratic price movements than domestic stock markets;

 

Have generally higher commissions, which are typically based on the value of the security being traded, and are subject to set minimum rates, as opposed to negotiated rates;

 

Employ trading, settlement and custodial practices less developed than those in U.S. markets; and

 

May have different settlement practices, which may cause delays and increase the potential for failed settlements.

 

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Foreign markets may offer less protection to shareholders than U.S. markets because:

 

Foreign accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements may render a foreign corporate balance sheet more difficult to understand and interpret than one subject to U.S. law and accounting practices and standards;

 

Adequate public information on foreign issuers may not be available, and it may be difficult to secure dividends and information regarding corporate actions on a timely basis;

 

In general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the United States;

 

Foreign over-the-counter markets tend to be less regulated than foreign stock exchange markets and, in certain countries, may be totally unregulated;

 

Economic or political concerns may influence regulatory enforcement and may make it difficult for shareholders to enforce their legal rights; and

 

Restrictions on transferring securities within the United States or to U.S. persons may make a particular security less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions.

 

Foreign Currency Risk - While the Funds denominate their net asset value in U.S. dollars, the securities of foreign companies are frequently denominated in foreign currencies. Thus, a change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in value of securities denominated in that currency. Some of the factors that may impact the investments denominated in a foreign currency are:

 

Purchases and sales of foreign securities traded in their national markets or currencies necessitate foreign exchange transactions, and it may be expensive to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa;

 

Complex political and economic factors may significantly affect the relative values of currencies, including the U.S. dollar, and their exchange rates;

 

Government intervention may increase risks involved in purchasing or selling foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts, since exchange rates may not be free to fluctuate in response to other market forces;

 

There may be no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies or regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis;

 

Available quotation information is generally representative of very large round-lot transactions in the inter-bank market and thus may not reflect exchange rates for smaller odd-lot transactions (less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable; and

 

The inter-bank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that a securities market is closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, certain securities may not always reflect significant movements in currency values.

 

Taxes - Certain foreign governments levy withholding taxes on dividend and interest income. Although in some countries it is possible for a Fund to recover a portion of these taxes, the portion that is not recovered will reduce the income the Fund receives from its investments. Some foreign governments erect cumbersome administrative processes and other barriers to discourage reclaiming withheld taxes or to make the process more difficult.

 

Emerging Markets Risks - Investing in emerging markets may magnify the risks of foreign investing. Security prices in emerging markets can be significantly more volatile than those in more developed markets, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, countries with emerging markets may:

 

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Be subject to greater political and economic instability (including elevated risks or war, civil disturbances, and acts of terrorism), enhanced boom and bust cycles, immature economic and market structures, dependence on revenues from commodities, dependence on international aid, price controls, unstable governments, and burdensome investment or trade requirements;

 

Present greater risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets;

 

Offer less protection of property rights than more developed countries; and

 

Have economies that are heavily based on only a few industries or commodities, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates.

 

Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times.

 

Investments in China. China is an emerging market, and as a result, investments in securities of companies organized and listed in China may be subject to liquidity constraints and significantly higher volatility, from time to time, than investments in securities of more developed markets. The Chinese economy and Chinese companies may be subject to considerable government intervention as well as varying degrees of economic, political and social instability. These factors may result in, among other things, greater stock market risk, interest rate risk, inflation, and currency fluctuations. Accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards in China are different from U.S. standards and, therefore, disclosure of certain material information may not be made, may be less available, or may be less reliable. These considerations also affect U.S. companies doing business in China. The inability of U.S. regulators to oversee and review the audits of Chinese companies that are listed and traded in the U.S. has caused volatility in the markets for their securities, and may, in the future, lead to these issuers being delisted from U.S. exchanges. It may also be difficult or impossible for the Fund to obtain or enforce a judgment in a Chinese court.

 

Periodically, restrictions may be placed on investments in Chinese companies. For example, on November 12, 2020, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order (the "November 2020 Executive Order") prohibiting U.S. persons from purchasing or investing in publicly-traded securities of companies identified by the U.S. government as “Communist Chinese military companies” or in instruments that are derivative of, or are designed to provide investment exposure to, those companies. In addition, on August 9, 2023, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order (the “August 2023 Executive Order” and, together with the November 2020 Executive Order, the “Executive Orders”) directing the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) to promulgate regulations requiring notification of, or restricting, investments in China in certain categories of national security technologies, including semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information, and certain artificial intelligence technologies. Concurrent with the August 2023 Executive Order, the Treasury issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which contemplates the possibility that the regulations adopted would not apply to investments made by collectively offered funds such as the Funds. These regulations have not yet been proposed or adopted by the Treasury and their scope and impact therefore are unclear, but if they were adopted in a way that applies to a Fund, the regulations could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to make certain outbound investments.

 

The universe of securities affected by the Executive Orders is not always clear and further pronouncements can be issued from time to time. As a result of an increase in the number of investors looking to sell such securities, or because of an inability to participate in an investment that the Adviser otherwise believes is attractive, a Fund may incur losses. Certain securities that are or become designated as prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, potentially causing losses to a Fund.

 

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Debt Securities

 

Corporations and governments use debt securities to borrow money from investors. Most debt securities promise a variable or fixed rate of return and repayment of the amount borrowed at maturity. Some debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay current interest and are purchased at a discount from their face value.

 

Types of Debt Securities:

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations - U.S. Treasury obligations consist of direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, including Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations, including those transferable through the Federal book-entry system known as Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities (“STRIPS”).

 

The STRIPS program lets investors hold and trade the individual interest and principal components of eligible Treasury notes and bonds as separate securities. STRIPS have had their interest payments (“coupons”) separated from the underlying principal (“corpus”) by their holder, typically a custodian bank or investment brokerage firm. Once the holder of the security has stripped or separated corpus and coupons, it may sell each component separately. The principal or corpus is then sold at a deep discount because the buyer receives only the right to receive a future fixed payment on the security and does not receive any rights to periodic interest (cash) payments. Typically, the coupons are sold separately or grouped with other coupons with like maturity dates and sold bundled in such form. The underlying treasury security is held in book-entry form at the Federal Reserve Bank or, in the case of bearer securities (i.e., unregistered securities which are owned ostensibly by the bearer or holder thereof), in trust on behalf of the owners thereof. Purchasers of stripped obligations acquire, in effect, discount obligations that are economically identical to the zero coupon securities that the U.S. Treasury sells itself.

 

U.S. Government Securities - The Funds may invest in U.S. government securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years. U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi-annually and repay the principal at maturity. Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (“Farmer Mac”).

 

Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency. Additionally, some obligations are issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, which are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so because the entities are not funded by Congressional appropriations and their debt (and equity) securities are not guaranteed by the U.S. government. Guarantees of principal by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Funds’ shares.

 

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On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), placing the two federal instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the takeover, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and obtained warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality (the “Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement” or “Agreement”). Under the Agreement, the U.S. Treasury pledged to provide up to $200 billion per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. This was intended to ensure that the instrumentalities maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was amending the Agreement to allow the $200 billion cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in net worth through the end of 2012. The unlimited support the U.S. Treasury extended to the two companies expired at the beginning of 2013 – Fannie Mae's support is now capped at $125 billion and Freddie Mac has a limit of $149 billion.

 

On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to terminate the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each pay a 10% annual dividend. Instead, the companies will transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceed a capital reserve amount. The capital reserve amount was $3 billion in 2013, and decreased by $600 million in each subsequent year through 2017. It is believed that this amendment put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a better position to service their debt because it eliminated the need for the companies to have to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to make fixed dividend payments. As part of the new terms, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also were required to reduce their investment portfolios over time. On December 21, 2017, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to reinstate the $3 billion capital reserve amount. On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was further amending the Agreement, now permitting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to retain earnings beyond the $3 billion capital reserves previously allowed through the 2017 amendment. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now permitted to maintain capital reserves of $25 billion and $20 billion, respectively.

 

The future status of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac could be impacted by, among other things, the actions taken and restrictions placed on Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac by the FHFA in its role as conservator, the restrictions placed on Fannie Mae’s or Freddie Mac’s operations and activities under the Agreement, market responses to developments at Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and future legislative and regulatory action that alters the operations, ownership structure and/or mission of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, each of which may, in turn, impact the value of, and cash flows on, any securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

 

Corporate Bonds - Corporations issue bonds and notes to raise money for working capital or for capital expenditures such as plant construction, equipment purchases and expansion. In return for the money loaned to the corporation by investors, the corporation promises to pay investors interest at specified times, and repay the principal amount of the bond or note at maturity.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities - Mortgage-backed securities are interests in pools of mortgage loans that various governmental, government-related and private organizations assemble as securities for sale to investors. Unlike most debt securities, which pay interest periodically and repay principal at maturity or on specified call dates, mortgage-backed securities make monthly payments that consist of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Since homeowners usually have the option of paying either part or all of the mortgage loan balance before maturity, the effective maturity of a mortgage-backed security is often shorter than is stated.

 

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Governmental entities, private insurers and mortgage poolers may insure or guarantee the timely payment of interest and principal of these pools through various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The Adviser will consider such insurance and guarantees and the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof in selecting mortgage-backed securities for the Funds. It is possible that the private insurers or guarantors will not meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements.

 

Although the market for such securities is becoming increasingly liquid, securities issued by certain private organizations may not be readily marketable.

 

Commercial Banks, Savings and Loan Institutions, Private Mortgage Insurance Companies, Mortgage Bankers and other Secondary Market Issuers - Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional mortgage loans. In addition to guaranteeing the mortgage-related security, such issuers may service and/or have originated the underlying mortgage loans. Pools created by these issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than pools created by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac because they are not guaranteed by a government agency.

 

Risks of Mortgage-Backed Securities - Yield characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from those of traditional debt securities in a variety of ways. The most significant differences of mortgage-backed securities are: 1) payments of interest and principal are more frequent (usually monthly); and 2) falling interest rates generally cause individual borrowers to pay off their mortgage earlier than expected, which results in prepayments of principal on the securities, thus forcing a Fund to reinvest the money at a lower interest rate. In addition to the risks associated with changes in interest rates described in “Factors Affecting the Value of Debt Securities,” a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors, such as the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, can cause investors to repay the loans underlying a mortgage-backed security sooner than expected.

 

Other Asset-Backed Securities - These securities are interests in pools of a broad range of assets other than mortgages, such as automobile loans, computer leases and credit card receivables. Like mortgage-backed securities, these securities are pass-through. In general, the collateral supporting these securities is of shorter maturity than mortgage loans and is less likely to experience substantial prepayments with interest rate fluctuations, but may still be subject to prepayment risk.

 

Asset-backed securities present certain risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. Primarily, these securities may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets, which raises the possibility that recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on these securities. For example, credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which allow debtors to reduce their balances by offsetting certain amounts owed on the credit cards. Most issuers of asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables permit the servicers of such receivables to retain possession of the underlying obligations. If the servicer were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the related asset-backed securities. Due to the quantity of vehicles involved and requirements under state laws, asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables may not have a proper security interest in all of the obligations backing such receivables.

 

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To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments, the entity administering the pool of assets may agree to ensure that the receipt of payments on the underlying pool occurs in a timely fashion (“liquidity protection”). In addition, asset-backed securities may obtain insurance, such as guarantees, policies or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties, for some or all of the assets in the pool (“credit support”). Delinquency or loss more than that anticipated or failure of the credit support could adversely affect the return on an investment in such a security.

 

The Funds may also invest in residual interests in asset-backed securities, which consist of the excess cash flow remaining after making required payments on the securities and paying related administrative expenses. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a particular issue of asset-backed securities depends in part on the characteristics of the underlying assets, the coupon rates on the securities, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the actual prepayment experience on the underlying assets.

 

Short-Term Investments - To earn a return on uninvested assets, meet anticipated redemptions, or for temporary defensive purposes, the Funds may invest a portion of their assets in the short-term debt securities listed below, U.S. government securities and investment-grade corporate debt securities. Unless otherwise specified, a short-term debt security has a maturity of one year or less.

 

Bank Obligations - The Funds will only invest in a debt security issued by a commercial bank if the bank:

 

Has total assets of at least $1 billion, or the equivalent in other currencies (based on the most recent publicly available information about the bank); and

 

Is a U.S. bank and a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; or is a foreign branch of a U.S. bank and the Adviser believes the security is of an investment quality comparable with other debt securities that the Funds may purchase.

 

Time Deposits - Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits, such as savings accounts or certificates of deposit, held by a financial institution for a fixed term with the understanding that the depositor can withdraw its money only by giving notice to the institution. However, there may be early withdrawal penalties depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. The Funds may only purchase time deposits maturing from two calendar days through seven calendar days.

 

Certificates of Deposit - Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank or savings and loan association for a definite period of time and earning a specified return.

 

Bankers’ Acceptance - A bankers’ acceptance is a time draft drawn on a commercial bank by a borrower, usually in connection with an international commercial transaction (to finance the import, export, transfer or storage of goods).

 

Commercial Paper - Commercial paper is a short-term obligation with a maturity ranging from 1 to 270 days issued by banks, corporations and other borrowers. Such investments are unsecured and usually discounted. The Funds may invest in commercial paper rated A-1 or A-2 by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Prime-1 or Prime-2 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or, if not rated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated A or better by Moody’s or by S&P. See “Appendix A – Description of Ratings” for a description of commercial paper ratings.

 

Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities - Stripped mortgage-backed securities are derivative multiple-class mortgage-backed securities. Stripped mortgage-backed securities usually have two classes that receive different proportions of interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. Typically, one class will receive some of the interest and most of the principal, while the other class will receive most of the interest and the remaining principal. In extreme cases, one class will receive all of the interest (“interest only” or “IO” class) while the other class will receive the entire principal (“principal only” or “PO” class). The cash flow and yields on IOs and POs are extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. A rapid rate of principal payments may adversely affect the yield to maturity of IOs and could cause the total loss of investment. Slower than anticipated prepayments of principal may adversely affect the yield to maturity of a PO. The yields and market risk of interest only and principal only stripped mortgage-backed securities, respectively, may be more volatile than those of other fixed income securities, including traditional mortgage-backed securities.

 

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Yankee Bonds - Yankee bonds are dollar-denominated bonds issued inside the United States by foreign entities. Investments in these securities involve certain risks that are not typically associated with investing in domestic securities. See “Foreign Securities.”

 

Zero Coupon Bonds - These securities are sold at a (usually substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal. When held to maturity, their entire income, which consists of accretion of discount, comes from the difference between the issue price and their value at maturity. The amount of the discount rate varies depending on factors including the time remaining until maturity, prevailing interest rates, the security’s liquidity and the issuer’s credit quality. The market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay interest periodically. Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar maturity and credit qualities. Because current tax laws require reporting the portion of the original issue discount on zero coupon bonds as interest income, even though holders receive no cash, a Fund’s investments in zero coupon bonds may require it to sell certain of its securities to generate sufficient cash to satisfy certain income distribution requirements.

 

Terms to Understand:

 

Maturity - Every debt security has a stated maturity date when the issuer must repay the amount it borrowed (principal) from investors. Some debt securities, however, are callable, meaning the issuer can repay the principal earlier, on or after specified dates (call dates). Debt securities are most likely to be called when interest rates are falling because the issuer can refinance at a lower rate, similar to a homeowner refinancing a mortgage. The effective maturity of a debt security is usually its nearest call date.

 

Mutual funds that invest in debt securities have no real maturity. Instead, they calculate their weighted average maturity. This number is an average of the effective or anticipated maturity of each debt security held by the mutual fund, with the maturity of each security weighted by the percentage of the assets of the mutual fund it represents.

 

Duration - Duration is a calculation that seeks to measure the price sensitivity of a debt security, or of a mutual fund that invests in debt securities, to changes in interest rates. Duration measures sensitivity more accurately than maturity because it takes into account the time value of cash flows generated over the life of a debt security. Future interest payments and principal payments are discounted to reflect their present value and then are multiplied by the number of years they will be received to produce a value expressed in years — the duration. Effective duration takes into account call features and sinking fund prepayments that may shorten the life of a debt security.

 

An effective duration of four years, for example, would suggest that for each 1% reduction in interest rates at all maturity levels, the price of a security is estimated to increase by 4%. An increase in rates by the same magnitude is estimated to reduce the price of the security by 4%. By knowing the yield and the effective duration of a debt security, one can estimate total return based on an expectation of how much interest rates, in general, will change. While serving as a good estimator of prospective returns, effective duration is an imperfect measure.

 

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Factors Affecting the Value of Debt Securities - The total return of a debt instrument is composed of two elements: the percentage change in the security’s price and interest income earned. The yield to maturity of a debt security estimates its total return only if the price of the debt security remains unchanged during the holding period and the coupon interest is reinvested at the same yield to maturity. The total return of a debt instrument, therefore, will be determined not only by how much interest is earned, but also by how much the price of the security and interest rates change.

 

Interest Rates

 

The price of a debt security generally moves in the opposite direction from interest rates (i.e., if interest rates go up, the value of the bond will go down, and vice versa).

 

Prepayment Risk

 

This risk affects mainly mortgage- and asset-backed securities. Unlike other debt securities, falling interest rates can adversely affect the value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, which may cause your share price to fall. Lower rates motivate borrowers to pay off the instruments underlying mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities earlier than expected, resulting in prepayments on the securities. A Fund may then have to reinvest the proceeds from such prepayments at lower interest rates, which can reduce its yield. The unexpected timing of mortgage and asset-backed prepayments caused by the variations in interest rates may also shorten or lengthen the average maturity of a Fund. If left unattended, drifts in the average maturity of a Fund can have the unintended effect of increasing or reducing the effective duration of the Fund, which may adversely affect the expected performance of the Fund.

 

Extension Risk

 

The other side of prepayment risk is extension risk, which occurs when interest rates are rising. Rising interest rates can cause a Fund’s average maturity to lengthen unexpectedly due to a drop in mortgage prepayments. This would increase the sensitivity of a Fund to rising rates and its potential for price declines. Extending the average life of a mortgage-backed security increases the risk of depreciation due to future increases in market interest rates. For these reasons, mortgage-backed securities may be less effective than other types of debt securities as a means of “locking in” interest rates.

 

Credit Rating

 

Coupon interest is offered to investors of debt securities as compensation for assuming risk, although short-term Treasury securities, such as three-month treasury bills, are considered “risk-free.” Corporate securities offer higher yields than Treasury securities because their payment of interest and complete repayment of principal is less certain. The credit rating or financial condition of an issuer usually affects the value of a debt security. Generally, the greater the risks that the issuer will fail to pay interest and return principal, the lower the quality rating of a security. To compensate investors for taking on increased risk, issuers with lower credit ratings usually offer their investors a higher “risk premium” in the form of higher interest rates than those available from investors with higher credit ratings.

 

Changes in investor confidence regarding the certainty of interest and principal payments of a corporate debt security will result in an adjustment to this “risk premium.” Since an issuer’s outstanding debt carries a fixed coupon, adjustments to the risk premium must occur in the price, which affects the yield to maturity of the bond. If an issuer defaults or becomes unable to honor its financial obligations, the bond may lose some or all of its value.

 

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A security rated within the four highest rating categories by a rating agency is called investment-grade because its issuer is deemed to be more likely to pay interest and repay principal than an issuer of a lower rated bond. Adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances, however, may weaken the capacity of the issuer to pay interest and repay principal. If a security is not rated or is rated under a different system, the Adviser may determine that it is of investment-grade. The Adviser may retain securities that are downgraded, if it believes that keeping those securities is warranted.

 

Debt securities rated below investment-grade (“junk bonds”) are highly speculative securities that are usually issued by smaller, less credit worthy and/or more highly leveraged (indebted) companies. A corporation may issue a junk bond because of a corporate restructuring or other similar event. Compared with investment-grade bonds, junk bonds carry a greater degree of risk and are less likely to make payments of interest and principal. Market developments and the financial and business condition of the corporation issuing these securities influence their price and liquidity more than changes in interest rates, when compared to investment-grade debt securities. Insufficient liquidity in the junk bond market may make it more difficult to dispose of junk bonds and may cause the Funds to experience sudden and substantial price declines. A lack of reliable, objective data or market quotations may make it more difficult to value junk bonds accurately.

 

Rating agencies are organizations that assign ratings to securities based primarily on the rating agency’s assessment of the issuer’s financial strength. The Funds currently use ratings compiled by Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”). Credit ratings are only the rating agency’s opinion, not an absolute standard of quality, and they do not reflect an evaluation of market risk. The section “Appendix A – Description of Ratings” contains further information concerning the ratings of certain rating agencies and their significance.

 

The Adviser may use ratings produced by ratings agencies as guidelines to determine the rating of a security at the time a Fund buys it. A rating agency may change its credit ratings at any time. The Adviser monitors the rating of the security and will take such action, if any, it believes appropriate when it learns that a rating agency has reduced the security’s rating. The Funds are not obligated to dispose of securities whose issuers subsequently are in default or which are downgraded. The Funds may invest in securities of any rating.

 

Derivatives

 

Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is based on an underlying asset, such as a stock or a bond, an underlying economic factor, such as an interest rate, or a market benchmark, such as an index. Unless otherwise stated in the Prospectus, the Funds may use derivatives for risk management purposes, to hedge against the risk of unfavorable price movements in the underlying instruments, to gain exposure to underlying instruments and/or various markets in a cost efficient manner, to gain long or short exposure, to manage cash flows, or for other purposes. A Fund may also invest in derivatives to protect it from broad fluctuations in market prices, interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates (a practice known as “hedging”). When hedging is successful, a Fund will have offset any depreciation in the value of its portfolio securities by the appreciation in the value of the derivative position. Although techniques other than the sale and purchase of derivatives could be used to control the exposure of a Fund to market fluctuations, the use of derivatives may be a more effective, and in some instances, a more cost effective, means of hedging this exposure.

 

Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Derivatives Rule”) provides a comprehensive framework for the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. The Derivatives Rule permits a registered investment company, subject to various conditions described below, to enter into derivatives transactions and certain other transactions notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior securities” under Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other things, prohibits open-end funds, including the Funds, from issuing or selling any “senior security,” other than borrowing from a bank (subject to a requirement to maintain 300% “asset coverage”).

 

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Registered investment companies that don’t qualify as “limited derivatives users” as defined below, are required by the Derivatives Rule to, among other things, (i) adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program (“DRMP”) and testing requirements; (ii) comply with a relative or absolute limit on fund leverage risk calculated based on value-at-risk (“VaR”); and (iii) comply with new requirements related to Board and SEC reporting. The DRMP is administered by a “derivatives risk manager,” who is appointed by the Board and periodically reviews the DRMP and reports to the Board.

 

The Derivatives Rule provides an exception from the DRMP, VaR limit and certain other requirements for a registered investment company that limits its “derivatives exposure” to no more than 10% of its net assets (as calculated in accordance with the Derivatives Rule) (a “limited derivatives user”), provided that the registered investment company establishes appropriate policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage derivatives risks, including the risk of exceeding the 10% “derivatives exposure” threshold.

 

The requirements of the Derivatives Rule may limit a Fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may also increase the cost of a Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments and/or the performance of the Fund. The Derivatives Rule also may not be effective to limit a Fund’s risk of loss. In particular, measurements of VaR rely on historical data and may not accurately measure the degree of risk reflected in a Fund’s derivatives or other investments. There may be additional regulation of the use of derivatives transactions by registered investment companies, which could significantly affect their use. The ultimate impact of these regulations remains unclear. Additional regulation of derivatives transactions may make them more costly, limit their availability or utility, otherwise adversely affect their performance or disrupt markets.

 

CFTC Regulations. Pursuant to rules adopted under the CEA by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), a Fund must either operate within certain guidelines and restrictions with respect to the Fund's use of futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps, or the Adviser will be subject to registration and regulation with the CFTC as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”).

 

Consistent with the CFTC’s regulations, the Adviser, on behalf of the Funds, has filed a notice of exclusion from the definition of the term CPO under the CEA pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 with respect to the Funds’ operations. Therefore, the Funds are not subject to regulation as commodity pools under the CEA and the Adviser is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA with respect to the Funds. As a result, the Funds will be limited in their ability to use futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps. Complying with the limitations may restrict the Adviser’s ability to implement the Funds’ investment strategies and may adversely affect the Funds’ performance.

 

Types of Derivatives:

 

Futures - A futures contract is an agreement between two parties whereby one party sells and the other party agrees to buy a specified amount of a financial instrument at an agreed upon price and time. The financial instrument underlying the contract may be a stock, stock index, bond, bond index, interest rate, foreign exchange rate or other similar instrument. Agreeing to buy the underlying financial information is called buying a futures contract or taking a long position in the contract. Likewise, agreeing to sell the underlying financial instrument is called selling a futures contract or taking a short position in the contract.

 

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Futures contracts are traded in the United States on commodity exchanges or boards of trade - known as “contract markets” - approved for such trading and regulated by the CFTC. These contract markets standardize the terms, including the maturity date and underlying financial instrument, of all futures contracts.

 

Unlike other securities, the parties to a futures contract do not have to pay for or deliver the underlying financial instrument until some future date (the delivery date). Contract markets require both the purchaser and seller to deposit “initial margin” with a futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant or custodian bank, when they enter into the contract. Initial margin deposits are typically equal to a percentage of the contract’s value. After they open a futures contract, the parties to the transaction must compare the purchase price of the contract to its daily market value. If the value of the futures contract changes in such a way that a party’s position declines, that party must make additional “variation margin” payments so that the margin payment is adequate. On the other hand, the value of the contract may change in such a way that there is excess margin on deposit, possibly entitling the party that has a gain to receive all or a portion of this amount. This process is known as “marking to the market.”

 

Although the actual terms of a futures contract call for the actual delivery of and payment for the underlying security, in many cases the parties may close the contract early by taking an opposite position in an identical contract. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is less than the original purchase price, the person closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is more than the original purchase price, the person closing out the contract will realize a gain. If the purchase price upon closing out the contract is more than the original sale price, the person closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the purchase price upon closing out the contract is less than the original sale price, the person closing out the contract will realize a gain.

 

A Fund may incur commission expenses when it opens or closes a futures position.

 

Options - An option is a contract between two parties for the purchase and sale of a financial instrument for a specified price (known as the “strike price” or “exercise price”) at any time during the option period. Unlike a futures contract, an option grants a right (not an obligation) to buy or sell a financial instrument. Generally, a seller of an option can grant a buyer two kinds of rights: a “call” (the right to buy the security) or a “put” (the right to sell the security). Options have various types of underlying instruments, including specific securities, indices of securities prices, foreign currencies, interest rates and futures contracts. Options may be traded on an exchange (exchange-traded-options) or may be customized agreements between the parties (over-the-counter or “OTC” options). Like futures, a financial intermediary, known as a clearing corporation, financially backs exchange-traded options. However, OTC options have no such intermediary and are subject to the risk that the counter-party will not fulfill its obligations under the contract.

 

Purchasing Put and Call Options

 

When a Fund purchases a put option, it buys the right to sell the instrument underlying the option at a fixed strike price. In return for this right, the Fund pays the current market price for the option (known as the “option premium”). A Fund may purchase put options to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of its securities (“protective puts”) or to benefit from a decline in the price of securities that it does not own. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs. However, if the price of the underlying instrument does not fall enough to offset the cost of purchasing the option, a put buyer would lose the premium and related transaction costs.

 

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Call options are similar to put options, except that a Fund obtains the right to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the option’s strike price. A Fund would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase in the market value of securities it wants to buy. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying instrument exceeded the exercise price plus the premium paid and related transaction costs. Otherwise, a Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.

 

The purchaser of an option may terminate its position by:

 

Allowing it to expire and losing its entire premium;

 

Exercising the option and either selling (in the case of a put option) or buying (in the case of a call option) the underlying instrument at the strike price; or

 

Closing it out in the secondary market at its current price.

 

Selling (Writing) Put and Call Options

 

When a Fund writes a call option it assumes an obligation to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. Similarly, when a Fund writes a put option it assumes an obligation to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. A Fund may terminate its position in an exchange-traded put option before exercise by buying an option identical to the one it has written. Similarly, the Fund may cancel an OTC option by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counter-party to the option.

 

A Fund could try to hedge against an increase in the value of securities it would like to acquire by writing a put option on those securities. If security prices rise, a Fund would expect the put option to expire and the premium it received to offset the increase in the security’s value. If security prices remain the same over time, a Fund would hope to profit by closing out the put option at a lower price. If security prices fall, a Fund may lose an amount of money equal to the difference between the value of the security and the premium it received. Writing covered put options may deprive a Fund of the opportunity to profit from a decrease in the market price of the securities it would like to acquire.

 

The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, except that call writers expect to profit if prices remain the same or fall. A Fund could try to hedge against a decline in the value of securities it already owns by writing a call option. If the price of that security falls as expected, the Fund would expect the option to expire and the premium it received to offset the decline of the security’s value. However, a Fund must be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, which may deprive it of the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the securities it holds.

 

The Funds are permitted only to write covered options; the Funds may not write uncovered call or put options. At the time of selling the call option, a Fund may cover the option by owning, among other things:

 

The underlying security (or securities convertible into the underlying security without additional consideration), index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract;

 

A call option on the same security or index with the same or lesser exercise price;

 

A call option on the same security or index with a greater exercise price and segregating cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise prices;

 

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Cash or liquid securities equal to at least the market value of the optioned securities, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract; or

 

In the case of an index, the portfolio of securities that corresponds to the index.

 

At the time of selling a put option, a Fund may cover the put option by, among other things:

 

Entering into a short position in the underlying security;

 

Purchasing a put option on the same security, index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract with the same or greater exercise price;

 

Purchasing a put option on the same security, index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract with a lesser exercise price and segregating cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise prices; or

 

Maintaining the entire exercise price in liquid securities.

 

Options on Securities Indices

 

Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

Options on Futures

 

An option on a futures contract provides the holder with the right to buy a futures contract (in the case of a call option) or sell a futures contract (in the case of a put option) at a fixed time and price. Upon exercise of the option by the holder, the contract market clearing house establishes a corresponding short position for the writer of the option (in the case of a call option) or a corresponding long position (in the case of a put option). If the option is exercised, the parties will be subject to the futures contracts. In addition, the writer of an option on a futures contract is subject to initial and variation margin requirements on the option position. Options on futures contracts are traded on the same contract market as the underlying futures contract.

 

The buyer or seller of an option on a futures contract may terminate the option early by purchasing or selling an option of the same series (i.e., the same exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously purchased or sold. The difference between the premiums paid and received represents the trader’s profit or loss on the transaction.

 

The Funds may purchase put and call options on futures contracts instead of selling or buying futures contracts. The Funds may buy a put option on a futures contract for the same reasons they would sell a futures contract. They also may purchase such put options in order to hedge a long position in the underlying futures contract. The Funds may buy call options on futures contracts for the same purpose as the actual purchase of the futures contracts, such as in anticipation of favorable market conditions.

 

The Funds may write a call option on a futures contract to hedge against a decline in the prices of the instrument underlying the futures contracts. If the price of the futures contract at expiration were below the exercise price, a Fund would retain the option premium, which would offset, in part, any decline in the value of its portfolio securities.

 

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The writing of a put option on a futures contract is similar to the purchase of the futures contracts, except that, if the market price declines, a Fund would pay more than the market price for the underlying instrument. The premium received on the sale of the put option, less any transaction costs, would reduce the net cost to a Fund.

 

Combined Positions

 

The Funds may purchase and write options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward contracts, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall position. For example, a Fund could construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract by purchasing a put option and writing a call option on the same underlying instrument. Alternatively, a Fund could write a call option at one strike price and buy a call option at a lower price to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

A forward foreign currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific amount of currency at a future date or date range at a specific price. In the case of a cancelable forward contract, the holder has the unilateral right to cancel the contract at maturity by paying a specified fee. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts differ from foreign currency futures contracts in certain respects. Unlike futures contracts, forward contracts:

 

Do not have standard maturity dates or amounts (i.e., the parties to the contract may fix the maturity date and the amount);

 

Are traded in the inter-bank markets conducted directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers, as opposed to futures contracts which are traded only on exchanges regulated by the CFTC;

 

Do not require an initial margin deposit; and

 

May be closed by entering into a closing transaction with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract, as opposed to a commodities exchange.

 

Foreign Currency Hedging Strategies - A “settlement hedge” or “transaction hedge” is designed to protect a Fund against an adverse change in foreign currency values between the date a security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received. Entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in an underlying security transaction for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars “locks in” the U.S. dollar price of the security. A Fund may also use forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency when it anticipates purchasing or selling securities denominated in foreign currency, even if it has not yet selected the specific investments.

 

The Funds may use forward contracts to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. Such a hedge, sometimes referred to as a “position hedge,” could offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar, but would not offset changes in security values caused by other factors. A Fund could also hedge the position by selling another currency expected to perform similarly to the currency in which the Fund’s investment is denominated. This type of hedge, sometimes referred to as a “proxy hedge,” could offer advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but generally would not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a direct hedge into U.S. dollars. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.

 

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Transaction and position hedging do not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities that a Fund owns or intends to purchase or sell. The hedges simply establish a rate of exchange that one can achieve at some future point in time. Additionally, these techniques which may minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency also may limit potential gains that might result from the increase in value of such currency.

 

A Fund may enter into forward contracts to shift its investment exposure from one currency into another. Such transactions may call for the delivery of one foreign currency in exchange for another foreign currency, including currencies in which its securities are not then denominated. This may include shifting exposure from U.S. dollars to a foreign currency, or from one foreign currency to another foreign currency. This type of strategy, sometimes known as a “cross-hedge,” will tend to reduce or eliminate exposure to the currency that is sold, and increase exposure to the currency that is purchased. Cross-hedges may protect against losses resulting from a decline in the hedged currency, but will cause a Fund to assume the risk of fluctuations in the value of the currency it purchases. Cross-hedging transactions also involve the risk of imperfect correlation between changes in the values of the currencies involved.

 

It is difficult to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration or maturity of a forward or futures contract. Accordingly, a Fund may have to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot market if the market value of a security it is hedging is less than the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver. Conversely, a Fund may have to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency it received upon the sale of a security if the market value of such security exceeds the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver. The Funds may bear transaction costs in connection with these purchases or sales.

 

Participatory Notes (“P-Notes”) - P-Notes are participation interest notes that are issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to offer a return linked to a particular underlying foreign equity, debt, currency or market. When purchasing a P-Note, the posting of margin is not required because the full cost of the P-Note (plus commission) is paid at the time of purchase. When the P-Note matures, the issuer will pay to, or receive from, the purchaser the difference between the nominal value of the underlying instrument at the time of purchase and that instrument's value at maturity. Investments in P-Notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate.

 

In addition, there can be no assurance that the trading price of P-Notes will equal the underlying value of the foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate. The holder of a P-Note that is linked to a particular underlying security is entitled to receive any dividends paid in connection with an underlying security or instrument. However, the holder of a P-Note does not receive voting rights as it would if it directly owned the underlying security or instrument. P-Notes constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them. There is also counterparty risk associated with these investments because the purchaser is relying on the creditworthiness of such counterparty and has no rights under a P-Note against the issuer of the underlying security. In addition, purchasers incur transaction costs when investing in P-Notes. P-Notes are generally traded over-the-counter.

 

Swaps, Caps, Collars and Floors

 

Swap Agreements - A swap is a financial instrument that typically involves the exchange of cash flows between two parties on specified dates (settlement dates), where the cash flows are based on agreed-upon prices, rates, indices, etc. The nominal amount on which the cash flows are calculated is called the notional amount. Swaps are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, such as interest rates, foreign currency rates, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, security prices or inflation rates.

 

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Swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of a Fund and its share price. The performance of swap agreements may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from a Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by a Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterparty’s creditworthiness declined, the value of a swap agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses.

 

Generally, swap agreements have a fixed maturity date that will be agreed upon by the parties. The agreement can be terminated before the maturity date under certain circumstances, such as default by one of the parties or insolvency, among others, and can be transferred by a party only with the prior written consent of the other party. A Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or by other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. If the counter-party is unable to meet its obligations under the contract, declares bankruptcy, defaults or becomes insolvent, a Fund may not be able to recover the money it expected to receive under the contract. The Funds will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Adviser believes that the other party to the transaction is creditworthy.

 

A swap agreement can be a form of leverage, which can magnify a Fund’s gains or losses.

 

Equity Swaps

 

In a typical equity swap, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a single stock, stock index or basket of stocks in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Equity index swaps involve not only the risk associated with investment in the securities represented in the index, but also the risk that the performance of such securities, including dividends, will not exceed the return on the interest rate that a Fund will be committed to pay.

 

Total Return Swaps

 

Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from a reference instrument – which may be a single asset, a pool of assets or an index of assets – during a specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from another underlying reference instrument. The total return includes appreciation or depreciation on the underlying asset, plus any interest or dividend payments. Payments under the swap are based upon an agreed upon principal amount but, since the principal amount is not exchanged, it represents neither an asset nor a liability to either counterparty, and is referred to as notional. Total return swaps are marked to market daily using different sources, including quotations from counterparties, pricing services, brokers or market makers. The unrealized appreciation (depreciation) related to the change in the valuation of the notional amount of the swap is combined with the amount due to a Fund at termination or settlement. The primary risks associated with total return swaps are credit risks (if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations) and market risk (if there is no liquid market for the agreement or unfavorable changes occur to the underlying reference instrument).

 

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Interest Rate Swaps

 

Interest rate swaps are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. Some of the different types of interest rate swaps are “fixed-for-floating rate swaps,” “termed basis swaps” and “index amortizing swaps.” Fixed-for-floating rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed interest rate cash flows for floating rate cash flows. Termed basis swaps entail cash flows to both parties based on floating interest rates, where the interest rate indices are different. Index amortizing swaps are typically fixed-for-floating rate swaps where the notional amount changes if certain conditions are met.

 

Like a traditional investment in a debt security, a Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely. For example, if a Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest, the Fund may have to pay more money than it receives if the floating rate of interest exceeds the fixed rate of interest.

 

Currency Swaps

 

A currency swap is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make interest rate payments in one currency and the other promises to make interest rate payments in another currency. A Fund may enter into a currency swap when it holds one currency and desires a different currency. Typically, the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the contract and returned at the end of the contract. Changes in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above may negatively affect currency swaps.

 

Caps, Collars and Floors - Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level. The seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. An interest rate collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.

 

Risks of Derivatives:

 

While transactions in derivatives may reduce certain risks, these transactions themselves entail certain other risks. For example, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance of a Fund than if it had not entered into any derivatives transactions. Derivatives may magnify a Fund’s gains or losses, causing it to make or lose substantially more than it invested.

 

When used for hedging purposes, increases in the value of the securities a Fund holds or intends to acquire should offset any losses incurred with a derivative. Purchasing derivatives for purposes other than hedging could expose a Fund to greater risks.

 

Correlation of Prices - A Fund’s ability to hedge its securities through derivatives depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index or instrument correlate with price movements in the relevant securities. In the case of poor correlation, the price of the securities a Fund is hedging may not move in the same amount, or even in the same direction as the hedging instrument. The Adviser will try to minimize this risk by investing only in those contracts whose behavior it expects to resemble the portfolio securities it is trying to hedge. However, if a Fund’s prediction of interest and currency rates, market value, volatility or other economic factors is incorrect, a Fund may lose money, or may not make as much money as it expected.

 

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Derivative prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the characteristics of the underlying instruments are very similar to the derivative. Listed below are some of the factors that may cause such a divergence:

 

Current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract;

 

A difference between the derivatives and securities markets, including different levels of demand, how the instruments are traded, the imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or trading of an instrument stops; and

 

Differences between the derivatives, such as different margin requirements, different liquidity of such markets and the participation of speculators in such markets.

 

Derivatives based upon a narrower index of securities, such as those of a particular industry group, may present greater risk than derivatives based on a broad market index. Since narrower indices are made up of a smaller number of securities, they are more susceptible to rapid and extreme price fluctuations because of changes in the value of those securities.

 

While currency futures and options values are expected to correlate with exchange rates, they may not reflect other factors that affect the value of the investments of a Fund. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a yen-denominated security from a decline in the yen, but will not protect a Fund against a price decline resulting from deterioration in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Because the value of a Fund’s foreign-denominated investments changes in response to many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to match the amount of currency options and futures to the value of the Fund’s investments precisely over time.

 

Lack of Liquidity - Before a futures contract or option is exercised or expires, a Fund can terminate it only by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. Moreover, a Fund may close out a futures contract only on the exchange the contract was initially traded. Although the Funds intend to purchase options and futures only where there appears to be an active market, market liquidity cannot be guaranteed. If there is no secondary market for the contract, or the market is illiquid, a Fund may not be able to close out its position. In an illiquid market, a Fund may:

 

Have to sell securities to meet its daily margin requirements at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so;

 

Have to purchase or sell the instrument underlying the contract;

 

Not be able to hedge its investments; and

 

Not be able to realize profits or limit its losses.

 

Derivatives may become illiquid (i.e., difficult to sell at a desired time and price) under a variety of market conditions. For example:

 

An exchange may suspend or limit trading in a particular derivative instrument, an entire category of derivatives or all derivatives, which sometimes occurs because of increased market volatility;

 

Unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations of an exchange;

 

The facilities of the exchange may not be adequate to handle current trading volume;

 

Equipment failures, government intervention, insolvency of a brokerage firm or clearing house or other occurrences may disrupt normal trading activity; or

 

Investors may lose interest in a particular derivative or category of derivatives.

 

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Management Risk - If the Adviser incorrectly predicts stock market and interest rate trends, a Fund may lose money by investing in derivatives. For example, if a Fund were to write a call option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would fall, but the price were to rise instead, the Fund could be required to sell the security upon exercise at a price below the current market price. Similarly, if a Fund were to write a put option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would rise, but the price were to fall instead, the Fund could be required to purchase the security upon exercise at a price higher than the current market price.

 

Pricing Risk - At times, market prices for certain derivatives may be unavailable or unreliable and market conditions might make it difficult to value some derivative investments. For example, if a Fund has valued its derivatives too high, the Fund may, upon sale, be unable to obtain the price at which it was valuing the instrument.

 

Margin - Because of the low margin deposits required upon the opening of a derivative position, such transactions may involve an extremely high degree of leverage. Consequently, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to a Fund and it may lose more than it originally invested in the derivative.

 

If the price of a futures contract changes adversely, a Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so to meet its minimum daily margin requirement. A Fund may lose its margin deposits if a broker-dealer with whom it has an open futures contract or related option becomes insolvent or declares bankruptcy.

 

Volatility and Leverage - The prices of derivatives are volatile (i.e., they may change rapidly, substantially and unpredictably) and are influenced by a variety of factors, including:

 

actual and anticipated changes in interest rates;

 

fiscal and monetary policies; and

 

national and international political events.

 

Most exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a derivative can change during a single trading day. Daily trading limits establish the maximum amount that the price of a derivative may vary from the settlement price of that derivative at the end of trading on the previous day. Once the price of a derivative reaches this value, a Fund may not trade that derivative at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a given day and does not limit potential gains or losses. Derivative prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days, preventing prompt liquidation of the derivative.

 

Investment Companies

 

The Funds may invest in shares of other investment companies, to the extent permitted by applicable law, subject to certain restrictions. Investment companies are companies that are engaged primarily in the business of investing in securities or that hold a large proportion of their assets in the form of investment securities. The Funds themselves are investment companies, as are many money market funds, exchange-traded and closed-end funds. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by shareholders investing in a Fund. A Fund’s investment in such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that Fund shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying the Fund’s own expenses.

 

Generally, the federal securities laws limit the extent to which a Fund can invest in securities of other investment companies, subject to certain exceptions. For example, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act prohibits a Fund from (i) acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any one investment company, (ii) investing more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, and (iii) investing more than 10% of its total assets in all investment companies combined, including its exchange-traded fund investments.

 

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The Funds may rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, which provides an exemption from Section 12(d)(1) that allows a Fund to invest all of its assets in other registered funds, including ETFs, if, among other conditions, the Fund, together with its affiliates, acquires no more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any acquired fund. The Funds may also rely on Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 12d1-4 permits the Funds to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions specified in the Rule including, among other conditions, that a Fund and its advisory group will not control (individually or in the aggregate) an acquired fund (e.g., hold more than 25% of the outstanding voting securities of an acquired fund that is a registered open-end management investment company). In addition, the Funds may be able to rely on certain other rules under the 1940 Act to invest in shares of money market funds or other investment companies beyond the statutory limits noted above, but subject to certain conditions.

 

For hedging or other purposes, a Fund may invest in investment companies that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific indexes or portions of specific indexes. Certain of these investment companies, including ETFs, are traded on a securities exchange. The market prices of ETFs will fluctuate in accordance with changes in their underlying portfolio securities and also due to supply and demand of the investment company’s shares on the exchange upon which the shares are traded. Index-based investments may not precisely replicate or otherwise match the composition or performance of their specified index due to transaction costs, among other considerations. Actively managed ETFs are subject to the risk that the investment strategies employed by their investment advisers may underperform other investments.

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”)

 

A U.S. REIT is a corporation or business trust (that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation) that invests primarily in income producing real estate or real estate-related loans or interests and which meets the definitional requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct from taxable income the dividends paid, thereby effectively eliminating corporate level federal income tax. To meet the definitional requirements of the Code, a REIT must, among other things: invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate (including mortgages and other REITs), cash and government securities; derive most of its income from rents from real property or interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property; and distribute annually 90% or more of its otherwise taxable income to shareholders.

 

REITs are sometimes informally characterized as Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs. An Equity REIT invests primarily in the fee ownership or leasehold ownership of land and buildings; a Mortgage REIT invests primarily in mortgages on real property, which may secure construction, development or long-term loans.

 

REITs may be affected by changes in underlying real estate values, which may have an exaggerated effect to the extent that REITs in which the Funds invest may concentrate investments in particular geographic regions or property types. Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalization, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of securities issued by such REITs. Additionally, rising interest rates may cause investors in REITs to demand a higher annual yield from future distributions, which may in turn decrease market prices for equity securities issued by REITs. Rising interest rates also generally increase the costs of obtaining financing, which could cause the value of a Fund’s investments to decline. During periods of declining interest rates, certain Mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by such Mortgage REITs. Equity and Mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, and self-liquidation. In addition, Mortgage REITs may be affected by the ability of borrowers to repay when due the debt extended by the REIT and Equity REITs may be affected by the ability of tenants to pay rent. The above factors may adversely affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments.

 

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Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. By investing in REITs indirectly through a Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders. In addition, U.S. REITs could possibly fail to qualify for tax free pass-through of income under the Code or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act.

 

Repurchase Agreements

 

A repurchase agreement is an agreement in which one party sells securities to a Fund in return for cash with an agreement to repurchase equivalent securities at an agreed-upon price and on an agreed-upon future date. A Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions and follow certain procedures designed to minimize the risks inherent in such agreements. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with large, well-capitalized and well-established financial institutions deemed creditworthy by the Adviser. The repurchase agreements entered into by a Fund will provide that the underlying collateral shall have a value equal to at least 102% of the resale price stated in the agreement at all times. The Adviser monitors compliance with this requirement as well as the ongoing financial condition and creditworthiness of the counterparty. Under all repurchase agreements entered into by a Fund, the custodian or its agent must take possession of the underlying collateral.

 

In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, a Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Fund's right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. At times, the investments of each of the Funds in repurchase agreements may be substantial when, in the view of the Adviser, liquidity or other considerations so warrant. A Fund may enter into “tri-party” repurchase agreements. In “tri-party” repurchase agreements, an unaffiliated third party custodian maintains accounts to hold collateral for the Fund and its counterparties and, therefore, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of those custodians.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

 

Reverse repurchase agreements involve sales by a Fund of portfolio assets concurrently with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the same assets at a later date at a fixed price. Generally, the effect of such a transaction is that the Fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while the Fund will be able to keep the interest income associated with those portfolio securities. Such transactions are advantageous only if the interest cost to the Fund of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the cost of obtaining the cash otherwise. Opportunities to achieve this advantage may not always be available, and each Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only when it will be advantageous to such Fund. Reverse repurchase agreement are considered to be borrowings under the 1940 Act. Although there is no limit on the percentage of Fund assets that can be used in connection with reverse repurchase agreements, no Fund expects to engage, under normal circumstances, in reverse repurchase agreements with respect to more than 33 1/3% of its total assets.

 

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The Derivatives Rule permits the Funds to enter into reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions, notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the 1940 Act. The Derivatives Rule permits the Funds to elect whether to treat a reverse repurchase agreement as a borrowing, subject to the asset coverage requirements of Section 18 of the 1940 Act, or as a derivatives transaction under the Derivatives Rule.

 

Restricted and Illiquid Investments

 

While the Funds do not anticipate doing so to any appreciable extent, each Fund may purchase illiquid investments, including securities that are not readily marketable and securities that are not registered (“restricted securities”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), but which can be offered and sold to “qualified institutional buyers” under Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. A Fund may not acquire an illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. If the percentage of a Fund’s net assets held in illiquid investments exceeds 15%, the Fund will take such measures as required by the Fund’s liquidity risk management program. Illiquid investments are investments that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. There may be a limited trading market or low trading volumes for illiquid investments that may result in erratic price movements. In addition, a Fund may be unable to dispose of its holdings in illiquid investments quickly, and may need to liquidate such positions over extended periods of time, which exposes the positions to additional market risk, or sales at sharply discounted prices.

 

Securities Lending

 

Each Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial organizations that meet capital and other credit requirements or other criteria established by the Board. These loans, if and when made, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the total asset value of the Fund (including the loan collateral). The Funds will not lend portfolio securities to the Adviser or its affiliates unless permissible under the 1940 Act and the rules and promulgations thereunder. Loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized by cash, letters of credit or U.S. government securities, and the collateral will be maintained in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities by marking to market daily. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned by a Fund that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the account of such Fund.

 

The Funds may pay a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral, or other fee, to an unaffiliated third party for acting as the Funds’ securities lending agent but will bear all of any losses from the investment of collateral.

 

By lending its securities, a Fund may increase its income by receiving payments from the borrower that reflect the amount of any interest or any dividends payable on the loaned securities as well as by either investing cash collateral received from the borrower in short-term instruments or obtaining a fee from the borrower when U.S. government securities or letters of credit are used as collateral. Each Fund will adhere to the following conditions whenever its portfolio securities are loaned: (i) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral or equivalent securities of the type discussed above from the borrower; (ii) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (iii) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan on demand; (iv) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in market value; (v) the Fund may pay only reasonable fees in connection with the loan (which fees may include fees payable to the lending agent, the borrower, the Fund’s administrator and the custodian); and (vi) voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, provided, however, that if the Fund has knowledge of a material vote affecting the security, the Fund must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities. The Board has adopted procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the foregoing criteria will be met. Loan agreements involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the borrower, including possible delays or restrictions upon a Fund’s ability to recover the loaned securities (including for the purpose of voting the securities) or dispose of the collateral for the loan, which could give rise to loss because of adverse company or market action, expenses and/or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying securities.

 

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Short Sales

 

Description of Short Sales:

 

The Funds are permitted to engage in short sales of securities except as prohibited by the 1940 Act. Selling a security short is when an investor sells a security it does not own. To sell a security short an investor must borrow the security from someone else to deliver to the buyer. The investor then replaces the security it borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at or before the time of replacement. Until it replaces the security, the investor repays the person that lent it the security for any interest or dividends that may have accrued during the period of the loan.

 

Investors typically sell securities short to:

 

Take advantage of an anticipated decline in prices.

 

Protect a profit in a security it already owns.

 

Manage exposure to securities or markets.

 

A Fund can lose money if the price of the security it sold short increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. Because the market price of the security sold short could increase without limit, the Fund could also be subject to a theoretically unlimited loss. Likewise, the Fund can profit if the price of the security declines between those dates.

 

To borrow the security, a Fund may be required to pay a premium, which increases the cost of the security sold. The Funds will also incur transaction costs in effecting short sales. A Fund’s gains and losses will be decreased or increased, as the case may be, by the amount of the premium, dividends, interest, or expenses the Funds may be required to pay in connection with a short sale.

 

The broker will retain the net proceeds of the short sale, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

 

Short Sales Against the Box - In addition, the Funds may engage in short sales “against the box.” In a short sale against the box, a Fund agrees to sell at a future date a security that it either currently owns or has the right to acquire at no extra cost. The Fund will incur transaction costs to open, maintain and close short sales against the box.

 

Restrictions on Short Sales:

 

A Fund will not short sell a security if:

 

After giving effect to such short sale, the total market value of all securities sold short would exceed 25% of the value of the Fund’s net assets;

 

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The market value of the securities of any single issuer that have been sold short by the Fund would exceed two percent (2%) of the value of the Fund’s net assets; or

 

Any security sold short would constitute more than two percent (2%) of any class of the issuer’s securities.

 

When-Issued, Delayed-Delivery and Forward-Delivery Transactions

 

A when-issued security is one whose terms are available and for which a market exists, but which have not been issued. “Delayed-delivery” refers to securities transactions on the secondary market where settlement occurs in the future. In a forward-delivery transaction, a Fund contracts to purchase securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary settlement time. In each of these transactions, the parties fix the payment obligation and the interest rate that they will receive on the securities at the time the parties enter the commitment; however, they do not pay money or deliver securities until a later date. Typically, no income accrues on securities a Fund has committed to purchase before the securities are delivered. A Fund will only enter into these types of transactions with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but may sell them before the settlement date.

 

A Fund uses when-issued, delayed-delivery and forward-delivery transactions to secure what it considers an advantageous price and yield at the time of purchase. When a Fund engages in when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward-delivery transactions, it relies on the counterparty to consummate the sale. If the other party fails to complete the sale, the Fund may miss the opportunity to obtain the security at a favorable price or yield.

 

When purchasing a security on a when-issued, delayed-delivery, or forward-delivery basis, a Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield changes. At the time of settlement, the market value of the security may be more or less than the purchase price. The yield available in the market when the delivery takes place also may be higher than those obtained in the transaction itself. Because a Fund does not pay for the security until the delivery date, these risks are in addition to other risks typically associated with equity or debt investments.

 

The Derivatives Rule permits a Fund to enter into when-issued or delayed delivery basis securities notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the 1940 Act, provided that the Fund intends to physically settle the transaction and the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date. If a when-issued or delayed delivery basis security entered into by a Fund does not satisfy those requirements, the Fund would need to comply with the Derivatives Rule with respect to its when issued or delayed delivery transactions, which are considered derivatives transactions under the Derivatives Rule. See “Derivatives – Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act” above.

 

Special Risks of Cyber Attacks

 

As with any entity that conducts business through electronic means in the modern marketplace, a Fund, and its service providers, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber attacks. Cyber attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized monitoring, misappropriation, release, misuse, loss, destruction or corruption of confidential information, unauthorized access to relevant systems, compromises to networks or devices that a Fund and its service providers use to service the Fund’s operations, ransomware, operational disruption or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Fund and its service providers, or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber attacks affecting a Fund or the Adviser, the Fund’s distributor, custodian, administrator or any other of the Fund’s intermediaries or service providers may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders, potentially resulting in, among other things, financial losses, the inability of the Fund to conduct normal operations, or the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business with the Fund. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with or prevent the processing of shareholder transactions, impact a Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. A Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes designed to mitigate or prevent the risk of cyber attacks. Such costs may be ongoing because threats of cyber attacks are constantly evolving as cyber attackers become more sophisticated and their techniques become more complex and adapt to enhanced securities features. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which a Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investments in such companies to lose value. There can be no assurance that a Fund, the Fund’s service providers, or the issuers of the securities in which the Fund invests will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches in the future.

 

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LIBOR Replacement Risk

 

The Funds may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from, or continue to be tied to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. Such instruments may include bank loans, derivatives, floating rate securities, and other assets or liabilities. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, has ceased publishing all LIBOR settings on a representative basis. In April 2023, however, the FCA announced that some USD LIBOR settings will continue to be published under a synthetic methodology until September 30, 2024 for certain legacy contracts.

 

The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market, has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. Under U.S. regulations that implement a statutory fallback mechanism to replace LIBOR, benchmark rates based on SOFR have replaced LIBOR in different categories of financial contracts.

 

Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. While some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities, or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The Funds may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.

 

Health-Related Market Risk

 

An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus designated as COVID-19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. The transmission of COVID-19 has had significant health consequences around the globe. Efforts to contain its spread have resulted in international, national and local border closings and other significant travel restrictions and disruptions, significant disruptions to business operations, supply chains and diminished customer activity, event cancellations and restrictions, service cancellations, reductions and other changes, significant challenges in healthcare service preparation and delivery, and quarantines, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. These events have also caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, which have caused losses for investors. Health crises caused by viral or bacterial outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social, economic, market and financial risks. The impact of this outbreak, and future epidemics and pandemics, could negatively affect the global economy over either the short term or the long term, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseeable ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Funds invest, which in turn could negatively impact the Funds’ performance and cause losses on your investment in the Funds.

 

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INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

Investment Adviser. Cambiar Investors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company located at 200 Columbine Street, Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80206, serves as the investment adviser to the Funds. The Adviser manages and supervises the investment of each Fund’s assets on a discretionary basis. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $3.4 billion in discretionary assets under management. The Adviser and its predecessor, Cambiar Investors, Inc., which was an affiliate of Old Mutual (US) Holdings, Inc. (formerly United Asset Management Company) (“Old Mutual”), have provided investment management services to corporations, foundations, endowments, collective investment trusts, pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates and other institutions as well as individuals since 1973. The Adviser is owned by Cambiar Holdings, LLLP, which is controlled by Mr. Brian Barish.

 

Advisory Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Adviser have entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser serves as the investment adviser and makes investment decisions for each of the Funds and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the investment program of each Fund, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Trustees.

 

After the initial two-year term, the continuance of the Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually: (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees or, with respect to any Fund, by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Fund, on not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser, or, by the Adviser, on 90 days’ written notice to the Trust. The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its obligations or duties thereunder. As used in the Advisory Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested persons” and “assignment” have the same meaning as such terms in the 1940 Act.

 

Advisory Fees Paid to the Adviser. For its services under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate based on the average daily net assets of each Fund as follows:

 

Fund Advisory Fee
Opportunity Fund 0.60%
International Equity Fund 0.90%
Small Cap Fund 0.85%
SMID Fund 0.80%

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses for each Fund in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding any class-specific expenses (including shareholder servicing fees), interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other costs and expenses relating to the securities that are purchased and sold by the Fund, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and other non-routine expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding the amounts listed in the table below for each Fund, as a percentage of average daily net assets of each share class, until March 1, 2025. The Adviser may renew these contractual fee waivers for subsequent periods. To maintain these expense limits, the Adviser may reduce a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses of the Funds. In addition, the Adviser may receive from a Fund the difference between the Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the Fund’s expense cap to recoup all or a portion of the fees waived or reduced or other payments remitted by the Adviser during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the reimbursement if at any point a Fund’s total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the Fund’s expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver or expense payment and (ii) at the time of the reimbursement. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board, for any reason at any time; or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on March 1, 2025. This Agreement automatically terminates upon the termination of the investment advisory agreement.

 

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Fund Expense Cap
Opportunity Fund 0.65%
International Equity Fund 0.90%
Small Cap Fund 0.90%
SMID Fund 0.85%

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Funds paid the following advisory fees to the Adviser:

 

Fund Contractual Advisory Fees Fees Waived by the Adviser

Total Fees Paid (After Waivers)

to the Adviser

2021 2022 2023 2021 2022 2023 2021 2022 2023
Opportunity Fund $1,979,920 $1,874,264 $2,006,704 $301,274 $364,832 $469,427 $1,678,646 $1,509,432 $1,537,277
International Equity Fund $9,485,606 $5,742,677 $2,496,133 $1,450,695 $1,123,613 $716,290 $8,034,911 $4,619,064 $1,779,843
Small Cap Fund $832,635 $690,692 $822,112 $161,691 $169,122 $215,612 $670,944 $521,570 $606,500
SMID Fund $990,758 $1,085,338 $1,205,695 $176,242 $223,830 $276,390 $814,516 $861,508 $929,305

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

This section includes information about the Funds’ portfolio managers, including information about other accounts managed, the dollar range of Fund shares owned and how the portfolio managers are compensated.

 

Compensation. The Adviser compensates the Funds’ portfolio managers for their management of the Funds and the Adviser’s other accounts. The portfolio managers’ compensation consists of an industry competitive base salary, discretionary cash bonus, and a profit-sharing contribution at year-end. While the Adviser’s investment professionals receive a competitive salary plus a bonus tied to firm and individual performance, contributions are also measured through performance attribution which details individual stock/product and sector-relative contribution, as well as other overall “value added” considerations important to the firm, such as success of products managed or client service. Equity in the Adviser’s parent company is also available to reward key employees. The following table represents the benchmarks against which each portfolio manager’s pre-tax performance results are compared:

 

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Investment Strategy Benchmark
Opportunity Fund Russell 1000® Value Index
International Equity Fund MSCI EAFE Index
Small Cap Fund Russell 2000® Value Index
SMID Fund Russell 2500® Value Index

 

Fund Shares Owned by the Portfolio Managers. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each portfolio manager’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Funds as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”).

 

Name Dollar Range of Fund Shares1
Brian M. Barish

Over $1,000,000 (Opportunity Fund)

Over $1,000,000 (International Equity Fund)

Over $1,000,000 (Small Cap Fund)

Over $1,000,000 (SMID Fund)

Anna (Ania) A. Aldrich

Over $1,000,000 (Opportunity Fund)

$100,001 - $500,000 (International Equity Fund)

$500,001 - $1,000,000 (Small Cap Fund)

$50,001 - $100,000 (SMID Fund) 

Andrew P. Baumbusch

$10,001 - $50,000 (Opportunity Fund)

$10,001 - $50,000 (Small Cap Fund)

$10,001 - $50,000 (SMID Fund)

Masha Carey None
Joseph S. Chin

$10,001 - $50,000 (SMID Fund)

$10,001 - $50,000 (Opportunity Fund)

$10,001 - $50,000 (Small Cap Fund)

Colin Dunn

$10,001 - $50,000 (Opportunity Fund)

$50,001 - $100,000 (International Equity Fund)

$100,001 - $500,000 (Small Cap Fund)

$100,001 - $500,000 (SMID Fund)

Robert A. Steiner Jr.

$1 - $10,000 (Opportunity Fund)

$1 - $10,000 (International Equity Fund)

$1 - $10,000 (Small Cap Fund)

Daniel Windoff None
Di Zhou None

 

1Valuation date is October 31, 2023

 

The Funds' portfolio managers may also have significant investments in vehicles employing investment strategies substantially similar to those of the Funds, which are not reflected in the above table.

 

Other Accounts. In addition to the Funds, the portfolio managers are responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as follows. None of the accounts included below are currently subject to a performance based advisory fee. The information below is provided as of October 31, 2023.

 

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  Registered Investment Companies Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Other Accounts
Name Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in millions)

Number of Accounts Total Assets Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in millions)

Anna (Ania) A. Aldrich $— $— $—
Brian M. Barish 2 $48.48 $— 159 $1,936.56
Andrew Baumbusch 1 $2.05 $— 19 $241.83
Masha Carey $— $— $—
Joseph S. Chin $— $— $—
Colin Dunn 1 $2.05 $— 19 $241.83
Robert A. Steiner Jr. $— $— 13 $23.62
Daniel Windoff $— $— 1 $1.35
Di Zhou 1 $1.79 $— 48 $776.53

 

Conflicts of Interest. A portfolio manager’s management of “other accounts” may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with his or her management of a Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The management of multiple accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each account. Although the Adviser does not track the time a portfolio manager spends on a single portfolio, it does seek to ensure that portfolio managers have adequate time and resources to effectively manage all of the accounts for which she or he is responsible. Even where multiple accounts are managed by a portfolio manager within the same investment strategy, the manager may take action with respect to one account that may differ from the timing or nature of action taken with respect to another account because of different investment platforms, account types, opening or funding dates, cash flows, client-specific objectives or restrictions, or for other reasons. Accordingly, the performance of each account managed by a portfolio manager will vary.

 

Potential conflicts of interest may also arise when allocating and/or aggregating trades. The Adviser often seeks to aggregate into a single trade order several individual contemporaneous client trade orders in a single security. Under applicable Adviser policies, when trades are aggregated on behalf of more than one account, such transactions will be allocated to participating client accounts in a fair and equitable manner. The Adviser’s policies also seek to ensure that portfolio managers do not systematically allocate other types of trades in a manner that would be more beneficial to one account than another, and the Adviser’s compliance personnel monitor transactions made on behalf of multiple clients to seek to ensure adherence to its policies. In addition, the Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, that seek to minimize potential conflicts of interest that may arise because the Adviser advises multiple accounts.

 

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THE ADMINISTRATOR

 

General. SEI Investments Global Funds Services (the “Administrator”), a Delaware statutory trust, has its principal business offices at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. SEI Investments Management Corporation (“SIMC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company (“SEI Investments”), is the owner of all beneficial interest in the Administrator. SEI Investments and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including the Administrator, are providers of fund evaluation services, trust accounting systems, and brokerage and information services to financial institutions, institutional investors, and money managers. The Administrator and its affiliates also serve as administrator or sub-administrator to other mutual funds.

 

Administration Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Administrator have entered into an amended and restated administration agreement dated November 13, 2018, as amended (the “Administration Agreement”). Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides the Trust with administrative services, including regulatory reporting and all necessary office space, equipment, personnel and facilities.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in carrying out its duties thereunder, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Administrator in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

Administration Fees Paid to the Administrator. For its services under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator is paid a fee, which varies based on the average daily net assets of the Funds, subject to certain minimums. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Funds paid the Administrator the following fees:

 

Fund Administration Fees Paid
2021 2022 2023
Opportunity Fund $176,743 $164,654 $183,934
International Equity Fund $564,413 $333,595 $152,543
Small Cap Fund $52,459 $42,752 $53,199
SMID Fund $66,332 $71,564 $82,892

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

The Trust and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments and an affiliate of the Administrator, are parties to a distribution agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 14, 2005 and as amended August 30, 2010 and November 13, 2018 (the “Distribution Agreement”) whereby the Distributor acts as principal underwriter for the Trust’s shares. The principal business address of the Distributor is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually: (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act), and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or by the Distributor, upon not less than 60 days’ written notice to the other party.

 

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PAYMENTS BY THE FUNDS OR THE ADVISER TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

Shareholder Servicing Plan. The Funds have adopted a shareholder servicing plan under which a shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Investor Class Shares of the Funds may be paid to financial intermediaries. Under the shareholder servicing plan, financial intermediaries may perform, or may compensate other financial intermediaries for performing, certain shareholder and/or administrative services or similar non-distribution services, including: (i) maintaining shareholder accounts; (ii) arranging for bank wires; (iii) responding to shareholder inquiries relating to the services performed by the financial intermediaries; (iv) responding to inquiries from shareholders concerning their investments in the Funds; (v) assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; (vi) providing information periodically to shareholders showing their positions in the Funds; (vii) forwarding shareholder communications from the Funds such as shareholder reports, annual reports, proxies, and dividend and capital gain distribution and tax notices to shareholders; (viii) processing purchase, exchange and redemption requests from shareholders and placing orders with the Funds or their service providers; (ix) providing sub-accounting services; (x) processing dividend and capital gains payments from the Funds on behalf of shareholders; and (xi) providing other non-distribution-related services as the Funds may reasonably request to the extent that the financial intermediary is permitted to do so under applicable laws or regulations.

 

Other Payments by the Funds. The Funds may enter into agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which the Funds may pay financial intermediaries for non-distribution-related sub-transfer agency, administrative, sub-accounting, and other shareholder services. Payments made pursuant to such agreements are generally based on either (1) a percentage of the average daily net assets of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary, or (2) the number of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary. Any payments made pursuant to such agreements may be in addition to, rather than in lieu of, shareholder services fees the Funds may pay to financial intermediaries pursuant to the Funds’ shareholder servicing plan.

 

Payments by the Adviser. The Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments from their own resources and not from Fund assets to affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries, brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and other institutions having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Funds, their service providers or their respective affiliates, as incentives to help market and promote the Funds and/or in recognition of their distribution, marketing, shareholder or administrative services, and/or processing support.

 

These additional payments from the resources of the Adviser and/or its affiliates may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Funds, the Distributor or shareholders of the Funds through the financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel and/or fund supermarkets. Payments may also be made through the financial intermediary’s retirement, qualified tuition, fee-based advisory, wrap fee bank trust, or insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. These payments may include, but are not limited to, placing the Funds in a financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel or on a preferred or recommended fund list; providing business or shareholder financial planning assistance; educating financial intermediary personnel about the Funds; providing access to sales and management representatives of the financial intermediary; promoting sales of Fund shares; providing marketing and educational support; maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder transaction processing services. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services.

 

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The Adviser and/or its affiliates may also make payments from their own resources to financial intermediaries for costs associated with the purchase of products or services used in connection with sales and marketing, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs, client and investor entertainment and other sponsored events. The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.

 

Payments by the Adviser and/or its affiliates for distribution-related and non-distribution-related services may be negotiated based on a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the market power and flexibility of the intermediary, the amount of Fund assets serviced by or attributable to investments in the Funds by financial intermediaries’ customers, the time period in which the arrangement was entered into or amended, or other factors. The Adviser compensates these intermediaries by a flat fee, a per account fee or a fee based on assets under management, or other measures as determined from time to time by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. The purpose of certain of these payments is to increase the sales of Fund shares, which in turn may benefit the Adviser through increased fees as Fund assets grow.

 

Investors should understand that some financial intermediaries may also charge their clients fees in connection with purchases of shares or the provision of shareholder services.

 

TRANSFER AGENT

 

SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 333 W. 11th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105 (the “Transfer Agent”), serves as the transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent for the Funds under a transfer agency agreement with the Trust.

 

CUSTODIAN

 

U.S. Bank National Association, 800 Nicollett Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-4302 (the “Custodian”) serves as the custodian of the Funds. The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Funds as required by the 1940 Act.

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Ernst & Young LLP, One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 700, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds. The financial statements and financial highlights, including the notes thereto, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are incorporated by reference in reliance on the authority of their report as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 2222 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

 

SECURITIES LENDING

 

The Funds did not engage in securities lending activities during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023.

 

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TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

 

Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series, including the Funds described in this SAI, are overseen by the Trustees. The Board has approved contracts, as described above, under which certain companies provide essential management services to the Trust.

 

Like most mutual funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of risk, is performed by third-party service providers, such as the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, have oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Funds. The Funds and their service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust’s business (e.g., the Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of each Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the Funds’ service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

 

The Trustees’ role in risk oversight begins before the inception of a Fund, at which time certain of the Fund’s service providers present the Board with information concerning the investment objective, strategies and risks of the Fund as well as proposed investment limitations for the Fund. Additionally, the Adviser provides the Board with an overview of, among other things, its investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the Adviser and other service providers, such as the Fund’s independent accountants, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the Funds may be exposed.

 

The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Funds by the Adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the Advisory Agreement, the Board meets with the Adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the Adviser’s adherence to the Funds’ investment restrictions and compliance with various Fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the Funds’ investments, including, for example, reports on the Adviser’s use of derivatives in managing the Funds, if any, as well as reports on the Funds’ investments in other investment companies, if any.

 

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues and Fund and Adviser risk assessments. At least annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the Adviser. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report; any material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures; and any material compliance matters since the date of the last report.

 

The Board receives reports from the Funds’ service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. The Adviser makes regular reports to the Board concerning investments for which market quotations are not readily available. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of the Funds’ financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the Funds and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Funds’ internal controls. Additionally, in connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees Fund management’s implementation of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with the SEC are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust's internal controls over financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Trust's financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust's financial statements.

 

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From their review of these reports and discussions with the Adviser, the Chief Compliance Officer, the independent registered public accounting firm and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee learn in detail about the material risks of the Funds, thereby facilitating a dialogue about how management and service providers identify and mitigate those risks.

 

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Funds can be identified and/or quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Funds’ goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the Funds’ investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the Adviser and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management, but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the Funds’ and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s ability to monitor and manage risk, as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.

 

Members of the Board. There are seven members of the Board, five of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“independent Trustees”). Robert Nesher, an interested person of the Trust, serves as Chairman of the Board. Joseph T. Grause, Jr., an independent Trustee, serves as the lead independent Trustee. The Trust has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Trust made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the independent Trustees constitute more than two-thirds of the Board, the fact that the chairperson of each Committee of the Board is an independent Trustee, the amount of assets under management in the Trust, and the number of funds (and classes of shares) overseen by the Board. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the independent Trustees from fund management.

 

The Board has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and Governance Committee. The Audit Committee and Governance Committee are chaired by an independent Trustee and composed of all of the independent Trustees.

 

As noted, the Board has a lead independent Trustee. In his role as lead independent Trustee, Mr. Grause, among other things: (i) presides over Board meetings in the absence of the Chairman of the Board; (ii) presides over executive sessions of the independent Trustees; (iii) along with the Chairman of the Board, oversees the development of agendas for Board meetings; (iv) facilitates communication between the independent Trustees and management, and among the independent Trustees; (v) serves as a key point person for dealings between the independent Trustees and management; and (vi) has such other responsibilities as the Board or independent Trustees determine from time to time.

 

Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations and other directorships held during at least the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee. There is no stated term of office for the Trustees. Nevertheless, an independent Trustee must retire from the Board as of the end of the calendar year in which such independent Trustee first attains the age of seventy-five years; provided, however, that, an independent Trustee may continue to serve for one or more additional one calendar year terms after attaining the age of seventy-five years (each calendar year a “Waiver Term”) if, and only if, prior to the beginning of such Waiver Term: (1) the Governance Committee (a) meets to review the performance of the independent Trustee; (b) finds that the continued service of such independent Trustee is in the best interests of the Trust; and (c) unanimously approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above; and (2) a majority of the Trustees approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each Trustee is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

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Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served

Principal Occupations

in the Past 5 Years

Other Directorships Held in the Past 5 Years
Interested Trustees

Robert Nesher

(Born: 1946)

Chairman of the Board of Trustees1

(since 1991)

SEI employee 1974 to present; currently performs various services on behalf of SEI Investments for which Mr. Nesher is compensated. President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. President and Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP. Vice Chairman of Winton Series Trust to 2017. Vice Chairman of Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund (closed-end investment company), The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Gallery Trust, Schroder Series Trust and Schroder Global Series Trust to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Catholic Responsible Investments Funds, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP, SEI Global Master Fund plc, SEI Global Assets Fund plc, SEI Global Investments Fund plc, SEI Investments—Global Funds Services, Limited, SEI Investments Global, Limited, SEI Investments (Europe) Ltd., SEI Investments—Unit Trust Management (UK) Limited, SEI Multi-Strategy Funds PLC and SEI Global Nominee Ltd.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

N. Jeffrey Klauder

(Born: 1952)

Trustee1

(since 2018)

Senior Advisor of SEI Investments since 2018. Executive Vice President and General Counsel of SEI Investments, 2004 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds. Director of SEI Private Trust Company, SEI Global Fund Services Ltd., SEI Investments Global Limited, SEI Global Master Fund, SEI Global Investments Fund, SEI Global Assets Fund and SEI Investments - Guernsey Limited.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of SEI Investments Management Corporation, SEI Trust Company, SEI Investments (South Africa), Limited and SEI Investments (Canada) Company to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

S-47 

 

Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served

Principal Occupations

in the Past 5 Years

Other Directorships Held in the Past 5 Years
Independent Trustees

Kathleen Gaffney

(Born: 1961)

Trustee

(since 2022)

Retired since 2019. Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Eaton Vance Management from 2012 to 2019. Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

Joseph T. Grause, Jr.

(Born: 1952)

Trustee

(since 2011)

 

Lead Independent Trustee

(since 2018)

Self-Employed Consultant since 2012. Director of Endowments and Foundations, Morningstar Investment Management, Morningstar, Inc., 2010 to 2011. Director of International Consulting and Chief Executive Officer of Morningstar Associates Europe Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2007 to 2010. Country Manager – Morningstar UK Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2005 to 2007.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Director of The Korea Fund, Inc. to 2019. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

Robert Mulhall

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2019)

Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, from 1998 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of Villanova University Alumni Board of Directors to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

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Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served

Principal Occupations

in the Past 5 Years

Other Directorships Held in the Past 5 Years
Independent Trustees

Bruce Speca

(Born: 1956)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Global Head of Asset Allocation, Manulife Asset Management (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2010 to 2011. Executive Vice President – Investment Management Services, John Hancock Financial Services (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2003 to 2010.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022. Director of Stone Harbor Investments Funds (8 Portfolios), Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Income Fund (closed-end fund) and Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Total Income Fund (closed-end fund) to 2022.

Monica Walker

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2022)

Retired. Private Investor since 2017. Co-Founder (1991-2017), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (2009 to 2017) and Chief Investment Officer – Equity (2007 to 2017) of Holland Capital Management, LLC (Chicago). Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

1Denotes Trustees who may be deemed to be “interested” persons of the Funds as that term is defined in the 1940 Act by virtue of their affiliation with the Distributor and/or its affiliates.

 

Individual Trustee Qualifications. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of their ability to review and understand information about the Funds provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the Funds, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the Funds’ shareholders. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on their own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Nesher should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 1974, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 1991.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Klauder should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 2004, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he gained serving as a partner of a large law firm.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Gaffney should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as a vice president and portfolio manager for a large asset management company, her experience in and knowledge of the asset management industry, and the experience she has gained serving in board and leadership positions in a variety of nonprofit and civic organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Grause should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with different financial institutions, his knowledge of the mutual fund and investment management industries, his past experience as an interested trustee and chair of the investment committee for a multi-managed investment company, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

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The Trust has concluded that Mr. Mulhall should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with an audit firm and various financial services firms, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and his experience serving in a variety of leadership capacities for non-profit organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Speca should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained serving as president of a mutual fund company and portfolio manager for a $95 billion complex of asset allocation funds, his over 25 years of experience working in a management capacity with mutual fund boards, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Walker should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained in a variety of leadership roles with an asset management company that she co-founded, her experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience she has gained in various other corporate accounting, finance and investment roles.

 

In its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the funds.

 

Board Committees. The Board has established the following standing committees:

 

Audit Committee. The Board has a standing Audit Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee include: (i) recommending which firm to engage as each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this relationship; (ii) reviewing the independent registered public accounting firm’s compensation, the proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firm’s independence; (iii) pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; (iv) serving as a channel of communication between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; (v) reviewing the results of each external audit, including any qualifications in the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion, any related management letter, management’s responses to recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the audit, reports submitted to the Committee by the internal auditing department of the Administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and management’s responses to any such reports; (vi) reviewing each Fund’s audited financial statements and considering any significant disputes between the Trust’s management and the independent registered public accounting firm that arose in connection with the preparation of those financial statements; (vii) considering, in consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trust’s senior internal accounting executive, if any, the independent registered public accounting firms’ reports on the adequacy of the Trust’s internal financial controls; (viii) reviewing, in consultation with each Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed when preparing each Fund’s financial statements; and (ix) other audit related matters. Mses. Gaffney and Walker and Messrs. Grause, Mulhall and Speca currently serve as members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Mulhall serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met four (4) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

S-50 

 

Governance Committee. The Board has a standing Governance Committee (formerly the Nominating Committee) that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Governance Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Governance Committee include: (i) considering and reviewing Board governance and compensation issues; (ii) conducting a self-assessment of the Board’s operations; (iii) selecting and nominating all persons to serve as independent Trustees; and (iv) reviewing shareholder recommendations for nominations to fill vacancies on the Board if such recommendations are submitted in writing and addressed to the Committee at the Trust’s office. Mses. Gaffney and Walker and Messrs. Grause, Mulhall and Speca currently serve as members of the Governance Committee. Mr. Speca serves as the Chairman of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met two (2) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Fund Shares Owned by Board Members. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each Trustee’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of each of the Funds as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act. The Trustees and officers of the Trust own less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.

 

Name

Dollar Range of Fund Shares

(Fund)1

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares

(All Funds in the Family of Investment Companies)1,2

Interested Trustees
Nesher None None
Klauder None None
Independent Trustees
Gaffney None None
Grause None None
Mulhall None None
Speca None None
Walker None None

 

1Valuation date is December 31, 2023.
2The Funds and the Cambiar Aggressive Value ETF are the only funds in the family of investment companies.

 

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Board Compensation. The Trust paid the following fees to the Trustees during the Funds' most recently completed fiscal year:

 

Name Aggregate Compensation from the Trust Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement Total Compensation from the Trust and Fund Complex1
Interested Trustees
Nesher $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Klauder $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Independent Trustees
Gaffney $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Grause $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Johnson2 $25,660 N/A N/A $25,660 for service on one (1) board
Krikorian3 $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Mulhall $114,666 N/A N/A $114,666 for service on one (1) board
Speca $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Walker $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board

 

1All funds in the Fund Complex are series of the Trust.
2In accordance with the Trust's retirement policy, Mr. Johnson retired from the Board effective December 31, 2022, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.
3In accordance with the Trust's retirement policy, Ms. Krikorian retired from the Board effective December 31, 2023, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.

 

Trust Officers. Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations for the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as executive officers of the Trust. There is no stated term of office for officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each officer is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. The Chief Compliance Officer is the only officer who receives compensation from the Trust for his services.

 

Certain officers of the Trust also serve as officers of one or more funds for which SEI Investments or its affiliates act as investment manager, administrator or distributor.

 

Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served Principal Occupations in Past 5 Years

Michael Beattie

(Born: 1965)

President

(since 2011)

Director of Client Service, SEI Investments, since 2004.

James Bernstein

(Born: 1962)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2017)

Attorney, SEI Investments, since 2017.

 

Prior Positions: Self-employed consultant, 2017. Associate General Counsel & Vice President, Nationwide Funds Group and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, from 2002 to 2016. Assistant General Counsel & Vice President, Market Street Funds and Provident Mutual Insurance Company, from 1999 to 2002.

John Bourgeois

(Born: 1973)

Assistant Treasurer

(since 2017)

Fund Accounting Manager, SEI Investments, since 2000.

 

S-52 

 

Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served Principal Occupations in Past 5 Years

Donald Duncan

(Born: 1964)

 

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer and Privacy Officer

(since 2023)

 

Chief Compliance Officer and Global Head of Anti-Money Laundering Strategy of SEI Investments Company since January 2023. Head of Global Anti-Money Laundering Program for Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC from August 2021 until December 2022. Senior VP and Supervising Principal of Hamilton Lane Securities, LLC from June 2016 to August 2021. Senior Director at AXA-Equitable from June 2011 until May 2016. Senior Director at PRUCO Securities, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. from October 2005 until December 2009.

Eric C. Griffith

(Born: 1969)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2019)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2019. Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co., from 2012 to 2018.

Matthew M. Maher

(Born: 1975)

Vice President

(since 2018)

 

Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2018. Attorney, Blank Rome LLP, from 2015 to 2018. Assistant Counsel & Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon, from 2013 to 2014. Attorney, Dilworth Paxson LLP, from 2006 to 2013.

Andrew Metzger

(Born: 1980)

Treasurer, Controller and Chief Financial Officer

(since 2021)

Director of Fund Accounting, SEI Investments, since 2020. Senior Director, Embark, from 2019 to 2020. Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, from 2002 to 2019.

Robert Morrow

(Born: 1968)

Vice President

(since 2017)

Account Manager, SEI Investments, since 2007.

Stephen F. Panner

(Born: 1970)

 

Chief Compliance Officer

(since 2022)

 

Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds, SEI Structured Credit Fund LP, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds since September 2022. Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Alternative Income Fund since May 2023. Chief Compliance Officer of Symmetry Panoramic Trust since December 2023. Fund Compliance Officer of SEI Investments Company from February 2011 to September 2022. Fund Accounting Director and CFO and Controller for the SEI Funds from July 2005 to February 2011.

Alexander F. Smith

(Born: 1977)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2020. Associate Counsel & Manager, Vanguard, 2012 to 2020. Attorney, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, 2008 to 2012.

 

S-53 

 

PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES

 

Purchases and redemptions may be made through the Transfer Agent on any day the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) is open for business. Shares of the Funds are offered and redeemed on a continuous basis on those days. Currently, the Trust is closed for business when the following holidays are observed: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

It is currently the Trust’s policy to pay all redemptions in cash. The Trust retains the right, however, to alter this policy to provide for redemptions in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of securities held by the Funds in lieu of cash. Shareholders may incur brokerage charges on the sale of any such securities so received in payment of redemptions. A shareholder will at all times be entitled to aggregate cash redemptions from all Funds of the Trust up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Trust’s net assets during any 90-day period. There may be instances in which certain shareholders are redeemed in-kind while other shareholders are redeemed contemporaneously in cash.

 

The Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption and/or to postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, for any period on which trading on the NYSE is restricted (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation), or during the existence of an emergency (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation) as a result of which disposal or valuation of a Fund’s securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC by order permits. The Trust also reserves the right to suspend sales of shares of any Fund for any period during which the NYSE, the Adviser, the Administrator, the Transfer Agent and/or the Custodian are not open for business or in other circumstances.

 

The Funds have no current intention to allow purchases in-kind, but under certain circumstances a Fund may allow investors to purchase shares by contributing securities in-kind to the Fund, provided that the securities used to purchase Fund shares are appropriate investments for the Fund, are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and policies, and meet any other applicable criteria established by the Adviser, such as liquidity. The Fund will value, or the Adviser will fair value, the securities in accordance with the applicable policies and procedures with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities, as of the time at which the Funds determine the net asset value per share of each Fund (the “NAV”) on the day that the securities are contributed to the Fund in-kind. The Adviser has the sole discretion with respect to determining whether particular securities may be used as payment in-kind for Fund shares.

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

General Policy. The Funds adhere to Section 2(a)(41), and Rules 2a-4 and 2a-5 thereunder, of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other securities are valued at fair value by the Adviser in good faith, and subject to the oversight of the Board. In complying with the 1940 Act, the Trust relies on guidance provided by the SEC and by the SEC staff in various interpretive letters and other guidance.

 

S-54 

 

Equity Securities. Securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system for which quotations are readily available (except for securities traded on NASDAQ), including securities traded over the counter, are valued at the last quoted sale price on an exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on the valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time if such exchange is normally open at that time), or, if there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recent quoted bid price. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price will be used. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Funds’ pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Money Market Securities and other Debt Securities. If available, money market securities and other debt securities are priced based upon valuations provided by recognized independent, third-party pricing agents. Such values generally reflect the last reported sales price if the security is actively traded. The third-party pricing agents may also value debt securities by employing methodologies that utilize actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations, or other methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities. Such methodologies generally consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. Money market securities and other debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less may be valued at their amortized cost, which approximates market value. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of each Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Foreign Securities. The prices for foreign securities are reported in local currency and converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates. Exchange rates are provided daily by recognized independent pricing agents.

 

Derivatives and Other Complex Securities. Exchange traded options on securities and indices purchased by the Funds generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last bid price. Exchange traded options on securities and indices written by the Funds generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last asked price. In the case of options traded in the over-the-counter market, if the OTC option is also an exchange traded option, the Funds will follow the above policies regarding the valuation of exchange traded options. If the OTC option is not also an exchange traded option, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Futures and swaps cleared through a central clearing house (“centrally cleared swaps”) are valued at the settlement price established each day by the board of exchange on which they are traded. The daily settlement prices for financial futures are provided by an independent source. On days when there is excessive volume or market volatility, or the future or centrally cleared swap does not end trading by the time the Funds calculate NAV, the settlement price may not be available at the time at which each Fund calculates its NAV. On such days, the best available price (which is typically the last sales price) may be used to value a Fund’s futures or centrally cleared swaps position.

 

Foreign currency forward contracts are valued at the current day’s interpolated foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day’s spot rate, and the thirty, sixty, ninety and one-hundred eighty day forward rates provided by an independent source.

 

If available, non-centrally cleared swaps, collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations and bank loans are priced based on valuations provided by an independent third party pricing agent. If a price is not available from an independent third party pricing agent, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

S-55 

 

Use of Third-Party Independent Pricing Services. Pursuant to contracts with the Administrator, prices for securities held by the Funds with readily available market quotations are provided by independent, third-party pricing agents. The valuations for these securities are reviewed by the Administrator. In accordance with the Adviser’s Valuation Procedures, the Adviser may also use third-party independent pricing agents (reviewed and approved by the Adviser) to fair value certain securities without readily available market quotations (or where market quotations are unreliable).

 

Fair Value Procedures. Securities for which market prices are not “readily available” or which cannot be valued using the methodologies described above are valued in accordance with Fair Value Procedures established by the Adviser and implemented through the Adviser’s Valuation Committee. In establishing a fair value for an investment, the Adviser will use valuation methodologies established by the Adviser and may consider inputs and methodologies provided by, among others, third-party independent pricing agents, independent broker-dealers and/or the Adviser's own personnel (including investment personnel).

 

Some of the more common reasons that may necessitate a security being valued using Fair Value Procedures include: the security’s trading has been halted or suspended; the security has been de-listed from a national exchange; the security’s primary trading market is temporarily closed at a time when under normal conditions it would be open; the security has not been traded for an extended period of time; the security’s primary pricing source is not able or willing to provide a price; trading of the security is subject to local government-imposed restrictions; or a significant event with respect to a security has occurred after the close of the market or exchange on which the security principally trades and before the time the Funds calculate NAV. When a security is valued in accordance with the Fair Value Procedures, the Adviser's Valuation Committee will determine the value after taking into consideration relevant information reasonably available to the Committee.

 

Fair Valuation of Foreign Securities Based on U.S. Market Movements. The International Equity Fund uses Intercontinental Exchange Data Pricing & Reference Data, LLC (“ICE”) as a third party fair valuation vendor. ICE provides a fair value for foreign securities held by the Fund based on certain factors and methodologies (involving, generally, tracking valuation correlations between the U.S. market and each foreign security) applied by ICE in the event that there are movements in the U.S. market that exceed a specific threshold that has been established in advance. A “confidence interval” is used to determine the level of correlation between the value of a foreign security and movements in the U.S. market that is required for a particular security to be fair valued when the threshold is exceeded. In the event that the threshold is exceeded on a specific day, the Adviser values the foreign securities in the Fund’s portfolio that exceed the applicable “confidence interval” based upon the fair values provided by ICE. In the event that the Adviser believes that the fair values provided by ICE are not reliable, the Adviser will determine in good faith the fair value of the foreign securities, subject to Board oversight.

 

TAXES

 

The following is only a summary of certain additional U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Funds and their shareholders that is intended to supplement the discussion contained in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Funds or their shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. In particular, it does not address investors subject to special rules, such as investors who hold shares through an individual retirement account (“IRA”), 401k, or other tax advantaged accounts. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations, including their state, local, and foreign tax liabilities.

 

S-56 

 

The following general discussion of certain federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.

 

Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company. Each Fund has elected and intends to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under Subchapter M of the Code. By following such a policy, each Fund expects to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal taxes to which it may be subject. If a Fund qualifies as a RIC, it will generally not be subject to federal income taxes on the net investment income and net realized capital gains that it timely distributes to its shareholders. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of a Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

In order to qualify as a RIC under the Code, each Fund must distribute annually to its shareholders at least 90% of its net investment income (which, includes dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, less operating expenses) and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income, for each tax year, if any, to its shareholders (the “Distribution Requirement”) and also must meet certain additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of each Fund’s gross income each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities, or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures, or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (the “Qualifying Income Test”); and (ii) at the close of each quarter of each Fund’s taxable year: (A) at least 50% of the value of each Fund’s total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, including the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership; and (B) not more than 25% of the value of each Fund’s total assets is invested, including through corporations in which a Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities (other than U.S. Government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of another RIC) of two or more issuers that a Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Asset Test”).

 

Although each Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and may distribute its capital gains for any taxable year, a Fund will be subject to federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed. Each Fund is treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes. A Fund therefore is considered to be a separate entity in determining its treatment under the rules for RICs described herein. Losses in one Fund do not offset gains in another and the requirements (other than certain organizational requirements) for qualifying RIC status are determined at the Fund level rather than at the Trust level.

 

If a Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income or Asset Tests in any taxable year, such Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where a Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. If a Fund fails to maintain qualification as a RIC for a tax year, and the relief provisions are not available, such Fund will be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate (currently 21%) without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In such case, its shareholders would be taxed as if they received ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, although corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends received deduction (subject to certain limitations) and individuals may be able to benefit from the lower tax rates available to qualified dividend income. In addition, a Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes, and interest and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC.

 

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Each Fund may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year. A “qualified late year loss” generally includes net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (commonly referred to as “post-October losses”) and certain other late-year losses.

 

The treatment of capital loss carryovers for a Fund is similar to the rules that apply to capital loss carryovers of individuals, which provide that such losses are carried over indefinitely. If a Fund has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains) the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund's net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year. The carryover of capital losses may be limited under the general loss limitation rules if a Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Code.

 

Federal Excise Tax. Notwithstanding the Distribution Requirement described above, which generally requires each Fund to distribute at least 90% of its annual investment company taxable income and the excess of its exempt interest income (but does not require any minimum distribution of net capital gain), a Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax to the extent it fails to distribute, by the end of any calendar year at least 98% of its ordinary income for that year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income (the excess of short- and long-term capital gains over short- and long-term capital losses) for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year (including any retained amount from the prior calendar year on which a Fund paid no federal income tax). Each Fund intends to make sufficient distributions to avoid liability for federal excise tax but can make no assurances that such tax will be completely eliminated. For example, a Fund may receive delayed or corrected tax reporting statements from its investments that cause such Fund to accrue additional income and gains after such Fund has already made its excise tax distributions for the year. In such a situation, a Fund may incur an excise tax liability resulting from such delayed receipt of such tax information statements. In addition, a Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate Fund investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal excise tax liability at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Fund to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.

 

Distributions to Shareholders. Each Fund receives income generally in the form of dividends and interest on investments. This income, plus net short-term capital gains, if any, less expenses incurred in the operation of a Fund, constitutes a Fund’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. Any distributions by a Fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary income or at the lower capital gains rates that apply to individuals receiving qualified dividend income, whether you take them in cash or in additional shares.

 

Distributions by a Fund are currently eligible for the reduced maximum tax rate to individuals of 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets) to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income on the securities it holds and the Fund reports the distributions as qualified dividend income. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that: (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become “ex-dividend” (which is the day on which declared distributions (dividends or capital gains) are deducted from a Fund’s assets before it calculates the net asset value) with respect to such dividend, (ii) such Fund has not satisfied similar holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder, (iii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property, or (iv) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Code. Therefore, if you lend your shares in a Fund, such as pursuant to a securities lending arrangement, you may lose the ability to treat dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. Distributions that a Fund receives from an underlying fund taxable as a RIC or from a REIT will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such underlying fund or REIT. Certain of the Funds’ investment strategies may limit their ability to distribute dividends eligible for the reduced tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income.

 

S-58 

 

Distributions by a Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Capital gain distributions consisting of a Fund’s net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains for individual shareholders currently set at a maximum rate of 20% regardless of how long you have held your shares in such Fund. Distributions from capital gains are generally made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards.

 

In the case of corporate shareholders, a Fund’s distributions (other than capital gain distributions) generally qualify for the dividends received deduction to the extent such distributions are so reported and do not exceed the gross amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund for the year. Generally, and subject to certain limitations (including certain holding period limitations), a dividend will be treated as a qualifying dividend if it has been received from a domestic corporation. Certain of the Funds’ investment strategies may significantly limit their ability to make distributions eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

To the extent that a Fund makes a distribution of income received by such Fund in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

If a Fund’s distributions exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits for the taxable year (as calculated for federal income tax purposes), all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholder’s cost basis in a Fund and result in a higher reported capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold.

 

A dividend or distribution received shortly after the purchase of shares reduces the net asset value of the shares by the amount of the dividend or distribution and, although in effect a return of capital, will be taxable to the shareholder. If the net asset value of shares were reduced below the shareholder’s cost by dividends or distributions representing gains realized on sales of securities, such dividends or distributions would be a return of investment though taxable to the shareholder in the same manner as other dividends or distributions.

 

S-59 

 

Each Fund (or its administrative agent) will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, and will advise you of its tax status for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held your shares for a full year, a Fund may report and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gain, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Fund.

 

Dividends declared to shareholders of record in October, November or December and actually paid in January of the following year will be treated as having been received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which declared. Under this rule, therefore, a shareholder may be taxed in one year on dividends or distributions actually received in January of the following year.

 

Sales, Exchanges, or Redemptions. Sales, exchanges, and redemptions of Fund shares may be taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. Any gain or loss recognized on a sale, exchange, or redemption of shares of a Fund by a shareholder who holds Fund shares as capital assets will generally be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months and otherwise will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss. However, if shares on which a shareholder has received a net capital gain distribution are subsequently sold, exchanged, or redeemed and such shares have been held for six months or less, any loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the net capital gain distribution. In addition, the loss realized on a sale or other disposition of shares will be disallowed to the extent a shareholder repurchases (or enters into a contract to or option to repurchase) shares within a period of 61 days (beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares). This loss disallowance rule will apply to shares received through the reinvestment of dividends during the 61-day period. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different fund is the same as a sale.

 

Each Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for purchases of Fund shares. In addition to the requirement to report the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, each Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares have a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, a Fund (or its administrative agent) will permit Fund shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, each Fund will use the average cost basis method as its default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. If your shares are held in a brokerage account, your broker may use a different method and you should contact your broker to determine which method it will use. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review the cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

Net Investment Income Tax. U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including any capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of a Fund).

 

Foreign Taxes. Dividends and interest received by the Funds from foreign sources may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and United States possessions that would reduce the yield on the Funds' stock or securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these taxes. Foreign countries generally do not impose taxes on capital gains with respect to investments by foreign investors.

 

S-60 

 

If more than 50% of the value of a Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stocks or securities of foreign corporations or ADRs, the Fund will be eligible to, and intends to file an election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. Pursuant to the election, the Fund will treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders. Each such shareholder will be required to include a proportionate share of those taxes in gross income as income received from a foreign source and must treat the amount so included as if the shareholder had paid the foreign tax directly. The shareholder may then either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him or her in computing his or her taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating any foreign tax credit (potentially subject to significant limitations) the shareholder may be entitled to use against the shareholder's federal income tax liability. If a Fund makes the election, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions. If a Fund does not hold sufficient foreign securities to meet the above threshold, then shareholders will not be entitled to claim a credit or further deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund.

 

A shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by a Fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, which may result in a shareholder not receiving a full credit or deduction (if any) for the amount of such taxes. In particular, shareholders must hold their Fund shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 additional days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a given dividend. Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such foreign taxes. Even if a Fund were eligible to make such an election for a given year, it may determine not to do so. Shareholders that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and those who invest in a Fund through tax-advantaged accounts (including those who invest through IRAs or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by a Fund.

 

Under certain circumstances, if a Fund receives a refund of foreign taxes paid in respect of a prior year, the value of Fund shares could be affected or any foreign tax credits or deductions passed through to shareholders in respect of the Fund’s foreign taxes for the current year could be reduced.

 

Tax Treatment of Complex Securities. The Funds may invest in complex securities. These investments may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules and these rules could affect a Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC, affect whether gains and losses recognized by a Fund are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to a Fund and/or defer a Fund’s ability to recognize losses, and, in limited cases, subject a Fund to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of its foreign securities. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by a Fund and may require a Fund to sell securities to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of a Fund as a RIC at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

Certain derivative investments by the Funds, such as exchange-traded products (including ETFs) and over-the-counter derivatives, may produce non-qualifying income for purposes of the “Qualifying Income Test” described above, which must be met in order for a Fund to maintain its status as a RIC under the Code. In addition, the determination of the value and the identity of the issuer of some derivative investments may be unclear for purposes of applying the “Asset Test” described above. The Funds intend to carefully monitor such investments to ensure that any non-qualifying income does not exceed permissible limits and to ensure that the Funds are adequately diversified under the Asset Test. The Funds, however, may not be able to accurately predict the non-qualifying income from these investments and there are no assurances that the IRS will agree with the Funds’ determination under the “Asset Test” with respect to such derivatives.

 

S-61 

 

Each Fund is required for federal income tax purposes to mark-to-market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures and options contracts subject to section 1256 of the Code ("Section 1256 Contracts") as of the end of the year as well as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from Section 1256 Contracts on broad-based indexes required to be marked to market will be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. A Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on Section 1256 Contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the Fund. These provisions may also require a Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirement and for avoiding the excise tax discussed above. Accordingly, in order to avoid certain income and excise taxes, a Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so and which may result in a taxable gain or loss.

 

If a Fund owns shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to as “passive foreign investment companies” or “PFICs,” the Fund will generally be subject to one of the following special tax regimes: (i) the Fund may be liable for U.S. federal income tax, and an additional interest charge, on a portion of any “excess distribution” from such foreign entity or any gain from the disposition of such shares, even if the entire distribution or gain is paid out by the Fund as a dividend to its shareholders; (ii) if the Fund were able and elected to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” or “QEF,” the Fund would be required each year to include in income, and distribute to shareholders in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above, the Fund’s pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of the PFIC, whether or not such earnings or gains are distributed to the Fund; or (iii) the Fund may be entitled to mark-to-market annually shares of the PFIC, and in such event, would be required to distribute to shareholders any such mark-to-market gains in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above. The Funds intend to make the appropriate tax elections, if possible, and take any additional steps that are necessary to mitigate the effect of these rules. Amounts included in income each year by a Fund arising from a QEF election will be “qualifying income” under the Qualifying Income Test (as described above) even if not distributed to the Fund, if the Fund derives such income from its business of investing in stock, securities or currencies.

 

Certain Foreign Currency Tax Issues. The Funds’ transactions in foreign currencies and forward foreign currency contracts will generally be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Funds (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Funds and defer losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount, and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also may require a Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), which may cause a Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirements and for avoiding the excise tax described above. Each Fund intends to monitor its transactions, intends to make the appropriate tax elections, and intends to make the appropriate entries in its books and records when it acquires any foreign currency or forward foreign currency contract in order to mitigate the effect of these rules so as to prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC and minimize the imposition of income and excise taxes. Accordingly, a Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

The U.S. Treasury Department has authority to issue regulations that would exclude foreign currency gains from the Qualifying Income Test described above if such gains are not directly related to a Fund’s business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect to stock or securities). Accordingly, regulations may be issued in the future that could treat some or all of a Fund’s non-U.S. currency gains as non-qualifying income, thereby potentially jeopardizing the Fund’s status as a RIC for all years to which the regulations are applicable.

 

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Backup Withholding. A Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold at a rate of 24% and remit to the U.S. Treasury, such withheld amounts on any distributions paid to a shareholder who: (i) has provided the Fund either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all; (ii) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends; (iii) has failed to certify to the Fund that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding; or (iv) has failed to certify to the Fund that the shareholder is a U.S. person (including a resident alien). Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provide the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

 

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, generally, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC such as a Fund are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Any non-U.S. investors in the Funds may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and may be subject to additional reporting obligations and are therefore strongly encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in the Funds. Foreign shareholders (i.e., nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on distributions derived from taxable ordinary income. A Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Short-term capital gain dividends received by a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year are not exempt from this 30% withholding tax. Gains realized by foreign shareholders from the sale or other disposition of shares of a Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Foreign shareholders who fail to provide an applicable IRS form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from a Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described in this paragraph. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.

 

Under legislation generally known as “FATCA” (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), the Funds are required to withhold 30% of certain ordinary dividends they pay to shareholders that fail to meet prescribed information reporting or certification requirements. In general, no such withholding will be required with respect to a U.S. person or non-U.S. person that timely provides the certifications required by a Fund or its agent on a valid IRS Form W-9 or applicable series of IRS Form W-8, respectively. Shareholders potentially subject to withholding include foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”), such as non-U.S. investment funds, and non-financial foreign entities (“NFFEs”). To avoid withholding under FATCA, an FFI generally must enter into an information sharing agreement with the IRS in which it agrees to report certain identifying information (including name, address, and taxpayer identification number) with respect to its U.S. account holders (which, in the case of an entity shareholder, may include its direct and indirect U.S. owners), and an NFFE generally must identify and provide other required information to the Funds or other withholding agent regarding its U.S. owners, if any. Such non-U.S. shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by regulations and other guidance. A non-U.S. shareholder resident or doing business in a country that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement. Each Fund will not pay any additional amounts in respect to any amounts withheld.

 

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A non-U.S. entity that invests in a Fund will need to provide such Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity’s status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding. Non-U.S. investors in the Funds should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, IRAs, salary deferral arrangements, 401(k)s, and other tax-exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Tax-exempt entities are not permitted to offset losses from one trade or business against the income or gain of another trade or business. Certain net losses incurred prior to January 1, 2018 are permitted to offset gain and income created by an unrelated trade or business, if otherwise available. Under current law, the Funds generally serve to block UBTI from being realized by their tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, the tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of an investment in a Fund where, for example: (i) the Fund invests in residual interests of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”); (ii) the Fund invests in a REIT that is a taxable mortgage pool (“TMP”) or that has a subsidiary that is a TMP or that invests in the residual interest of a REMIC; or (iii) shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisor. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult with their tax advisors regarding these issues.

 

A Fund’s shares held in a tax-qualified retirement account will generally not be subject to federal taxation on income and capital gains distributions from the Fund until a shareholder begins receiving payments from their retirement accounts. Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, shareholders should consult their tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Funds.

 

State Taxes. Depending upon state and local law, distributions by the Funds to their shareholders and the ownership of such shares may be subject to state and local taxes. Rules of state and local taxation of dividend and capital gains distributions from RICs often differ from the rules for federal income taxation described above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding state and local taxes applicable to an investment in the Funds. It is expected that a Fund will not be liable for any corporate excise, income or franchise tax in Massachusetts if it qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes.

 

Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. Government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by the Funds. Investment in Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae securities, banker’s acceptances, commercial paper, and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government securities do not generally qualify for such tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders.

 

Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the effect state and local taxes applicable to an investment in the Funds.

 

S-64 

 

BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES

 

Brokerage Transactions. Typically, equity securities, both listed and over the counter, are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Money market securities and other debt securities are usually bought and sold directly from the issuer or an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Generally, the Funds will not pay brokerage commissions for such purchases. When an equity or debt security is bought from an underwriter, the purchase price will usually include an underwriting commission or concession. The purchase price for equity or debt securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealer’s mark up or reflect a dealer’s mark down.

 

In addition, the Adviser may place a combined order for two or more accounts over which it has brokerage discretion, including one or more Funds, engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, the aggregation of trades can be expected to result in an overall economic benefit to the affected accounts, or to obtain efficiencies potentially available on larger transactions. Transactions involving aggregated orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account consistent with the Adviser’s applicable policies and procedures. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or a Fund may obtain, it is the opinion of the Adviser and the Board that the advantages of combined orders generally outweigh the possible disadvantages of combined orders.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Funds paid the following aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions:

 

Fund Aggregate Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions Paid
2021 2022 2023
Opportunity Fund $176,743 $124,227 $99,797
International Equity Fund $564,413 $935,995 $338,871
Small Cap Fund $52,459 $73,168 $43,225
SMID Fund $66,332 $62,042 $44,867

 

Brokerage Selection. The Adviser’s primary objective in executing securities trades for the Funds is to attempt to ensure that the total cost or proceeds associated with the transaction are the most favorable reasonably available under prevailing market conditions, based on considerations including overall investment goals.

 

Some of the qualitative and quantitative considerations that may be relevant in assessing whether best execution is achieved include, among others: (1) in relation to the security: price, size of the order, market depth, available liquidity, recent order flow and other trading characteristics, the availability of accurate information affecting choices as to the most favorable market center or other trading venue for execution, the feasibility of using a traditional broker or an electronic communications network or other alternative trading system (together, “ATS”), and the cost and difficulty of achieving an execution in a particular market center or other trading venue, and (2) in relation to the broker or ATS: amount of commissions or spreads or fees, the value of qualifying research or services provided to the Adviser that generally benefits clients, speed of execution, ability to locate liquidity or natural counterparties, ability to trade in local markets, willingness to commit the broker’s own capital, quality of the sales trader, execution and settlement capabilities, responsiveness, knowledge of the other side of the trade, financial responsibility, and the confidentiality of trading information.

 

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The Trust does not expect to use one particular broker or dealer, and when one or more brokers is believed capable of providing the best combination of price and execution, the Adviser may select a broker based upon brokerage or research services provided to the Adviser. The Adviser may pay a higher commission than otherwise obtainable from other brokers in return for such services only if a good faith determination is made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.

 

Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause the Funds to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting an agency transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer if a good faith determination is made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided by the broker, viewed in terms of either the specific transactions or the Adviser’s overall responsibilities to client accounts. In addition to agency transactions, the Adviser may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). The Adviser’s arrangements in this respect are intended to fall within the “safe harbor” provided under Section 28(e) and applicable SEC and staff guidance. In the case of research services, the Adviser believes that access to independent investment research is beneficial to its investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Funds.

 

To the extent that research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the Adviser might utilize Fund commissions include attendance at investment conferences, access to corporate executives, broker analysts, and economists, furnishing of market letters and reports concerning the state of the economy, economic models, the outlook for particular industries, the prospects of individual companies and portfolio strategy, access to software to assist in post-trade matching and settlement, portfolio management and analysis software, and other research-oriented software. The Adviser may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used in connection with the account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Adviser will be in addition to and not in lieu of the research services required to be performed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. Any advisory or other fees paid to the Adviser are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services obtained in exchange for brokerage.

 

In some cases the Adviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a “research” and a “non-research” use. When this occurs, the Adviser makes a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions, while the Adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the Adviser believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.

 

Commission Sharing Arrangement (“CSA”). The Adviser utilizes Commission Sharing Arrangements (“CSA”) facilitated by one or more executing brokers to obtain research from certain macro research and other firms. Allocations to the firms are determined by the Adviser’s broker-vote process.

 

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For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Funds paid the following commissions through the CSA program:

 

Fund Total Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions for Research Services
(“CSA”)
Total Dollar Amount of Transactions Involving Brokerage Commissions for Research Services (“CSA”)
Opportunity Fund $15,917 $20,430,474
International Equity Fund $20,565 $14,194,124
Small Cap Fund $2,590 $4,457,557
SMID Fund $1,664 $6,825,837

 

Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. The Funds may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Funds or the Adviser for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act and rules promulgated thereunder by the SEC. The 1940 Act requires that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Funds for exchange transactions not exceed “usual and customary” brokerage commissions. The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” The Trustees, including those who are not “interested persons” of the Funds, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Funds paid no brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions effected by affiliated brokers.

 

Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealers.” The Funds are required to identify any securities of their “regular brokers and dealers” that each Fund held during its most recent fiscal year. A Fund’s regular broker-dealers are (i) the ten broker-dealers that received the greatest dollar amount of brokerage commissions from the Fund; (ii) the ten broker-dealers that engaged as principal in the largest dollar amount of portfolio transactions of the Fund; and (iii) the ten broker-dealers that sold the largest dollar amount of Fund shares. During the most recent fiscal year, the Funds held securities of their “regular brokers and dealers” as follows:

 

Fund Name of Issuer Type of Security Amount (000)
Opportunity Fund Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. Equity $9,655
International Equity Fund Barclays PLC Equity $3,829

 

Portfolio Turnover Rates. Portfolio turnover is calculated by dividing the lesser of total purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. Excluded from both the numerator and denominator are amounts relating to securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less. The Funds may at times hold investments in short-term instruments, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023, the portfolio turnover rates for the Funds were as follows:

 

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Fund Portfolio Turnover Rate
2022 2023
Opportunity Fund 46% 51%
International Equity Fund 49% 32%
Small Cap Fund 50% 48%
SMID Fund 34% 38%

 

DISCLOSURE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Board has approved policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances regarding the disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings information to shareholders and third parties. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that disclosure of information regarding the Funds’ portfolio securities is in the best interests of Fund shareholders. These policies and procedures are also designed to address conflicts between the interests of the Funds’ shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Funds, the Adviser, or the principal underwriter, on the other. Pursuant to such procedures, the Board has authorized the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer (“Adviser CCO”) to authorize the release of the Funds’ portfolio holdings, as necessary, in conformity with the foregoing principles. The Adviser CCO, either directly or through reports by the Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer, reports quarterly to the Board regarding the operation and administration of such policies and procedures.

 

Pursuant to applicable law, the Funds are required to disclose their complete portfolio holdings quarterly, within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (currently, each January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31). Each Fund will disclose a complete or summary schedule of investments (which includes the Fund’s 50 largest holdings in unaffiliated issuers and each investment in unaffiliated issuers that exceeds one percent of the Fund’s net asset value (“Summary Schedule”)) in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports which are distributed to Fund shareholders. Each Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the first and third fiscal quarters is available in quarterly holdings reports filed with the SEC as exhibits to Form N-PORT, and each Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the second and fourth fiscal quarters is available in Shareholder Reports filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR.

 

Complete schedules of investments filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR and as exhibits to Form N-PORT are not distributed to Fund shareholders but are available, free of charge, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Should a Fund include only a Summary Schedule rather than a complete schedule of investments in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports, its complete schedule of investments will be available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-777-8227.

 

The Funds generally post a detailed list of their portfolio holdings as of the most recent calendar month end, 30 days after the end of the calendar month. These postings can be found on the internet at https://aicfundholdings.seic.com/ and generally remain until such information is included in a filing on Form N-PORT or Form N-CSR as described above. In addition, each Fund generally posts its ten largest portfolio holdings, and the percentage that each of these holdings represents of the Fund’s total assets, as of the most recent calendar month end, 10 calendar days after the end of the calendar month. The Adviser may exclude any portion of the Funds’ portfolio holdings from such publication when deemed in the best interests of the Funds.

 

In addition to information provided to shareholders and the general public, portfolio holdings information may be disclosed, in some cases as frequently as daily, to the Adviser, Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent, pricing vendors, liquidity analytics vendors, and other vendors that provide the Adviser with various middle office, back office, client reporting and portfolio analytics services in connection with their services to the Funds. Financial printers, class action reclaim vendors and foreign tax reclaim vendors may also periodically receive certain portfolio holdings information. From time to time rating and ranking organizations, such as S&P, Lipper, and Morningstar, Inc., may request non-public portfolio holdings information in connection with rating the Funds. Similarly, institutional investors, financial planners, pension plan sponsors and/or their consultants or other third-parties may request portfolio holdings information in order to assess the risks of a Fund’s portfolio along with related performance attribution statistics.

 

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The Funds’ policies and procedures provide that the Adviser’s CCO may authorize disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information to such parties at differing times and/or with different lag times. Prior to making any disclosure to a third party, the Adviser’s CCO must determine that such disclosure serves a reasonable business purpose, is in the best interests of the Funds’ shareholders and that conflicts between the interests of the Funds’ shareholders and those of the Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Funds are addressed. Complete portfolio holdings information may be disclosed no more frequently than monthly to ratings agencies, consultants and other qualified financial professionals or individuals. The monthly disclosures will not be made sooner than three days after the date of the information.

 

The Adviser currently has arrangements to provide non-public portfolio holdings information of each Fund to FactSet. The Adviser may report the complete portfolio (including security name, ticker, number of shares, current market value and percentage of portfolio), as well as percentage weightings for the top ten holdings. This is generally sent on a quarterly basis, but may vary. The lag time for such disclosures will also vary. Each Fund’s portfolio holdings may be used to create 1) a quarterly profile to educate brokers, or 2) to conduct quarterly due diligence on the Fund. This information is considered confidential and will not be distributed to the public. The Funds believe these disclosures serve a legitimate business purpose. The Funds’ Chief Compliance Officer will regularly review these arrangements and will make periodic reports to the Board regarding disclosure pursuant to such arrangements.

 

With the exception of disclosures to rating and ranking organizations as described above, the Funds require any third party receiving non-public holdings information to enter into a confidentiality agreement with the Funds or the Adviser. The confidentiality agreement provides, among other things, that non-public portfolio holdings information will be kept confidential and that the recipient has a duty not to trade on the non-public information and will use such information solely to analyze and rank the Funds, or to perform due diligence and asset allocation, depending on the recipient of the information.

 

The Funds’ policies and procedures prohibit any compensation or other consideration from being paid to or received by any party in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information, including the Funds, the Adviser and its affiliates or recipients of the Funds’ portfolio holdings information.

 

The Adviser may manage other accounts that are not subject to these policies and procedures with investment objectives and strategies that are substantially similar to those of a Fund. Because the portfolio holdings of such accounts may be substantially similar, and in some cases nearly identical, to those of a Fund, an investor in such an account may be able to infer the portfolio holdings of a Fund from the portfolio holdings of the account.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of funds and shares of each fund. Each share of a fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund with each other share. Shares are entitled upon liquidation to a pro rata share in the net assets of the fund. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees may create additional series or classes of shares. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that fund and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto. Share certificates representing shares will not be issued. Each Fund’s shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

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SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY

 

The Trust is an entity commonly known as a “Massachusetts business trust.” Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the trust. Even if, however, the Trust were held to be a partnership, the possibility of the shareholders incurring financial loss for that reason appears remote because the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees, and because the Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the Trust property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust.

 

LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY

 

The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful defaults and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents, employees or investment advisers, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust, unless it is determined in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. Nothing contained in this section attempts to disclaim a Trustee’s individual liability in any manner inconsistent with the federal securities laws.

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Funds to the Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy voting policies and procedures, which are included in Appendix B to this SAI.

 

The Trust is required to disclose annually the Funds’ complete proxy voting record during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 on Form N-PX. This voting record is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-777-8227; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

CODES OF ETHICS

 

The Board, on behalf of the Trust, has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics (each a “Code of Ethics” and together the “Codes of Ethics”) apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers and certain employees (“access persons”). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by access persons. Under each Code of Ethics, access persons are permitted to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds, but are required to report certain personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. The Codes of Ethics further require certain access persons to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings and limited offerings. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.

 

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5% AND 25% SHAREHOLDERS

 

As of February 6, 2024, the following persons were record owners (or to the knowledge of the Trust, beneficial owners) of 5% or more of any class of the shares of the Funds. The Trust believes that most of the shares referred to below were held by the below persons in accounts for their fiduciary, agency or custodial customers. Persons beneficially owning more than 25% of a Fund’s outstanding shares may be deemed to “control” the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Shareholders controlling a Fund may have a significant impact on any shareholder vote of the Fund.

 

Cambiar Opportunity Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH

INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT

OF ITS CUSTOMERS

4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST

JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484

Institutional Class Shares 22.59%

WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES LLC

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE

EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER

2801 MARKET ST

SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523

Institutional Class Shares 17.63%

MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY

HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER

PLAZA 2 3RD FL

JERSEY CITY NJ 07311

Institutional Class Shares 17.31%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SVCS CORP

FOR EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT

OF OUR CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995

Institutional Class Shares 7.54%

MARIL & CO FBO 8M

C/O RELIANCE TRUST CO WI

4900 WEST BROWN DEER ROAD

MAILCODE: BD1N - ATTN: MF

MILWAUKEE WI 53223-2422

Institutional Class Shares 7.39%

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT FOR THE

EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS OF

UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC

ATTN DEPARTMENT MANAGER

1000 HARBOR BLVD

WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761

Institutional Class Shares 5.86%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SVCS CORP

FOR EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT

OF OUR CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995

Investor Class Shares 39.85%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

REINVEST ACCOUNT

ATTN MUTUAL FUND

101 MONTGOMERY ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151

Investor Class Shares 14.97%

PERSHING LLC

PO BOX 2052

JERSEY CITY NJ 07303-2052

Investor Class Shares 14.02%

 

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Cambiar International Equity Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH

INC FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT

OF ITS CUSTOMERS

4800 DEER LAKE DRIVE EAST

JACKSONVILLE FL 32246-6484

Institutional Class Shares 35.31%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SVCS CORP

FOR EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT

OF OUR CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995

Institutional Class Shares 18.66%

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT FOR THE

EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS OF

UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC

ATTN DEPARTMENT MANAGER

1000 HARBOR BLVD

WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761

Institutional Class Shares 16.96%

MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY

HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER

PLAZA 2 3RD FL

JERSEY CITY NJ 07311

Investor Class Shares 72.38%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SVCS CORP

FOR EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT

OF OUR CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995

Investor Class Shares 8.78%

PERSHING LLC

PO BOX 2052

JERSEY CITY NJ 07303-2052

Investor Class Shares 6.99%

 

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Cambiar Small Cap Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

HOCO

922 WALNUT ST

MAILSTOP TBTS 2

KANSAS CITY MO 64106-1802

Institutional Class Shares 23.53%

WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES LLC

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE

EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER

2801 MARKET ST

SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523

Institutional Class Shares 19.64%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SVCS CORP

FOR EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT

OF OUR CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995

Institutional Class Shares 16.11%

MARIL & CO FBO 8M

C/O RELIANCE TRUST CO WI

4900 WEST BROWN DEER ROAD

MAILCODE: BD1N - ATTN: MF

MILWAUKEE WI 53223-2422

Institutional Class Shares 12.73%

CAPINCO C/O US BANK NA

1555 N RIVERCENTER DR STE 302

MILWAUKEE WI 53212-3958

Institutional Class Shares 9.97%

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT FOR THE

EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS OF

UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC

ATTN DEPARTMENT MANAGER

1000 HARBOR BLVD

WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761

Institutional Class Shares 5.68%

PERSHING LLC

PO BOX 2052

JERSEY CITY NJ 07303-2052

Investor Class Shares 31.28%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SVCS CORP

FOR EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT

OF OUR CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995

Investor Class Shares 13.66%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

ATTN MUTUAL FUND

101 MONTGOMERY ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151

Investor Class Shares 13.18%

WELLS FARGO CLEARING SERVICES LLC

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCT FOR THE

EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMER

2801 MARKET ST

SAINT LOUIS MO 63103-2523

Investor Class Shares 10.33%

ORCHARD TRUST CO TTEE

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS CLIENTS

8515 E ORCHARD RD 2T2

GREENWOOD VILLAGE CO 80111-5002

Investor Class Shares 8.06%

 

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Cambiar SMID Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACCOUNT FOR THE

EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS OF

UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC

ATTN DEPARTMENT MANAGER

1000 HARBOR BLVD

WEEHAWKEN NJ 07086-6761

Institutional Class Shares 24.35%

PERSHING LLC

1 PERSHING PLZ

JERSEY CITY NJ 07399-0001

Institutional Class Shares 14.37%

BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO CUST

FBO BANQUE PICTET & CIE SA OMNI

CLTS FULL WHT REF PNA

CASH

140 BROADWAY

NEW YORK NY 10005-1108

Institutional Class Shares 14.00%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SVCS CORP

FOR EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT

OF OUR CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995

Institutional Class Shares 12.70%

CENTRAL REGISTRATION CO. OF ENID, 1

324 W. BROADWAY

P.O. BOX 3448

ENID OK 73702-3448

Institutional Class Shares 11.08%

LPL FINANCIAL

FBO CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS

ATTN MUTUAL FUND OPERATIONS

4707 EXECUTIVE DR

SAN DIEGO CA 92121-3091

Institutional Class Shares 7.84%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C

FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901

Institutional Class Shares 6.38%

MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY

HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER

PLAZA 2 3RD FL

JERSEY CITY NJ 07311

Investor Class Shares 74.50%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SVCS CORP

FOR EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT

OF OUR CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-1995

Investor Class Shares 12.63%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

ATTN MUTUAL FUND

101 MONTGOMERY ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151

Investor Class Shares 7.94%

 

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APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

 

Description of Ratings

 

The following descriptions of securities ratings have been published by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), respectively.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Ratings

 

Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Long-Term Ratings

 

Aaa Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

Aa Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

A Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

Baa Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

Ba Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

B Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

Caa Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

Ca Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

C Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

A-1

 

Hybrid Indicator (hyb)

 

The hybrid indicator (hyb) is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms. By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Short-Term Ratings

 

P-1 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-2 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-3 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

NP Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Description of Moody’s U.S. Municipal Short-Term Obligation Ratings

 

The Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale is used to rate U.S. municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less. Under certain circumstances, the MIG scale is used to rate bond anticipation notes with maturities of up to five years.

 

Moody’s U.S. municipal short-term obligation ratings are as follows:

 

MIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

MIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

MIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

Description of Moody’s Demand Obligation Ratings

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), Moody’s assigns both a long-term rating and a short-term payment obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer’s ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term payment obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to meet any purchase price payment obligation resulting from optional tenders (“on demand”) and/or mandatory tenders of the VRDO. The short-term payment obligation rating uses the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (“VMIG”) scale. VMIG ratings with liquidity support use as an input the short-term counterparty risk assessment of the support provider, or the long-term rating of the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support. Transitions of VMIG ratings with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions of Prime ratings reflecting the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade. For VRDOs, Moody’s typically assigns a VMIG rating if the frequency of the payment obligation is less than every three years. If the frequency of the payment obligation is less than three years, but the obligation is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the VMIG short-term rating is not assigned and it is denoted as “NR”.

 

A-2

 

Moody’s demand obligation ratings are as follows:

 

VMIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or legal protections.

 

Description of S&P’s Issue Credit Ratings

 

An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term issue credit ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. S&P would typically assign a long-term issue credit rating to an obligation with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. However, the ratings S&P assigns to certain instruments may diverge from these guidelines based on market practices. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

 

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations:

 

The likelihood of payment—the capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitments on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;
The nature and provisions of the financial obligation, and the promise S&P imputes; and
The protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

 

An issue rating is an assessment of default risk but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

 

NR indicates that a rating has not been assigned or is no longer assigned.

 

A-3

 

Description of S&P’s Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings*

 

AAA An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

AA An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.

 

A An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.

 

BBB An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

BB; B; CCC; CC; and C Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.

 

BB An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CCC An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CC An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

C An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.

 

D An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

*Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.

 

A-4

 

Description of S&P’s Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

 

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

 

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

 

A-3 A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

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

 

D A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

Description of S&P’s Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings

 

An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and
Source of payment—the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

S&P’s municipal short-term note ratings are as follows:

 

SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

A-5

 

D ‘D’ is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.

 

Description of Fitch’s Credit Ratings

 

Fitch’s credit ratings relating to issuers are an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Credit ratings relating to securities and obligations of an issuer can include a recovery expectation. Credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.

 

Fitch’s credit rating scale for issuers and issues is expressed using the categories ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’ (investment grade) and ‘BB’ to ‘D’ (speculative grade) with an additional +/- for AA through CCC levels indicating relative differences of probability of default or recovery for issues. The terms “investment grade” and “speculative grade” are market conventions and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the speculative grade categories signal either a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred.

 

Fitch may also disclose issues relating to a rated issuer that are not and have not been rated. Such issues are also denoted as ‘NR’ on its web page.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. Credit ratings do not deal with the risk of market value loss due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and/or other market considerations. However, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay or refinance a financial commitment. Ratings nonetheless do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, in the case of payments linked to performance of an index).

 

In the default components of ratings assigned to individual obligations or instruments, the agency typically rates to the likelihood of non-payment or default in accordance with the terms of that instrument’s documentation. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations (i.e. rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation’s documentation).

 

Description of Fitch’s Long-Term Corporate Finance Obligations Ratings

 

AAA Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

AA Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

A High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

BBB Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

A-6

 

BB Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

B Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

CCC Substantial credit risk. ‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.

 

CC Very high levels of credit risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.

 

C Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. ‘C’ ratings indicate exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Ratings in the categories of ‘CCC’, ‘CC’ and ‘C’ can also relate to obligations or issuers that are in default. In this case, the rating does not opine on default risk but reflects the recovery expectation only.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned ‘RD’ or ‘D’ ratings, but are instead rated in the ‘CCC’ to ‘C’ rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Description of Fitch’s Short-Term Ratings

 

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

 

Fitch’s short-term ratings are as follows:

 

F1 Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

F2 Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

F3 Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

B Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

C High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

 

RD Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

D Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

A-7

 

APPENDIX B - PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES

 

Objective: The objective of Cambiar Investors, LLC’s (“Cambiar” or the “Firm”) proxy voting process is to seek to maximize the long-term investment performance of our client accounts by exercising delegated voting authority over proxies in clients’ best economic interests as determined by Cambiar in good faith after appropriate review. Cambiar will use reasonable best efforts to vote proxies for which it receives ballots in good order and in a timely manner. Where Cambiar has authority to vote proxies on behalf of a client, proxies will be voted or otherwise processed (such as by a decision to abstain from voting or to take no action) consistent with these Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Proxy Voting Policies”).

 

Policy: Under its investment discipline, Cambiar seeks to invest in issuers with management teams that it believes are committed to enhancing shareholder value and serving shareholder interests. Cambiar believes that the management teams of most companies it invests in generally pursue these objectives, and therefore believes that voting proxy proposals in clients’ best economic interests generally equates to voting with the recommendations of company management teams and/or the company’s board of directors.

 

Cambiar’s analysis of a specific proxy proposal can lead it to conclude that a particular management or board recommendation may not be in clients’ best interests. Where appropriate, Cambiar may consider environmental, social, or governance factors in determining whether a proxy proposal is in the best interests of clients. Cambiar may, in its sole discretion, choose to vote against a management or board recommendation based on its analysis, if such action appears more consistent with the best interests of clients.

 

In certain circumstances, such as when a proxy issuer is also a client of Cambiar, a potential material conflict in how the proxies are voted may arise between Cambiar’s interests and the interests of affected clients. In the event there exists a material conflict of interest between Cambiar and the interests of one or more clients in how proxies are voted, Cambiar has adopted procedures that are designed to resolve such conflicts. In such situations, Cambiar will seek to have the shares voted in the client’s best interest, often as recommended by an independent, third-party proxy research provider.

 

Cambiar may abstain from voting or take no action on certain proxy proposals. Instances when this might occur include, but are not limited to, situations where Cambiar has determined that abstaining is in the best interests of clients, proxies issued by companies that Cambiar has decided to sell, proxies issued by companies that Cambiar did not select for a client portfolio, or proxies issued by foreign companies, as described further below.

 

Special challenges may arise in connection with voting proxies for companies organized in foreign countries or subject to foreign securities laws. Certain foreign markets, for example, may require that the securities positions be held or “blocked” for extended periods leading up to (or even following) the meeting. Because foreign markets may impose these or other types of burdensome or expensive voting requirements, Cambiar may choose, in its discretion, to abstain or take no action on these proxies. For certain foreign securities held in depositary receipt form, Cambiar may not have the option to vote proxies as the receipt issuer may not pass through to receipt holders the voting rights of the ordinary shares.

 

B-1

 

Cambiar may use an independent, third-party proxy service provider to assist in the ministerial and administrative aspects of voting proxies, including assisting in preparing ballots and reports, casting votes, maintaining voting records, and disclosing voting information to clients. Cambiar uses reasonable best efforts to periodically reconcile available votes or votes cast by the proxy service provider against shares held in client accounts in an effort to ensure that Cambiar is receiving and voting proxies for those clients and relationships for which it has voting authority.

 

Cambiar maintains records relating to how it votes proxies for client accounts, as well as other records relating to these Proxy Voting Policies, as required by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”). These policies and procedures, as well as a record of how Cambiar votes proxies for client accounts, are available to clients upon request.

 

Background

 

These Proxy Voting Policies are intended to assist the Firm in satisfying its fiduciary obligations to clients. As fiduciaries, investment advisers owe their clients duties of care and loyalty with respect to services undertaken on the client’s behalf, including proxy voting. To satisfy its fiduciary duty in voting proxies, the investment adviser makes proxy voting determinations in the best interests of clients and must not place the investment adviser’s own interests ahead of its clients. Cambiar’s intent throughout these Proxy Voting Policies is to exercise any authority over proxy voting consistent with the agreement reached with the client, in clients’ best interests, and effected in compliance with the proxy voting rule for investment advisers, Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Rule”).

 

The Rule mandates that it is a fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative act, practice or course of business for an investment adviser registered with the SEC to exercise voting authority with respect to client securities unless the adviser, among other things, adopts and implements written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the investment adviser votes proxies in the best interest of clients. Among other measures, the Firm seeks to satisfy its obligations under the Rule by disclosing that voting proxy proposals in clients’ best economic interests generally results in voting with the recommendations of company management teams and/or the company’s board of directors, with certain exceptions described herein. Cambiar seeks to disclose its intention to vote in this manner, consistent with this policy, in its agreements with clients, in periodic transmissions of its policies, and in disclosure documents such as Form ADV, Part 2A or applicable Statements of Additional Information.

 

Proxy Voting Procedures:

 

1.Responsibilities: Cambiar’s Operations Department has primary responsibility for implementing these Proxy Voting Policies. The head of the Operations staff will designate one individual (“Proxy Administrator”) to assume primary responsibility for voting proxies and associated duties. The Proxy Administrator may select other Cambiar employees, including members of the investment and compliance teams, to assist in complying with these policies.

 

Cambiar retains an independent, third-party proxy voting service provider (“proxy service provider”) to assist in recordkeeping, reporting, voting and processing proxies. Cambiar currently uses Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”) and its ProxyEdge voting platform to provide these services. Certain clients’ ballots may be voted using an alternative method (such as a different proxy service provider designated by the client). In some cases, proxies may only be voted using paper ballots, such as when required by certain client custodians or by issuers of foreign ordinary shares. In those cases, Cambiar will use reasonable best efforts to vote those proxies if it is determined to be in clients’ best interests. Further, Cambiar uses reasonable best efforts to periodically reconcile available votes or votes cast by the proxy service provider against shares held in client accounts in an effort to ensure that Cambiar is receiving and voting proxies for those clients and relationships for which it has voting authority.

 

B-2

 

Cambiar also retains an independent, third-party proxy research service (“proxy advisory firm”) to assist in effectuating these policies and procedures, including providing independent proxy voting research. At present, Cambiar uses Glass Lewis & Co. (“Glass Lewis”) for these purposes.

 

In selecting a proxy advisory firm and as a condition for retention of such firm, Cambiar will seek to ensure (or reconfirm) that the firm has the capacity, ability, and independence necessary to provide recommendations in the best interests of Cambiar clients. Factors that Cambiar considers critical to the employment or retention of a proxy advisory firm include the capabilities of the advisory firm’s personnel, its capacity and competency to adequately analyze proxy issues, its methodologies for assessing proxy voting matters, the manner in which it engages (or chooses not to engage) with proxy proponents, its treatment and disclosure of actual and potential conflicts of interest, and its propensity to commit (and correct) errors in its recommendations.

 

Cambiar periodically reevaluates the basis of its continuing relationship with Glass Lewis. Cambiar will review, among other documents and policies, its conflicts of interest disclosures, its approach to how proxies are voted, and other relevant information in seeking to reconfirm that the bases upon which Glass Lewis was originally selected remain intact and that the selection of Glass Lewis continues to be in clients’ best interests. The Firm also reviews any on-going updates or notices transmitted from Glass Lewis that materially modify its approach to proxy voting. In addition, Cambiar will review any disclosures from Glass Lewis, or indications from other sources, of material errors, incompleteness or other problems with that firm’s proxy advice.

 

Cambiar will conduct oversight of third-party research providers that it retains to assist with proxy voting to determine that proxies continue to be voted in clients’ best interests. Cambiar will request that proxy advisory firms update Cambiar regarding relevant business changes (i.e., with respect to the firm’s capacity and competency to provide proxy voting advice) or conflict policies and procedures. Cambiar will use such information to identify and address conflicts that may arise on an ongoing basis.

 

2.Procedures: The Proxy Administrator will review the applicable investment management agreement/client profile for each eligible new account to determine if the client has elected to have Cambiar vote proxies on its behalf.1 If so, the Operations staff will forward to the client the information necessary to register the account on Broadridge’s ProxyEdge voting platform to identify relevant proxy voting data.

 

Upon notification through the proxy service provider or client custodian that a proxy has been issued for a security held in a Cambiar client portfolio, the Proxy Administrator will retrieve and review the applicable research report from the proxy advisory firm. Among other things, the Proxy Administrator will review the report to determine if the proxy advisory firm recommends voting in a manner consistent with the recommendations of company management and/or the company’s board of directors. As discussed above, because Cambiar believes that the issuers it invests in generally attempt to serve shareholder interests, Cambiar generally seeks to vote with the recommendations of management or the board when such recommendation is in clients’ best interests. In the event that the proxy advisory firm recommends voting with management or the board on all ballot measures and Cambiar concurs with the recommendation, the Proxy Administrator will rely on the proxy service provider to vote according to established instructions on the ProxyEdge voting platform.

 

 

1In seeking to exercise its proxy voting authority in clients’ best interests, Cambiar has assessed whether it should adopt different proxy voting policies for different clients or grouping of clients. Because the Firm employs its relative value equity investment approach across all of its clients’ accounts, it does not believe that distinct proxy voting polices/approaches for different clients are warranted.

 

B-3

 

If the proxy advisory firm recommends voting differently from management or the board, as described below in Voting Away from Management, the Proxy Administrator will provide the relevant research materials to a Cambiar portfolio manager or investment analyst. Once the research materials have been reviewed by an appropriate member of the investment team, the team member will provide the Proxy Administrator with instructions as to whether to vote as recommended by the board or management, to vote as recommended by the proxy advisory firm, as applicable, or take some other action, such as a decision to abstain or take no action. The Proxy Administrator will review the vote instructions on the ProxyEdge voting platform to confirm that the correct vote instructions are displayed consistent with investment team member instructions, as needed.

 

Some custodians may require that proxies be voted on paper ballots. In these instances, the paper ballots are reviewed, analyzed, and voted manually, as per procedures similar to those described above.

 

3.Voting Away from Management: In certain circumstances, analysis of proxy proposals could lead Cambiar to the conclusion that certain recommendations of the board or management may not be in clients’ best interests. For example, certain proxy proposals or recommendations by management, the board, shareholders, or other proponents-such as, without limitation, proposals that would affect corporate governance, anti-takeover measures, directors, director qualifications, or compensation programs-could present circumstances in which the management or board recommendation, in Cambiar’s view, may not maximize client interests. Similarly, Cambiar may determine that certain shareholder proposals, including those implicating environmental, social, or governance issues, place the interest of shareholders first, contrary to the conclusions of a corporate board or management team.

 

In these and other circumstances, Cambiar may choose to vote against (or abstain or take no action on) a management or board recommendation. Cambiar uses the proxy advisory firm to assist in identifying ballot measures that may warrant additional analysis. Members of Cambiar’s investment management team also may identify matters in which Cambiar may choose to vote away from management or the board. A decision to vote against a particular management or board recommendation or to otherwise abstain or take no action on a proxy proposal does not necessarily signal a departure from Cambiar’s overall view that management is committed to shareholder interests.

 

The Proxy Administrator provides the research and analysis issued by the proxy advisory firm to the investment team member responsible for following that company if the service recommends voting in a manner inconsistent with a management or board recommendation. The Proxy Administrator will then solicit the views of the portfolio manager or analyst, who will provide a final determination as to whether to vote as recommended by management or the board, to vote as recommended by the proxy advisory firm, as applicable, or take some other action. The Proxy Administrator will update the votes in the system accordingly. In the event the Portfolio Manager/Analyst determines to vote against (or abstain or take no action on) a management or board recommendation, the Proxy Administrator will maintain certain records, as described in Recordkeeping, below.

 

B-4

 

4.Material Conflicts of Interest: In certain circumstances, such as when a proxy issuer is also a client of Cambiar, a potential material conflict in how the proxies are voted may arise between Cambiar’s interests and the interests of affected clients. Cambiar has established certain procedures to be followed when a potential material conflict of interest is identified.

 

Cambiar defines a “material conflict of interest” to mean those circumstances in which Cambiar: (1) knowingly does a material amount of business with a particular proxy issuer or another principal proponent of a proxy proposal; (2) does a material amount of business with an entity closely affiliated with the proxy issuer or other principal proponent of a proposal; or (3) may appear to have a significant conflict of interest between its own interests and the interests of clients. Cambiar generally considers proxies issued by publicly-traded institutional investor clients (or their affiliates) that sponsor wrap arrangements or maintain separate accounts with Cambiar as potentially presenting material conflicts of interest. Cambiar also considers significant service providers to Cambiar as potentially presenting material conflicts of interest.

 

Cambiar does not consider the beneficial ownership of SMA/UMA/Model wrap accounts for which it maintains proxy voting authority to present potential material conflicts of interest because: (1) it considers Cambiar’s primary relationship to be with the wrap account sponsor, rather than the underlying account; (2) such accounts are less likely to be materially significant; and (3) in many instances wrap account sponsors do not provide Cambiar with information necessary to identify or evaluate the owner or a potential conflict of interest.

 

The Proxy Administrator will seek to maintain (and periodically review and update) a spreadsheet listing each entity or person identified by Cambiar as potentially presenting a material conflict of interest with respect to voting proxies. In addition to large institutional clients that sponsor wrap arrangements or maintain separate accounts, Cambiar will include individuals identified to Cambiar as officers or board members of public companies, significant service providers to Cambiar or its affiliates, and other entities and individuals deemed to present potential material conflicts of interest.

 

Upon receipt of an issuer’s proxy ballot, the Proxy Administrator will review the spreadsheet in an effort to identify potential material conflicts of interest. In the event that a material conflict of interest is identified with respect to one or more ballot measures, Cambiar will seek to vote the proxies as recommended by the proxy advisory firm, will “echo” or “mirror” vote those shares in the same proportion as other votes, will seek guidance from affected clients, or will abstain or take no action on that ballot. To the extent that conflicts of interest dictate that it defer to the proxy advisory firm, Cambiar believes that it is voting in clients’ best interest since Cambiar’s selection of the advisory firm itself was determined to be in the best interests of clients. The Proxy Administrator will document instances in which material conflicts of interest are identified and addressed, as described in Recordkeeping, below.

 

5.Voting in Foreign Markets: Corporate governance standards, disclosure requirements, and the mechanics of voting proxies in foreign markets can vary greatly from U.S. markets. Certain foreign markets impose unduly burdensome or expensive proxy voting requirements on equity holders, including “share-blocking” requirements that require that the foreign securities be held for designated periods of time leading up to, and sometimes following, the meeting. In other jurisdictions, ballots may not be cast if a current and valid power of attorney between the client and the custodian is not in place. Other jurisdictions require that shares be re-registered out of street name and into the name of the beneficial owner in order to vote; an action that typically must be followed by re-registering the shares back into street name.

 

B-5

 

Foreign proxies may raise other issues as well. For example, ballots cast for foreign proxies may be voted, but not counted, due to foreign voting requirements or other limitations. In some jurisdictions, ballots for foreign securities held in omnibus accounts for multiple clients may be voted in an unexpected manner if the custodian receives different voting instructions from its customers and cannot split votes.

 

Because some foreign markets impose these and other hurdles to casting proxy ballots, in some instances the costs of voting proxies, monetary or otherwise, may outweigh the benefits of doing so. Cambiar may, in its discretion, choose to abstain or take no action on foreign proxies if it determines, in its own reasonable discretion, that these burdens and costs outweigh the potential benefits to clients. The Proxy Administrator will document proxy voting for foreign issuers, as described in Recordkeeping, below.

 

6.Abstaining or Taking No Action/Closed Accounts: Cambiar will use reasonable best efforts to vote proxies for which Cambiar receives ballots in good order and with timely notice. Such proxies will be voted or otherwise processed as intended under this Proxy Voting Policy when consistent with clients’ best interests.

 

On occasion, Cambiar may be unable to vote or otherwise process certain proxy ballots. For example, proxies that are not received or processed in a timely manner due to functional limitations of the proxy voting system, proxies relating to securities that are out for loan under securities lending programs, custodial limitations, factors relating to voting proxies for foreign securities or interests, or other factors beyond Cambiar’s control may compromise the ability to vote such proxies. In certain instances, Cambiar may not vote a proxy in instances in which voting would not reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the value of the client’s investment.

 

In the event that a client account closes, Cambiar will attempt, within a reasonable period, to contact the proxy service provider or custodian, as applicable, to request that proxy information for that client no longer be forwarded to Cambiar and that Cambiar be removed from the client’s proxy voting designation. As a result of complexities and limitations within the proxy voting process and the systems of proxy service providers and custodians, however, Cambiar may vote proxies for clients whose accounts close after the record date.

 

7.Voting by Client: Clients may elect to vote proxies for their own account as an alternative to directing Cambiar to do so. Cambiar recommends this approach if a client believes that proxies should be voted based on religious, political or social interests or other client-specific considerations that may take precedence over other considerations, e.g., maximizing shareholder value. Cambiar generally cannot implement client proxy voting guidelines that do not delegate full discretion to Cambiar, or that are not fully consistent with this Proxy Voting Policy. Cambiar does not accept direction from clients in voting individual proxy ballot measures. In its discretion and on a limited basis, Cambiar may agree to a client request to vote proxies according to a specific set of guidelines promulgated by an independent third-party proxy service.

 

8.Reconciliation: As part of Cambiar’s compliance with the Rule, the Proxy Administrator, with assistance from Cambiar’s Compliance department, will use reasonable best efforts to periodically reconcile available votes or votes cast on Broadridge’s ProxyEdge system (and on ballots received or voted outside of the system) against shares held in client accounts in an effort to confirm that Cambiar is receiving and voting proxies for clients and relationships for which it has voting authority, and that proxies are voted in the manner directed by Cambiar. Furthermore, the Proxy Administrator will periodically sample proxy votes, including those voted away from management or the board or had resulted in Cambiar abstaining or taking no action, to review whether they complied with these policies and procedures.

 

B-6

 

9.Recordkeeping: Pursuant to Rule 204-2(c)(2), Cambiar shall maintain the following records: (1) copies of all proxy voting policies and procedures; (2) copies of proxy statements received for client securities; (3) a record of each domestic and foreign proxy vote cast on behalf of clients; (4) documents prepared by Cambiar that are material to making certain proxy voting decisions, including research provided by a proxy advisory firm; (5) written client requests for proxy voting information regarding client accounts; and (6) written responses to written or oral requests for proxy information. Cambiar may keep such records on Broadridge’s ProxyEdge platform or a similar electronic system maintained by a proxy service provider or advisory firm. For records maintained by third-parties, Cambiar will obtain an undertaking from the third-party provider that such records are available promptly upon request. Cambiar may also rely on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR system to keep records of certain proxy statements issued by companies. Proxy-related records will be maintained in an easily accessible place for at least five years (and at an appropriate office of Cambiar or its service provider for the first two years).

 

The Proxy Administrator will document instances in which it identifies a material conflict of interest, as well as the analysis for resolving the particular conflict. Further, the Proxy Administrator will document certain non-routine proxy voting issues, including the basis for decisions to vote against a management or board recommendation or any decision to abstain or take no action on a proxy that is intended to demonstrate divergence from a management or board recommendation.

 

Other than as required by Rule 204-2(c)(2), Cambiar will not document other, more routine matters, including, but not limited to: (1) a decision not to vote or otherwise process proxies that were not received in good order or in a timely fashion, or otherwise not processed for reasons beyond Cambiar’s control; or (2) when it determines to abstain or take no action in the following circumstances: (i) when foreign issuers impose burdensome, unreasonable, or expensive requirements on voting proxies; (ii) when the foreign jurisdiction does not allow vote splitting; (iii) when Cambiar has sold or determined to sell a security; (iv) when Cambiar did not select the securities for the client portfolio (such as securities that were selected by the client or a previous adviser, unsupervised securities held in a client account, money market securities); and (v) when the client account has closed.

 

10. Information: Copies of these policies and procedures can be obtained free of charge by:

 

>calling Cambiar toll-free at 888-673-9950
>writing to Cambiar at: 200 Columbine Street #800, Denver, CO 80206
>visiting the Cambiar website at http://www.cambiar.com

 

Cambiar clients may obtain proxy voting records for their accounts free of charge by:

 

>calling Cambiar toll-free at 888-673-9950
>writing to Cambiar at: 200 Columbine Street #800, Denver, CO 80206
>for Cambiar Fund shareholders, by visiting our website at http://www.cambiar.com (typically the Cambiar Funds’ proxy voting records are

available by August 31 each year for the previous 12 month period ended June 30)

 

B-7

 

* * *

Cambiar’s Chief Compliance Officer will review the adequacy of these policies and procedures at least annually to determine whether they have been implemented effectively, including whether the policies and procedures continue to be reasonably designed to vote proxies in the best interests of clients. Any amendments to this policy require the written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer.

 

Approved by: Christine Simon

 

Title: Chief Compliance Officer

 

Effective Date: March 31, 2015

 

Approved by: Christine Simon

 

Title: Chief Compliance Officer

 

Effective Date: February 10, 2020

 

B-8

 

Prospectus

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

March 1, 2024

 

 

Cambiar Aggressive Value ETF

 

Principal Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”)
Ticker Symbol: CAMX

 

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

 

 

Investing With The Courage Of Our Convictions®

 

 

 

Table of Contents

 

   

Cambiar Aggressive Value ETF

1

Fund Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategies

2

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund

4

Performance Information

8

Investment Adviser

9

Fund Management

9

Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares

10

Tax Information

10

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

10

Investing with the Fund

11

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

11

Account Policies

12

Additional Information about the Fund

19

Other Investment Practices and Risks

19

Investment Management

25

Payments by the Fund or the Adviser to Financial Intermediaries

26

Additional Information

28

Financial Highlights

30

 

 

 

CAMX Cambiar Aggressive Value ETF Shares

Cambiar Aggressive Value ETF

 

Fund Investment Objective

 

 

The Cambiar Aggressive Value ETF (the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees, including to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and Example below.

 

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

 

   

Management Fees

0.59%

Other Expenses

0.00%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

0.59%

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain at current levels. This example does not include the brokerage commissions that investors may pay to buy and sell shares. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

$60

$189

$329

$738

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as brokerage commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected

 

1

 

 

 

in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 70% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund primarily invests in equity securities of companies located in the United States. The equity securities in which the Fund invests are primarily common stocks and the Fund, while typically focusing on large capitalization U.S. investments, is generally unconstrained by market capitalization or sector. The Fund typically invests in a portfolio of 20-30 issuers that Cambiar Investors, LLC (“Cambiar” or the “Adviser”), the Fund’s investment adviser, believes represent the best opportunities for long-term capital appreciation. Due to the focused nature of the Fund’s investment strategy, the Fund is considered to be non-diversified, and may invest a significant portion of its assets in a relatively small number of securities.

 

The Fund expects to invest a portion of its assets in the equity securities of foreign companies. The Fund may consider a company to be a “foreign company” if: (i) 50% of the company’s assets are located outside of the United States; or (ii) 50% of the company’s revenues are generated outside of the United States; or (iii) the company is domiciled or doing a substantial amount of business outside of the United States. The Fund may invest in securities of companies in “emerging market” countries and is generally unconstrained by any particular country or region. The Fund may purchase American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), rather than foreign shares that are traded on foreign exchanges, because the ADRs have greater liquidity or for other reasons.

 

The Fund’s investments may occasionally include derivative instruments and short positions. Derivative instruments may be used to hedge against the risk of unfavorable price movements in the underlying instruments, to increase long exposure to underlying instruments, to provide short exposure, to manage cash flows or currency exposure, or other purposes. Short positions may be used either to hedge long positions or to seek positive returns in instances where the Adviser believes a security’s price will decline.

 

In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser uses a fundamental, relative value investment approach to build a focused portfolio of companies. Companies entering the portfolio generally need to satisfy Cambiar’s criteria on four levels: quality, valuation, value creation/catalyst, and risk-reward criteria:

 

Quality – Cambiar’s analysts seek companies that are best-of-breed operators within their industries. Eligible businesses for the portfolio are evaluated based on the following characteristics:

 

2

 

 

 

 

Management – Management teams should have a track record of success that has benefitted not just public shareholders such as the Fund, but a wide range of stakeholders, e.g., employees, customers, suppliers.

 

 

Consistent margins – Companies with above average and consistent margins suggest a relatively high value-add product or service and defensible market position.

 

 

Return on invested capital (“ROIC”) – Demonstrates a pattern of value creation and capital discipline.

 

 

Low leverage – Companies with strong balance sheets do not need to depend on the vagaries of the debt and/or equity markets to sustain their businesses.

 

 

Free cash flow (“FCF”) – We view FCF to be a better measure of economic value creation versus alternative metrics such as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”) or earnings per share (“EPS”) because Cambiar believes that FCF is less subject to manipulation.

 

Valuation – Cambiar evaluates broadly accepted and recognized financial measures in gauging valuation. An underlying premise of the Cambiar philosophy is that certain industries tend to follow certain valuation ranges; the market does not randomly value stocks. Our preference is to invest in companies that are trading at a reasonable valuation relative to their historical trading range. The Cambiar team will use a variety of metrics in gauging valuation; examples include Price/Earnings, Price/Book Value and FCF Yield.

 

Value Creation/Catalyst – Cambiar’s research process also seeks to identify some form of fundamental positive development(s) that we believe the market is overlooking / underappreciating. Such catalysts may come in varying forms – examples include new product introductions, managerial changes, divestiture of an underperforming division, or simply better financial performance. Valuation, in and of itself, is not a catalyst – there must be some identifiable event that we believe will cause investors to positively reassess the business.

 

Risk-Reward Criteria – The final criteria is the investment team’s assessment of the issuer’s upside potential: companies entering the portfolio should possess an attractive total return potential that includes both price appreciation and dividends (if applicable) over a forward 1- to 2-year timeframe. While Cambiar may not achieve this return target over the desired timeframe – or at all – the return requirement is intended to channel research efforts toward those situations that appear to offer the most compelling risk/return tradeoffs.

 

3

 

 

 

The Adviser constructs the Fund’s portfolio on a security-by-security basis, with the goal of building a portfolio that strikes a balance between the Adviser’s conviction in an investment and portfolio diversification. The Adviser seeks to manage the Fund’s risk through its research process as well as limits on individual position sizes and allocations to an economic sector or individual country.

 

The Adviser will consider liquidating or reducing its investment in a company if: (a) the investment thesis is realized and the stock reaches its price target, (b) the stock price increases disproportionately relative to actual company developments, (c) any applicable position size, country or sector limits are reached, or (d) there is a negative change in fundamentals, or the investment thesis fails to develop as expected. The Adviser will not sell a stock simply because of a decline in price, and may add to the position if the investment thesis remains intact.

 

To the extent the Fund invests in derivatives, those instruments will primarily be intended to hedge against the risk of unfavorable price movements in the underlying instruments, to increase long exposure to underlying instruments, to provide short exposure, to manage cash flows or currency exposure, or for other purposes.

 

Principal Risks of Investing in the Fund

 

 

As with all funds, a shareholder is subject to the risk that his or her investment could lose money. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any other government agency. You should consider your investment goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance before investing in the Fund. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Equity Risk – Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices may fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate significantly from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies, and hence, the Fund, may suffer a decline in response. Portfolio securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

Market Risk – A number of factors can affect financial markets generally, which in turn, can impact the value of the Fund’s investments. Economic considerations such as GDP growth, inflation, interest rates, monetary and fiscal policy, barriers to capital formation and reinvestment, market instability, and budgetary deficits are key considerations in how overall markets perform. Political factors, including elections and political instability and unrest, foreign or domestic, can affect the extent to which investors choose to participate in financial markets. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and

 

4

 

 

 

sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseeable ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

Value Investing Risk – The Fund pursues a “value” style of investing. Value investing focuses on companies whose stock appears undervalued in light of factors such as the company’s earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow. If the Adviser’s assessment of market conditions, or a company’s value or prospects for meeting or exceeding earnings expectations is inaccurate, the Fund could suffer losses or produce poor performance relative to other funds or market benchmarks. In addition, “value stocks” can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time, and may never achieve the Adviser’s expected valuation.

 

ETF Risks – The Fund is an exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) and, as a result of this structure, it is exposed to the following risks:

 

 

Trading Risk – Shares of the Fund may trade on the Exchange above (premium) or below (discount) their net asset value (“NAV”). In stressed market conditions, the market for Fund shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for the Fund’s underlying portfolio holdings, which may increase the variance between the market price of the Fund shares and the value of its underlying holdings. In addition, although the Fund’s shares are currently listed on the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for Fund shares will develop or be maintained. Trading in Fund shares may be halted due to market conditions or for reasons that, in the view of the Exchange, make trading in shares of the Fund inadvisable.

 

 

Limited Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Risk – As the Fund is an ETF, only a limited number of institutional investors (known as “Authorized Participants”) are authorized to purchase and redeem shares directly from the Fund. Retail investors cannot transact directly with the Fund. In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace to transact in Fund shares. As a result of these and other considerations, Fund shares may trade at a material discount to NAV. In addition, the Fund may face possible delisting if: (i) Authorized Participants exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other Authorized Participants step forward to perform these services, or (ii) market makers and/or liquidity providers exit the business or significantly reduce their business activities and no other entities step forward to perform their functions.

 

Non-Diversification Risk – The Fund is non-diversified, which means that it may invest in the securities of fewer issuers than a diversified fund. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to a single adverse corporate, economic or political occurrence affecting one or more of these issuers, and may experience increased volatility due to its investments in those securities.

 

5

 

 

 

Large-Capitalization Company Risk – The large capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may lag the performance of smaller capitalization companies because large capitalization companies may experience slower rates of growth than smaller capitalization companies and may not respond as quickly to market changes and opportunities.

 

Foreign Company Risk – Because the Fund can invest in foreign securities, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and securities denominated in foreign currencies, it will be subject to certain risks not typically associated with domestic securities. ADRs and other depositary receipts are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies, and are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. Foreign investments, especially investments in emerging markets, can be riskier and more volatile than investments in the United States, because of, among other things, unstable political and economic conditions, sovereign solvency considerations, and less developed and more thinly-traded securities markets. Adverse political and economic developments or changes in the value of foreign currency can make it more difficult for the Fund to sell its securities and could reduce the value of your investment in the Fund.

 

Securities of foreign companies may not be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and foreign companies are generally not subject to the types of regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is often less publicly available information about foreign companies than is available about domestic companies. Income from foreign securities owned by the Fund are often reduced by a withholding tax at the source, which reduces income received from the securities comprising the Fund’s portfolio. Foreign securities may also be more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers. In addition, periodic U.S. government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may require the Fund to sell such investments at inopportune times, which could result in losses to the Fund.

 

Emerging Markets Risk – Investments in emerging markets securities are considered speculative and subject to heightened risks in addition to the general risks of investing in foreign securities. Unlike more established markets, emerging markets may have governments that are less stable, markets that are less liquid and economies that are less developed. In addition, the securities markets of emerging market countries may consist of companies with smaller market capitalizations and may suffer periods of relative illiquidity, significant price volatility, restrictions on foreign investment, and possible restrictions on repatriation of investment income and capital. Furthermore, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales, and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies.

 

6

 

 

 

Foreign Currency Risk – Fund investments in foreign currencies and securities denominated in foreign currencies are subject to currency risk. As a result, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies can change significantly when foreign currencies strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. dollar. ADRs indirectly bear currency risk because they represent an interest in securities that are not denominated in U.S. dollars. The value of the Fund’s assets measured in U.S. dollars can also be affected by exchange control regulations. The Fund will generally incur transaction costs in connection with conversions between various currencies which will negatively impact performance.

 

Derivatives Risk – The Fund’s use of derivatives, including options and swaps, is subject to market risk, leverage risk, correlation risk, liquidity risk, counterparty risk, valuation risk and hedging risk. Market risk is the risk that the market value of an investment may move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Leverage risk is the risk that the use of leverage may amplify the effects of market volatility on the Fund’s share price and may also cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations. Correlation risk is the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate closely or at all with the underlying asset, rate or index. Liquidity risk is the risk that the derivative may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and at the price that the Fund would like, which may result in the Fund accepting a lower price to sell the derivative, selling other assets to raise cash or giving up another investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund’s management or performance. Counterparty risk is the risk that the counterparty to a derivative contract will default or otherwise fail to honor its financial obligation. Valuation risk is the risk that the derivative may be difficult to value. Hedging risk is the risk that derivatives instruments used for hedging purposes may not be effective in hedging the intended risk, may not be in place at the appropriate time to hedge the intended risk or may limit any potential gain that may result from the increase in value of the hedged asset. Each of these risks could cause the Fund to lose more than the principal amount invested in a derivative instrument.

 

Short Sales Risk – The Fund may seek to increase returns and reduce risk by using short sales or financial derivatives such as options. Short sales will cause the Fund to lose money if the value of a security sold short rises. When the Fund sells securities “short,” the Fund may be subject to substantially higher risks and greater volatility. Because the market price of the security sold short could increase without limit, the Fund could be subject to a theoretically unlimited loss, although the Fund may be able to limit any such losses by purchasing the security sold short, albeit at a higher price. Short sales can also be used as a hedge and therefore lower the overall risk of the Fund. In addition, the use of short sales may cause the Fund to have higher expenses (especially interest on borrowings and dividend expenses) than those of other equity funds that do not engage in short sales.

 

7

 

 

 

Performance Information

 

 

Prior to commencing operations, the Fund acquired the assets and liabilities of the Cambiar Aggressive Value Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”), the Fund’s predecessor fund (the “Reorganization”). After being approved by shareholders of the Predecessor Fund, the Reorganization became effective on February 13, 2023. As a result of the Reorganization, shareholders of the Predecessor Fund received shares of the Fund, and the Fund assumed the performance and accounting history of the Predecessor Fund. Accordingly, the performance shown below for periods prior to the Reorganization represents the performance of the Predecessor Fund. The Predecessor Fund had the same investment objective and similar investment policies, guidelines and restrictions as those of the Fund. The principal differences between the Fund’s investment policies, guidelines and restrictions and those of the Predecessor Fund are that (i) the Fund invests in large capitalization domestic securities to a greater extent than the Predecessor Fund invested and (ii) the Fund invests in derivative instruments and short sales to a lesser extent than the Predecessor Fund invested.

 

The Predecessor Fund’s returns in the bar chart and table reflect the Predecessor Fund’s expenses but have not been adjusted to reflect the Fund’s expenses. If the Predecessor Fund’s performance information had been adjusted to reflect the Fund’s expenses, the performance may have been higher or lower for a given period depending on the expenses incurred by the Predecessor Fund for that period. Additionally, if the Predecessor Fund had operated as an ETF, its performance may have differed.

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the combined performance of the Fund and the Predecessor Fund from year to year for the past 10 years, and by showing how the average annual total returns of the Fund and the Predecessor Fund for 1, 5 and 10 years and since inception compare with those of measures of domestic and international market performance. Of course, the Fund’s and the Predecessor Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

Updated performance information is available at www.cambiar.com or by calling 1-866-777-8227.

 

 

 

8

 

 

 

During the periods shown in the chart, the Fund’s or Predecessor Fund’s, as applicable, highest return for a quarter was 22.11% (quarter ended 6/30/2020) and the lowest return for a quarter was (31.93)% (quarter ended 3/31/2020).

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the average annual total returns of the Fund and Predecessor Fund for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of the Russell 1000 Value Index and MSCI World Index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”).

 

 

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since
Inception
(08/31/07)

Fund Returns Before Taxes

20.33%

12.17%

5.34%

7.29%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

20.17%

12.00%

5.17%

6.95%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

12.15%

9.71%

4.22%

5.94%

Russell 1000 Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

11.46%

10.91%

8.40%

6.83%

MSCI World Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

23.79%

12.80%

8.60%

6.47%

 

Russell 1000 Value Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

MSCI World Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

 

Investment Adviser

 

 

Cambiar Investors, LLC

 

Fund Management

 

 

The Fund is managed by the Adviser’s global investment team. This team includes:

 

Brian M. Barish, CFA, President, Chief Investment Officer, joined the Adviser in 1997 and has managed the Fund since its inception in 2023 and managed the Predecessor Fund since its inception 2007.

 

9

 

 

 

Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares

 

 

The Fund issues shares to (or redeems shares from) certain institutional investors known as “Authorized Participants” (typically market makers or other broker-dealers) only in large blocks of shares known as “Creation Units.” Creation Unit transactions are conducted in exchange for the deposit or delivery of a portfolio of in-kind securities designated by the Fund and/or cash.

 

Individual shares of the Fund may only be purchased and sold on the Exchange, other national securities exchanges, electronic crossing networks and other alternative trading systems through a broker-dealer at market prices. Because Fund shares trade at market prices rather than at NAV, Fund shares may trade at a price greater than NAV (premium) or less than NAV (discount). When buying or selling shares in the secondary market, you may incur costs attributable to the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay to purchase shares of the Fund (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for shares of the Fund (ask) (the “bid-ask spread”). Recent information regarding the Fund’s NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at www.cambiar.com/etf/camx/.

 

Tax Information

 

 

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as qualified dividend income, ordinary income or capital gains if you are not investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distribution will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

 

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

 

10

 

 

 

Investing with the Fund

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

 

Shares of the Fund are listed for trading on the Exchange. When you buy or sell the Fund’s shares on the secondary market, you will pay or receive the market price for those shares. You may incur customary brokerage commissions and charges and may pay some or all of the spread between the bid and the ask price in the secondary market on each leg of a round trip (purchase and sale) transaction. The shares of the Fund will trade on the Exchange at prices that may differ to varying degrees from the daily NAV of such shares. A business day with respect to the Fund is any day on which the Exchange is open for business. The Exchange is generally open Monday through Friday and is closed on weekends and the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

 

The Fund’s NAV is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding. NAV is determined each business day, normally as of the close of regular trading of the New York Stock Exchange (ordinarily 4:00 p.m., Eastern time).

 

In calculating NAV, the Fund generally values its investment portfolio at each constituent investment’s market price. If market prices are not readily available or they are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after its relevant market closes but before the Fund’s daily NAV calculation, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of factors, is subjective in nature, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

With respect to foreign securities held by the Fund, the Adviser may take factors influencing specific markets or issuers into consideration in determining the fair value of a foreign security. International securities markets may be open on days when the U.S. markets are closed. In such cases, the value of any international

 

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securities owned by the Fund may be significantly affected on days when investors cannot buy or sell Fund shares. In addition, due to the difference in times between the close of certain international markets and the time as of which the Fund prices its shares, as well as the fact that foreign markets and exchanges may be closed on days when the Fund is open for business, the values assigned to securities may not be the same as the closing, quoted or published prices of those securities on their primary markets or exchanges. In determining fair value prices, the Adviser may consider the performance of the securities on their primary exchanges, foreign currency appreciation/depreciation, securities market movements in the United States, or other relevant information.

 

There may be limited circumstances in which the Adviser would fair value price securities of U.S. companies that trade on U.S. exchanges – for example, if the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closed early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume for meaningful trading prior to the time the Fund calculated its NAV.

 

When valuing fixed income securities with remaining maturities of more than 60 days, the Adviser may use the value of the security provided by pricing services. The values provided by a pricing service may be based upon market quotations for the same security if a quotation is readily available, or may be based upon the values of securities expected to trade in a similar manner or a pricing matrix. When valuing fixed income securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less, the Adviser may use the security’s amortized cost. Amortized cost and the use of a pricing matrix in valuing fixed income securities are forms of fair value pricing.

 

Other assets for which market quotations are not readily available will be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

You may obtain the current NAV of the Fund by calling 1-866-777-8227 or on the Fund’s website at www.cambiar.com/etf/camx/.

 

Account Policies

 

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund does not impose any restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions of Creation Units; however, the Fund reserves the right to reject or limit purchases by Authorized Participants at any time as described in the SAI. When considering whether such a restriction or policy was necessary, the Board evaluated the risks posed by arbitrage and market timing activities, such as whether frequent purchases and redemptions would interfere with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategy, or whether they would cause the Fund to experience increased transaction costs. The Board considered that, unlike traditional mutual funds, shares of the Fund are issued and redeemed only

 

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in large quantities of shares known as Creation Units available only from the Fund directly to Authorized Participants, and that most trading in Fund shares occurs on the Exchange at prevailing market prices and does not involve the Fund directly. Given this structure, the Board determined that it is unlikely that trading due to arbitrage opportunities or market timing by shareholders would result in negative impact to the Fund or its shareholders. In fact, some degree of trading of the Fund’s shares by Authorized Participants and arbitrageurs is beneficial and critical to ensuring that the Fund’s market prices remain at or close to NAV.

 

Fund Distributions

 

Normally, the Fund distributes its net investment income and its net capital gains, if any, at least once a year. If you own Fund shares on the Fund’s record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.

 

Dividend Reinvestment Service

 

Brokers may make available to their customers who own shares of the Fund the Depository Trust Company’s book-entry dividend reinvestment service. If this service is available and used, dividend distributions of both income and capital gains will automatically be reinvested in additional whole shares of the Fund purchased on the secondary market. Without this service, investors will receive their distributions in cash. To determine whether the dividend reinvestment service is available and whether there is a commission or other charge for using this service, consult your broker. Brokers may require the Fund’s shareholders to adhere to specific procedures and timetables if they participate in the dividend reinvestment service.

 

Tax Information

 

The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax issues that affect the Fund and its shareholders. The summary is based on current tax laws, which may be changed by legislative, judicial or administrative action. You should not consider this summary to be a comprehensive explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund, or the tax consequences of an investment in the Fund. Your investment in the Fund may have other tax implications. More information about taxes is located in the SAI.

 

You are urged to consult your tax adviser regarding specific questions as to federal, state and local income taxes.

 

Tax Status of the Fund

 

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for the special tax treatment afforded to a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). If the Fund maintains its qualification as a RIC and meets certain minimum distribution requirements,

 

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then the Fund is generally not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, if the Fund fails to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements it would result (if certain relief provisions are not available) in fund-level taxation and consequently a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

Unless you are a tax-exempt entity or your investment in Fund shares is made through a tax-deferred retirement account, such as an IRA, you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when the Fund makes distributions, you sell Fund shares, and you purchase or redeem Creation Units (Authorized Participants only).

 

Tax Status of Distributions

 

 

The Fund intends to distribute, at least annually, substantially all of its net investment income and net capital gains income.

 

 

Dividends and distributions are generally taxable to you whether you receive them in cash or reinvest them in additional shares.

 

 

The income dividends you receive from the Fund may be taxed as either ordinary income or “qualified dividend income.” Dividends that are reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income are generally taxable to non-corporate shareholders at a maximum tax rate currently set at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). “Qualified dividend income” generally is income derived from dividends paid to the Fund by U.S. corporations or certain foreign corporations that are either incorporated in a U.S. possession or eligible for tax benefits under certain U.S. income tax treaties. In addition, dividends that the Fund receives in respect of stock of certain foreign corporations may be qualified dividend income if that stock is readily tradable on an established U.S. securities market. For such dividends to be taxed as qualified dividend income to a non-corporate shareholder, the Fund must satisfy certain holding period requirements with respect to the underlying stock and the non-corporate shareholder must satisfy holding period requirements with respect to his or her ownership of the Fund’s shares. Holding periods may be suspended for these purposes for stock that is hedged. Distributions that the Fund receives from an underlying fund taxable as a RIC will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such underlying fund. Certain of the Fund’s investment strategies may limit its ability to make distributions eligible for treatment as qualified dividend income or entitled to the dividends received deduction.

 

 

Taxes on distributions of capital gains (if any) are determined by how long the Fund owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned its shares. Sales of assets held by the Fund for more than one year generally result in long-term capital gains and losses, and sales

 

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of assets held by the Fund for one year or less generally result in short-term capital gains and losses. Distributions from the Fund’s net capital gain (the excess of the Fund’s net long-term capital gains over its net short-term capital losses) are taxable as long-term capital gains regardless of how long you have owned your shares. For non-corporate shareholders, long-term capital gains are generally taxable at a maximum tax rate currently set at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Distributions from the Fund’s short-term capital gains are generally taxable as ordinary income.

 

 

Corporate shareholders may be entitled to a dividends received deduction for the portion of dividends they receive from the Fund that are attributable to dividends received by the Fund from U.S. corporations, subject to certain limitations. Certain of the Fund’s investment strategies may limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

 

In general, Fund distributions are subject to federal income tax for the year in which they are paid. However, distributions paid in January but declared by the Fund to shareholders of record in October, November or December of the previous year will be treated as having been received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which declared, and thus may be taxable to you in the previous year.

 

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

 

The Fund (or your broker) will inform you of the amount and character of any distributions shortly after the close of each calendar year.

 

Tax Status of Share Transactions

 

Each sale of Fund shares or redemption of Creation Units will generally be a taxable event. Assuming a shareholder holds Fund shares as a capital asset, any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Fund shares is generally treated as a long-term gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months. Any capital gain or loss realized upon a sale of Fund shares held for twelve months or less is generally treated as short-term capital gain or loss. Any capital loss on the sale of shares held for six months or less is treated as long-term capital loss to the extent distributions of long-term capital gain were paid (or treated as paid) with respect to such shares. Any loss realized on a sale will be disallowed

 

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to the extent shares of the Fund are acquired, including through reinvestment of dividends, within a 61-day period beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of shares. The ability to deduct capital losses may be limited.

 

The cost basis of shares of the Fund acquired by purchase will generally be based on the amount paid for the shares and then may be subsequently adjusted for other applicable transactions as required by the Code. The difference between the selling price and the cost basis of shares generally determines the amount of the capital gain or loss realized on the sale or exchange of shares. Contact the broker through whom you purchased your shares to obtain information with respect to the available cost basis reporting methods and elections for your account.

 

An Authorized Participant who exchanges securities for Creation Units generally will recognize gain or loss from the exchange. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between: (i) the market value of the Creation Units at the time of the exchange plus any cash received in the exchange, and (ii) the Authorized Participant’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered plus any cash paid for the Creation Units. An Authorized Participant who exchanges Creation Units for securities will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between: (i) the Authorized Participant’s basis in the Creation Units, and (ii) the aggregate market value of the securities and the amount of cash received. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), however, may assert that a loss that is realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units may not be currently deducted under the rules governing “wash sales” (for a person who does not mark-to-market their holdings), or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position. Authorized Participants should consult their own tax advisor with respect to whether wash sales rules apply and when a loss might be deductible.

 

The Fund may pay the redemption price for Creation Units at least partially with cash, rather than the delivery of a basket of securities. The Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. This may cause the Fund to recognize investment income and/or capital gains or losses that it might not have recognized if it had completely satisfied the redemption in-kind. As a result, the Fund may be less tax efficient if it includes such a cash payment than if the in-kind redemption process was used.

 

Foreign Taxes

 

To the extent that the Fund invests in foreign securities, it may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund receives from sources in foreign countries. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these taxes. If more than 50% of the total assets of the Fund at the end of the Fund’s taxable year consists of foreign securities, the Fund will be eligible to elect to treat some of those taxes as a distribution to shareholders, which would allow shareholders to offset some of

 

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their U.S. federal income tax. The Fund (or your broker) will notify you if it makes such an election and provide you with the information necessary to reflect foreign taxes paid on your income tax return.

 

Net Investment Income Tax

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income,” which includes interest, dividends, and certain capital gains (including certain capital gain distributions and capital gains realized on the sale of shares of the Fund). This 3.8% tax also applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts.

 

Non-U.S. Investors

 

If you are a nonresident alien individual or a foreign corporation, partnership, trust or estate, (i) the Fund’s ordinary income dividends distributed to you will generally be subject to a 30% U.S. withholding tax, unless a lower treaty rate applies but (ii) gains from the sale or other disposition of your shares of the Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless you are a nonresident alien individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. The Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Foreign shareholders who fail to provide an applicable IRS form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from the Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described in this paragraph. Different tax consequences may result if you are a foreign shareholder engaged in a trade or business within the United States or if you are a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty.

 

Backup Withholding

 

The Fund (or financial intermediaries, such as brokers, through which shareholders own shares) generally is required to withhold and to remit to the U.S. Treasury a percentage of the taxable distributions and the sale or redemption proceeds paid to any shareholder who fails to properly furnish a correct taxpayer identification number, who has under-reported dividend or interest income, or who fails to certify that the shareholder is not subject to such withholding.

 

The foregoing discussion summarizes some of the consequences under current U.S. federal income tax law of an investment in the Fund. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. You also may be subject to state and local tax on Fund

 

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distributions and sales of shares. Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in the Fund under all applicable tax laws.

 

More information about taxes is included in the SAI.

 

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Additional Information about the Fund

 

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The investment objective of the Fund may be changed without shareholder approval.

 

Other Investment Practices and Risks

 

 

In addition to the principal investment strategies described in the “Principal Investment Strategies” section of this prospectus, the Fund may employ non-principal investment practices that this prospectus does not describe, such as investing in when-issued and forward commitment transactions, lending of securities, borrowing and other techniques. For more information concerning any of the Fund’s investment practices and risks, please read the SAI.

 

The Fund is an actively-managed pooled investment vehicle and investing in the Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goals. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, geopolitical events, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund.

 

The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the value of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets on which they trade. The effect on the Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on a number of factors, including the number of securities in the portfolio, the security’s relative weighting in the portfolio, and how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings. The Fund is non-diversified, meaning that it may invest a larger percentage of its assets in a smaller number of issuers, as compared to a diversified fund. The Fund, however, intends to comply with the diversification requirements for qualification as a RIC under Subchapter M of Code.

 

Overall stock market risks can affect the value of the Fund. Over time, market forces can be highly dynamic and can cause stock markets to move in cycles, including periods when stock prices rise generally and periods when they decline generally. The value of the Fund’s investments may increase or decrease more than the stock market in general.

 

Equity Risk – Equity securities include public and privately issued equity securities, common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights to subscribe to common stock, convertible securities and depositary receipts, as well as shares of exchange-

 

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traded funds (“ETFs”). Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stock provides a fixed dividend that is paid before any dividends are paid to common stockholders, and which takes precedence over common stock in the event of a liquidation. Like common stock, preferred stocks represent partial ownership in a company, although preferred stock shareholders do not enjoy the voting rights of common stockholders. Also, unlike common stock, a preferred stock pays a fixed dividend that does not fluctuate, although the company does not have to pay this dividend if it lacks the financial ability to do so. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provisions. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a fund invests will cause the Fund’s NAV to fluctuate. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

 

In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseeable ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, restrictions on businesses or other activities whose operations are deemed likely to encourage the spread of a virus, including curtailments of operations and reductions in staff and the downstream effects of those restrictions, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations.

 

The occurrence of terrorist incidents also could impact financial markets. The impact of these events is not clear but could be significant and far-reaching and adversely affect the value of the Fund.

 

Large-Capitalization Company Risk – The large capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may lag the performance of smaller capitalization companies because large capitalization companies may experience slower rates of growth than smaller capitalization companies and may not respond as quickly to market changes and opportunities.

 

ETF Risks – The Fund is an ETF and, as a result of this structure, it is exposed to the following risks:

 

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Trading Risk – Although Fund shares are listed for trading on the Exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for such shares will develop or be maintained. Secondary market trading in the Fund’s shares may be halted by a listing exchange because of market conditions or for other reasons. For example, trading in the Fund’s shares is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to “circuit breaker” rules. In addition, there can be no assurance that the requirements necessary to maintain the listing of the Fund’s shares on the Exchange will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.

 

 

Shares of the Fund may trade at, above or below their most recent NAV. The per share NAV of the Fund is calculated at the end of each business day and fluctuates with changes in the market value of the Fund’s holdings since the prior most recent calculation. The trading prices of the Fund’s shares will fluctuate continuously throughout trading hours based on market supply and demand. The trading prices of the Fund’s shares may deviate more significantly from NAV during periods of market volatility. These factors, among others, may lead to the Fund’s shares trading at a premium or discount to NAV. However, given that shares can be created and redeemed in Creation Units at NAV by Authorized Participants, the Adviser does not expect that large discounts or premiums to NAV will persist for extended periods of time. While the creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that the Fund’s shares normally will trade close to the Fund’s NAV, exchange prices for Fund shares are not expected to correlate exactly with the Fund’s NAV due to timing reasons as well as market supply and demand factors. In addition, disruptions to creations and redemptions or the existence of extreme volatility may result in trading prices that differ more significantly from NAV. If a shareholder purchases Fund shares at a time when the market price of the Fund is at a premium to its NAV or sells at time when the market price is at a discount to the NAV, the shareholder may sustain losses.

 

 

Investors buying or selling shares of the Fund in the secondary market will pay brokerage commissions or other charges imposed by brokers as determined by that broker. Brokerage commissions are often a fixed amount and may be a significant proportional cost for investors seeking to buy or sell relatively small amounts of shares. In addition, secondary market investors will also incur the cost of the difference between the price that a market participant is willing to pay for shares (the “bid” price) and the price at which a market participant is willing to sell shares (the “ask” price). This difference in bid and ask prices is often referred to as the “spread” or “bid/ask spread.” The bid/ask spread varies over time for Fund shares based on a number of factors, including trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally lower if the Fund’s shares have more trading volume and market liquidity and higher if the Fund’s shares have little trading volume and market liquidity. Further, increased market volatility

 

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may cause increased bid/ask spreads. Due to the costs of buying or selling shares of the Fund, including bid/ask spreads, frequent trading of such shares may significantly reduce investment results.

 

 

Limited Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Risk – Only an Authorized Participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with the Fund. The Fund has a limited number of financial institutions that may act as Authorized Participants. In addition, there may be a limited number of market makers and/or liquidity providers in the marketplace. To the extent either of the following events occur, Fund shares may trade at a material discount to NAV and possibly face delisting: (i) Authorized Participants exit the business or otherwise become unable to process creation and/or redemption orders and no other Authorized Participants step forward to perform these services, or (ii) market makers and/or liquidity providers exit the business or significantly reduce their business activities and no other entities step forward to perform their functions. An active trading market for shares of the Fund may not develop or be maintained, and, particularly during times of market stress, Authorized Participants or market makers may not fulfill their respective roles in executing purchase or redemption orders and making a market in shares of the Fund. This could, in turn, lead to enhanced variances between the market price of the Fund’s shares and the value of its underlying securities.

 

Foreign Company Risk – Investments in securities of foreign companies (including direct investments as well as investments through depositary receipts) can be more volatile than investments in U.S. companies. Diplomatic, political, or economic developments, including nationalization or appropriation, could affect investments in foreign companies. Foreign securities markets generally have less trading volume and less liquidity than U.S. markets. Financial statements of foreign issuers are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards than the financial statements of U.S. issuers and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Thus, there may be less information publicly available about foreign issuers than about most U.S. issuers. Transaction costs are generally higher than those in the United States and expenses for custodial arrangements of foreign securities may be somewhat greater than typical expenses for custodial arrangements of similar U.S. securities. Some foreign governments levy withholding taxes against dividend and interest income. Although in some countries a portion of these taxes are recoverable, some countries erect administrative and other barriers that may prevent the Fund from fully reclaiming withheld taxes, and the non-recovered portion will reduce the income received from the securities comprising the Fund’s portfolio. Additionally, periodic U.S. government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in the Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. government designation and the market price of such prohibited

 

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securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses. These risks may be heightened with respect to emerging market countries since political turmoil and rapid changes in economic conditions are more likely to occur in these countries. In addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies, and of dividends from such securities, can change significantly when foreign currencies strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. dollar.

 

The Fund may invest in securities of companies in “emerging market” countries. An “emerging market” country is any country determined by the Adviser to have an emerging market economy, considering factors such as the country’s credit rating, its political and economic stability, and the development of its financial and capital markets. Typically, emerging markets are in countries that are in the process of industrializing, with lower gross national products than more developed countries. The Adviser’s allocation among various foreign countries does not seek to replicate any particular index’s country allocation by global capitalization or regional capitalization.

 

The Fund may invest in both sponsored and unsponsored American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). Unsponsored ADRs are issued by one or more depositaries without a formal agreement with issuer of the underlying securities. Holders of unsponsored ADRs generally bear all the costs of such ADRs. In addition, the issuers of the securities underlying unsponsored ADRs are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States and, therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and the market value of the ADRs may not fully reflect all relevant information.

 

Derivatives Risk – The Fund may invest in derivatives, including options and swaps, in an effort to increase returns, to hedge against the risk of unfavorable price movements in the underlying instruments, to provide economic exposure to a security or issuer, to manage cash flows or currency exposure, to address tax considerations, as an alternative to selling a security short or for other reasons. Derivatives are often more volatile than other investments and may magnify the Fund’s gains or losses. There are various factors that affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its objective with derivatives. Successful use of a derivative depends upon the degree to which prices of the underlying assets correlate with price movements in the derivatives the Fund buys or sells. The Fund could be negatively affected if the change in market value of its securities fails to correlate closely with the values of the derivatives it purchased or sold. The lack of a liquid secondary market for a derivative may prevent the Fund from closing its derivative positions and could adversely impact its ability to achieve its objective and to realize profits or limit losses. Since derivatives may be purchased for a fraction of their value, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss or gain to the Fund. Derivatives are often more volatile than other investments and the Fund may lose more in a derivative than it originally invested in it. There can be no assurance that the Adviser’s use of derivatives will be

 

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successful in achieving its intended goals. Additionally, regulations relating to the Fund’s use of derivatives and related instruments, including Rule 18f-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), could potentially limit or impact the Fund’s ability to invest in derivatives, limit the Fund’s ability to employ certain strategies that use derivatives and/or adversely affect the value of derivatives and the Fund’s performance.

 

Additionally, derivative instruments are subject to counterparty risk, meaning that the party that issues the derivative may experience a significant credit event and may be unwilling or unable to make timely settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations.

 

The Fund may purchase or sell options, which involve the payment or receipt of a premium by the investor and the corresponding right or obligation, as the case may be, to either purchase or sell the underlying security for a specific price at a certain time or during a certain period. Purchasing options involves the risk that the underlying instrument will not change price in the manner expected, so that the investor loses its premium. Selling options involves potentially greater risk because the investor is exposed to the extent of the actual price movement in the underlying security (which could result in a potentially unlimited loss) rather than only the premium payment received. Over-the-counter options also involve counterparty risk.

 

The Fund may enter into total return swaps, which are contracts whereby one party agrees to make payments of the total return from a reference instrument during a specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from another underlying reference instrument. A reference instrument may be a single asset, a pool of assets or an index of assets. Swaps can involve greater risks than direct investment in securities, because swaps may be leveraged and are also subject to counterparty risk. It may also not be possible for the Fund to liquidate a swap position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses.

 

Short-Term Investing Risk – The investments and strategies described in this prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal circumstances. During unusual economic, market, political or other circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in short-term, high quality debt instruments, such as U.S. government securities. Significant and/or sustained investments in these instruments would not ordinarily be consistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies, and may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. The Fund will use a temporary strategy if the Adviser believes that pursuing the Fund’s investment objective will subject it to a significant risk of loss.

 

When the Fund pursues a temporary defensive strategy, the Fund may not profit from favorable developments that it would have otherwise profited from if it was pursuing its normal strategy.

 

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Information about Portfolio Holdings

 

Please consult the SAI for a description of the policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings.

 

Investment Management

 

 

Investment Adviser

 

Cambiar Investors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company located at 200 Columbine Street, Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80206, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. The Adviser manages and supervises the investment of the Fund’s assets on a discretionary basis, subject to oversight by the Board. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $3.4 billion in assets under management. The Adviser has provided investment management services to corporations, foundations, endowments, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates and other institutions and individuals since 1973.

 

Pursuant to an investment advisory agreement with the Trust and subject to the general oversight of the Board, the Adviser provides or causes to be furnished all investment management, supervisory, administrative and other services reasonably necessary for the operation of the Fund, including certain distribution services (provided pursuant to a separate distribution agreement) under a unitary fee structure. The Fund is responsible for paying: (a) the management fee payable to the Adviser under the investment advisory agreement; (b) interest; (c) taxes; (d) brokerage commissions, and other expenses incurred in placing or settlement of orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments; (e) acquired fund fees and expenses; (f) accrued deferred tax liability; (g) extraordinary expenses; and (h) distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted by the Board pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, if any. For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.59% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

 

For the fiscal period from the Reorganization to October 31, 2023, the Fund paid 0.59% of its average daily net assets in management fees to the Adviser.

 

For the fiscal period from November 1, 2022 to the Reorganization, the Predecessor Fund paid 0.68% of its average daily net assets (after fee waivers) in management fees to the Adviser.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for Board approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement is available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders dated April 30, 2023, which covers the period from the Fund’s inception to April 30, 2023.

 

25

 

 

 

Portfolio Manager

 

Brian M. Barish, CFA, President, Chief Investment Officer, joined the Adviser in 1997 and has over 35 years of investment experience. He serves as the Lead Manager of the Fund. Prior to joining the Adviser, Mr. Barish served as Director of Emerging Markets Research for Lazard Freres & Co., a New York based investment bank. He has also served as a securities analyst with Bear, Stearns & Co. and Arnhold and S. Bleichroeder, a New York based research firm. Mr. Barish received a BA in Economics and Philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

 

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

 

Payments by the Fund or the Adviser to Financial Intermediaries

 

 

The Fund and/or the Adviser may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to the Fund and/or its shareholders. Financial intermediaries include affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and other institutions having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates. This section briefly describes how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing services. For more information, please see “Payments by the Fund or the Adviser to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

In addition to these payments made by the Fund or the Adviser, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, commissions or transaction fees for buying or selling shares of the Fund, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.

 

Distribution Plan

 

The Fund has adopted a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act that allows the Fund to pay distribution and/or service fees for the sale and distribution of Fund shares, and for services provided to shareholders. No Rule 12b-1 fees are currently paid by the Fund, and there are no plans to impose these fees. However, in the event Rule 12b-1 fees are charged in the future, because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The maximum annual Rule 12b-1 fee is 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

 

26

 

 

 

The implementation of any payments under the distribution plan must be approved by the Board prior to implementation.

 

Payments by the Adviser

 

From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support for the Fund. These payments are sometimes characterized as “revenue sharing” payments and are made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own legitimate profits or other resources, are not paid by the Fund, and may be in addition to any payments made to financial intermediaries by the Fund. A financial intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments from the Adviser for making shares of the Fund available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Fund with “shelf space,” placing it on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Fund in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries.

 

The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the market power and flexibility of the intermediary, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary, the time period in which the arrangement was entered into or amended, or the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV of the Fund’s shares.

 

Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders, as well as information about any fees and/or commissions it charges.

 

27

 

 

 

Additional Information

 

Continuous Offering

 

The method by which Creation Units are purchased and traded may raise certain issues under applicable securities laws. Because new Creation Units are issued and sold by the Fund on an ongoing basis, at any point a “distribution,” as such term is used in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), may occur. Broker-dealers and other persons are cautioned that some activities on their part may, depending on the circumstances, result in their being deemed participants in a distribution in a manner which could render them statutory underwriters and subject them to the Prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the Securities Act.

 

For example, a broker-dealer firm or its client may be deemed a statutory underwriter if it takes Creation Units after placing an order with the Fund’s distributor, breaks them down into individual shares, and sells such shares directly to customers, or if it chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for shares of the Fund. A determination of whether one is an underwriter for purposes of the Securities Act must take into account all the facts and circumstances pertaining to the activities of the broker-dealer or its client in the particular case, and the examples mentioned above should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could lead to categorization as an underwriter.

 

Broker-dealer firms should also note that dealers who are not “underwriters” but are effecting transactions in shares of the Fund, whether or not participating in the distribution of such shares, are generally required to deliver a prospectus. This is because the prospectus delivery exemption in Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act is not available with respect to such transactions as a result of Section 24(d) of the 1940 Act. As a result, broker-dealer firms should note that dealers who are not underwriters but are participating in a distribution (as contrasted with ordinary secondary market transactions) and thus dealing with shares of the Fund that are part of an “unsold allotment” within the meaning of Section 4(a)(3)(C) of the Securities Act would be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(a)(3) of the Securities Act. Firms that incur a prospectus delivery obligation with respect to shares of the Fund are reminded that under Rule 153 under the Securities Act, a prospectus delivery obligation under Section 5(b)(2) of the Securities Act owed to an exchange member in connection with a sale on the Exchange is satisfied by the fact that the Fund’s Prospectus is available on the SEC’s electronic filing system. The prospectus delivery mechanism provided in Rule 153 is only available with respect to transactions on an exchange.

 

28

 

 

 

Premium/Discount Information

 

Information regarding how often the shares of the Fund traded on the Exchange at a price above (i.e., at a premium) or below (i.e., at a discount) the NAV of the Fund for various time periods can be found at www.cambiar.com/etf/camx/.

 

Contractual Arrangements

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against these service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

29

 

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

The table that follows presents performance information about the Fund and the Predecessor Fund. The financial information shown prior to the Reorganization is that of the Predecessor Fund. The information is intended to help you understand the financial performance of the Fund and the Predecessor Fund, as applicable, for the past five fiscal years. Certain information contained in the table reflects the financial results for a share of the Fund. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions were reinvested.

 

The information provided below has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund and Predecessor Fund. The financial statements and the unqualified opinion of Ernst & Young LLP are included in the 2023 Annual Report of the Fund, which is available upon request by calling the Fund at 1-866-777-8227.

 

30

 

 

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

 

Cambiar Aggressive Value ETF

 
   

Year ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023*

   

2022*

   

2021*

   

2020*

   

2019*

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 21.62     $ 25.20     $ 17.11     $ 18.73     $ 17.50  

Income (Loss) from Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income(1)

    0.35       0.17       0.03       0.15       0.22  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    1.70       (3.67 )     8.16       (1.51 )     1.15  

Total from Operations

    2.05       (3.50 )     8.19       (1.36 )     1.37  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (0.15 )     (0.08 )     (0.10 )     (0.26 )     (0.14 )

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (0.15 )     (0.08 )     (0.10 )     (0.26 )     (0.14 )

Redemption Fees(1)

          0.00 (2)      0.00 (2)      0.00 (2)      0.00 (2) 

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 23.52     $ 21.62     $ 25.20     $ 17.11     $ 18.73  
                                         

Total Return

    9.51 %     (13.93 )%     47.96 %     (7.44 )%     8.04 %
                                         

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 46,691     $ 43,457     $ 53,693     $ 37,808     $ 54,735  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.73 %     1.05 %     1.00 %     1.05 %     1.16 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers, Expense Reimbursements and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    0.89 %     1.34 %     1.22 %     1.29 %     1.32 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.48 %     0.72 %     0.13 %     0.86 %     1.26 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    70 %     103 %     112 %     135 %     92 %

 

*

For the Period prior to February 12, 2023 the performance presented is for the Predecessor Fund. See Note 6 in the Notes to Financial Statements.

Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fee. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(1)

Per share data calculated using the average shares method.

(2)

Amount represents less than $0.005 per share.

Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

31

 

 

 

THE CAMBIAR ETFS

 

Investors who would like more information about the Fund should read the Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, when available, and the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”), as it may be amended from time to time. The Annual and Semi-Annual Reports of the Fund provide additional information about its investments. In the Annual Report, you will also find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the performance of the Fund during the last fiscal year. The SAI contains additional detailed information about the Fund and is incorporated by reference into (is legally a part of) this prospectus.

 

Investors can receive free copies of the SAI, shareholder reports, the Fund’s privacy policy and other information about the Fund and can make shareholder inquiries at www.cambiar.com or by writing to or calling:

 

The Cambiar ETFs
c/o SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456
(Toll free) 1-866-777-8227

 

You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as available, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act of 1940 file number is 811-06400.

 

 

 

CMB-PS-011-0300

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

CAMBIAR AGGRESSIVE VALUE ETF

 

Ticker Symbol: CAMX

Principal Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc.

 

a series of THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND

 

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

CAMBIAR INVESTORS, LLC

 

This Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”) and the following series of the Trust (the “Fund”):

 

Cambiar Aggressive Value ETF (the “Aggressive Value ETF”)

 

This SAI should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s prospectus dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Prospectus. The most recent Annual Report for the Fund, which includes the Fund’s audited financial statements dated October 31, 2023, is incorporated by reference into this SAI. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Prospectus or Annual Report free of charge by writing to the Cambiar ETFs, c/o SEI Investments Distribution Co., One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456, or by calling the Fund at 1-866-777-8227 (toll free).

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

THE TRUST S-1
INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUND S-2
EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING S-5
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS S-5
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES S-38
PORTFOLIO MANAGER S-39
THE ADMINISTRATOR S-41
THE DISTRIBUTOR S-41
PAYMENTS BY THE FUND OR THE ADVISER TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES S-42
TRANSFER AGENT S-43
CUSTODIAN S-43
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM S-44
LEGAL COUNSEL S-44
SECURITIES LENDING S-44
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST S-44
BOOK ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM S-53
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES IN CREATION UNITS S-54
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE S-61
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS S-63
FEDERAL INCOME TAXES S-64
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES S-71
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES S-74
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES S-75
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY S-75
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY S-75
PROXY VOTING S-75
CODES OF ETHICS S-76
5% AND 25% SHAREHOLDERS S-76
APPENDIX A – DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS A-1
APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES B-1

 

March 1, 2024 CMB-SX-011-0300

 

i 

 

 

THE TRUST

 

General. The Fund is a separate series of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), an open-end investment management company established under Massachusetts law as a Massachusetts voluntary association (commonly known as a business trust) under a Declaration of Trust dated July 18, 1991, as amended and restated February 18, 1997 and amended May 15, 2012 and August 18, 2020 (the “Declaration of Trust”). The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series (“funds”) of shares of beneficial interest (“shares”). The Trust reserves the right to create and issue shares of additional funds. Each fund is a separate mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (“ETF”), and each share of each fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund, and all assets of such fund, belong solely to that fund and would be subject to any liabilities related thereto. Each fund pays its (i) operating expenses, including fees of its service providers, expenses of preparing prospectuses, proxy solicitation materials and reports to shareholders, costs of custodial services and registering its shares under federal and state securities laws, pricing and insurance expenses, brokerage costs, interest charges, taxes and organization expenses, and (ii) pro rata share of the fund’s other expenses, including audit and legal expenses. Expenses attributable to a specific fund shall be payable solely out of the assets of that fund. Expenses not attributable to a specific fund are pro-rata allocated across all of the funds on the basis of relative net assets. The other funds of the Trust are described in one or more separate prospectuses and statements of additional information.

 

ETF Structure. The Fund operates as an ETF. Cambiar Investors, LLC (“Cambiar” or the “Adviser”), serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. The Fund is an actively-managed ETF that seeks long-term capital appreciation.

 

As an ETF, the Fund offers and issues shares at their net asset value (“NAV”) only in aggregations of a specified number of shares (each, a “Creation Unit”). The Fund generally offers and issues shares in exchange for a basket of securities (“Deposit Securities”) together with the deposit of a specified cash payment (“Cash Component”). The Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of a “cash in lieu” amount (“Deposit Cash”) to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security. The Fund’s shares are listed on the NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”) and trade on the Exchange at market prices. These prices may differ from the Fund’s NAV per share. The Fund’s shares are redeemable only in Creation Unit aggregations, and generally in exchange for portfolio securities and a specified cash payment.

 

History of the Fund. The Fund is the successor to the Cambiar Aggressive Value Fund (the “Predecessor Fund”), a mutual fund and a former series of the Trust. The Predecessor Fund was managed by the Adviser pursuant to the same investment objective and similar investment policies, guidelines and restrictions as those of the Fund. The Predecessor Fund’s date of inception was August 31, 2007. The reorganization of the Predecessor Fund into the Fund became effective on February 13, 2023 (the “Reorganization”).

 

Voting Rights. Each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote for each share held on the record date for the meeting. The Fund will vote separately on matters relating solely to it. As a Massachusetts voluntary association, the Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Shareholders’ approval will be sought, however, for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of trustees under certain circumstances. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trust’s Board of Trustees (each, a “Trustee” and collectively, the “Board” or the “Trustees”) has the power to liquidate the Fund without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they may do so if the Fund fails to reach a viable size within a reasonable amount of time or for such other reasons as may be determined by the Board.

 

In addition, a Trustee may be removed by the remaining Trustees or by shareholders at a special meeting called upon written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.

 

S-1

 

 

Any series of the Trust created on or after November 11, 1996 may reorganize or merge with one or more other series of the Trust or of another investment company. Any such reorganization or merger shall be pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization authorized and approved by the majority of the Trustees then in office and entered into by the relevant series in connection therewith. To the extent permitted by applicable law and the Declaration of Trust, such reorganization or merger may be effected without the approval of shareholders of any series.

 

Non-Diversification. The Fund is non-diversified, as that term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), which means that it may invest a greater percentage of its total assets in the securities of fewer issuers than a “diversified” fund, which increases the risk that a change in the value of any one investment held by the Fund could affect the overall value of the Fund more than it would affect that of a “diversified” fund holding a greater number of investments. Accordingly, the value of the shares of the Fund may be more susceptible to any single corporate, economic, political or regulatory occurrence than the shares of a “diversified” fund would be. The Fund intends to satisfy the diversification requirements necessary to qualify as a regulated investment company ("RIC") under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). For more information, see “Federal Income Taxes” below.

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUND

 

The Fund will determine compliance with the investment limitation percentages below (with the exception of a limitation relating to borrowing) and other applicable investment requirements in this SAI immediately after and as a result of its acquisition of such security or other asset. Accordingly, the Fund generally will not consider changes in values, net assets or other circumstances when determining whether the investment complies with its investment limitations.

 

Fundamental Policies:

 

The following investment limitations are fundamental, which means that the Fund cannot change them without approval by the vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund. The phrase “majority of the outstanding shares” means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Fund’s shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares, whichever is less.

 

The Fund:

 

(1)Concentration. May not concentrate investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as concentration is defined under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time, except that the Fund may invest without limitation in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements involving such securities or tax-exempt obligations of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions.

 

(2)Borrowing and Senior Securities. May borrow money or issue senior securities (as defined under the 1940 Act), except as prohibited under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

S-2

 

 

(3)Lending. May make loans, except as prohibited under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

(4)Commodities and Real Estate. May purchase or sell commodities or real estate, except as prohibited under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

(5)Underwriting. May underwrite securities issued by other persons, except as prohibited under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

Non-Fundamental Policies:

 

The following investment limitations are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.

 

The Fund:

 

(1)Real Estate. May not invest in unmarketable interests in real estate limited partnerships or invest directly in real estate. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing policy does not prevent the Fund from, among other things, purchasing marketable securities of companies that deal in real estate or interests therein (including REITs).

 

The following descriptions of certain provisions of the 1940 Act may assist investors in understanding the above policies and restrictions:

 

Concentration. The 1940 Act requires that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy regarding concentration. The SEC has defined concentration as investing 25% or more of an investment company’s total assets in any particular industry or group of industries, with certain exceptions. For purposes of the Fund’s concentration policy, the Fund may classify and re-classify companies in a particular industry and define and re-define industries in any reasonable manner, consistent with SEC and SEC staff guidance.

 

Borrowing. The 1940 Act presently allows an investment company to borrow from any bank in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) and to borrow for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of its total assets.

 

Senior Securities. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although the 1940 Act does provide allowances for certain borrowings. In addition, Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Derivatives Rule”) permits a fund to enter into derivatives transactions, notwithstanding the prohibitions and restrictions on the issuance of senior securities under the 1940 Act, provided that the fund complies with the conditions of the Derivatives Rule.

 

S-3

 

 

Lending. Under the 1940 Act, an investment company may only make loans if expressly permitted by its investment policies.

 

Commodities and Real Estate. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company’s ability to invest in commodities or real estate, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments.

 

Underwriting. Under the 1940 Act, underwriting securities involves an investment company purchasing securities directly from an issuer for the purpose of selling (distributing) them or participating in any such activity either directly or indirectly. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified fund may not make any commitment as underwriter, if immediately thereafter the amount of its outstanding underwriting commitments, plus the value of its investments in securities of issuers (other than investment companies) of which it owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities, exceeds 25% of the value of its total assets.

 

S-4

 

 

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

 

A discussion of exchange listing and trading matters associated with an investment in the Fund is contained in the Prospectus. The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus.

 

The shares of the Fund are approved for listing and trading on the Exchange. The Fund’s shares trade on the Exchange at prices that may differ to some degree from its NAV. There can be no assurance that the requirements of the Exchange necessary to maintain the listing of shares of the Fund will continue to be met.

 

The Exchange may consider the suspension of trading in, and may initiate delisting proceedings of, the shares of the Fund under any of the following circumstances: (i) if the Exchange becomes aware that the Fund is no longer eligible to operate in reliance on Rule 6c-11 under the 1940 Act; (ii) if the Fund no longer complies with the applicable listing requirements set forth in the Exchange’s rules; (iii) if, following the initial twelve-month period after commencement of trading on the Exchange of the Fund, there are fewer than 50 beneficial holders of the Fund; or (iv) if such other event shall occur or condition exists which, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. The Exchange will remove the Shares from listing and trading upon termination of the Fund.

 

The Trust reserves the right to modify the number of Fund shares trading on the Exchange, (e.g., through stock splits or reverse stock splits) to help maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any such modifications will result in adjustments to the share price but not the overall value of an investment, and would not have effects on the net assets of the Fund.

 

As in the case of other publicly traded securities, brokers’ commissions on transactions for an investor’s purchases or sales of Fund shares will be based on negotiated commission rates at customary levels.

 

The base and trading currencies of the Fund is the U.S. dollar. The base currency is the currency in which the Fund’s NAV per share is calculated and the trading currency is the currency in which shares of the Fund are listed and traded on the Exchange.

 

DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS

 

The Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies are described in the Prospectus. The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus. The Fund may invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices unless such investment or activity is inconsistent with or is not permitted by the Fund's stated investment policies, including those discussed in this SAI.

 

Equity Securities

 

Types of Equity Securities:

 

Common Stocks - Common stocks represent units of ownership in a company. Common stocks usually carry voting rights and earn dividends. Unlike preferred stocks, which are described below, dividends on common stocks are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the company’s board of directors.

 

Preferred Stocks - Preferred stocks are also units of ownership in a company. Preferred stocks generally pay dividends, which are fixed in advance. Preferred stocks normally have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of the company. Dividends on preferred stocks are usually cumulative, meaning that, in the event the issuer fails to make one or more dividend payments on the preferred stock, no dividends may be paid on the issuer’s common stock until all unpaid preferred stock dividends have been paid. However, in other respects, preferred stocks are subordinated to the liabilities of the issuer, including debt instruments. Unlike common stocks, preferred stocks are generally not entitled to vote on corporate matters. Types of preferred stocks include adjustable-rate preferred stock, fixed dividend preferred stock, perpetual preferred stock, and sinking fund preferred stock. Generally, the market values of preferred stock with a fixed dividend rate and no conversion element varies inversely with interest rates and perceived credit risk.

 

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Convertible Securities - Convertible securities are securities that may be exchanged for, converted into, or exercised to acquire a pre-determined number of shares of the issuer’s common stock at the investor’s option during a specified time period (such as convertible preferred stocks, convertible debentures and warrants). By investing in convertible securities, the Fund may seek opportunity through the conversion feature to participate in the capital appreciation of the common stock or other interests into which the securities are convertible, while potentially earning a higher fixed rate of return than is ordinarily available on common stocks. A convertible security is generally a fixed income security that is senior to common stock in an issuer’s capital structure, but is usually subordinated to similar non-convertible fixed income securities. In exchange for the conversion feature, many corporations pay a lower rate of interest on convertible securities than that paid on their non-convertible fixed income securities. In general, the market value of a convertible security is at least the higher of its “investment value” (i.e., its value as a fixed income security) or its “conversion value” (i.e., its value upon conversion into its underlying common stock).

 

Convertible securities are subject to the same risks as similar securities without the convertible feature. The price of a convertible security can be more volatile during times of steady interest rates than other types of debt securities. The price of a convertible security tends to increase as the market value of the underlying stock rises, whereas it tends to decrease as the market value of the underlying common stock declines.

 

A synthetic convertible security is a combination investment in which an investor purchases both (i) high-grade cash equivalents or a high grade debt obligation of an issuer or U.S. government securities and (ii) call options or warrants on the common stock of the same or different issuer with some or all of the anticipated interest income from the associated debt obligation that is earned over the holding period of the option or warrant.

 

While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar non-convertible security), a convertible security also affords an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation attendant upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock. A synthetic convertible position has similar investment characteristics, but may differ with respect to credit quality, time to maturity, trading characteristics, and other factors. Because the Fund will create synthetic convertible positions only out of high grade fixed income securities, the credit rating associated with the Fund’s synthetic convertible investments is generally expected to be higher than that of the average convertible security, many of which are rated below high grade. However, because the options used to create synthetic convertible positions will generally have expirations between one month and three years of the time of purchase, the maturity of these positions will generally be shorter than average for convertible securities. Since the option component of a convertible security or synthetic convertible position is a wasting asset (in the sense of losing “time value” as maturity approaches), a synthetic convertible position may lose such value more rapidly than a convertible security of longer maturity; however, the gain in option value due to appreciation of the underlying stock may exceed such time value loss, the market price of the option component generally reflects these differences in maturities, and the Adviser takes such differences into account when evaluating such positions. When a synthetic convertible position “matures” because of the expiration of the associated option, the Fund may extend the maturity by investing in a new option with longer maturity on the common stock of the same or different issuer. If the Fund does not so extend the maturity of a position, it may continue to hold the associated fixed income security.

 

Rights and Warrants - Common stock rights and warrants are securities that may be attached to an issuer’s common stock, preferred stock, or other existing securities, or may be issued independently of other securities. A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life of usually two to four weeks, may be freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price. Rights typically offer an issuer’s shareholders an opportunity to avoid or minimize dilution of their ownership interests when new shares are issued to others. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price. Warrants may be freely transferable and are often traded on major exchanges. Unlike rights, warrants normally have a life that is measured in years and entitles the holder to buy common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. Corporations often issue warrants to make the accompanying debt security more attractive.

 

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Both rights and warrants may be issued in connection with corporate actions without requiring payment, or may require payment of a purchase price. An investment in warrants and rights may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. Investing in rights and warrants increases the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities.

 

Risks of Investing in Equity Securities:

 

General Risks of Investing in Stocks - While investing in stocks allows investors to participate in the benefits of owning a company, such investors also accept the risks of ownership. Investing in equity securities can be riskier than other types of investments, often involve more volatility than other investments, and can result in losses. Investors should expect that the value of their account(s) will rise and fall more dynamically than some strategies that emphasize other types of investments. Over time, market forces can be highly dynamic and can cause stock markets to move in cycles, including periods when stock prices rise generally and periods when they generally decline. The value of an account’s investments may increase or decrease more than the stock market in general, and overall stock market risks will affect the value of client accounts.

 

Unlike bondholders, who have preference to a company’s earnings and cash flow, preferred stockholders, followed by common stockholders in order of priority, are entitled only to the residual amount after a company meets its other obligations. For this reason, the value of a company’s stock will usually react more strongly to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects than its debt obligations.

 

Stock markets tend to move in cycles with short or extended periods of rising and falling stock prices. The value of a company’s stock may fall because of:

 

Factors that directly relate to that company, such as decisions made by its management or lower demand for the company’s products or services;

 

Factors affecting an entire industry, such as increases in production costs; and

 

Changes in general financial market conditions that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as domestic and foreign economic growth and market conditions, changes in interest rates, credit conditions, currency exchange rates or inflation rates, health-related considerations, volatility and political events.

 

There is a risk that the Adviser will not accurately predict the applicability or impact of these and other factors on markets or investments, and individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. As a result, investment decisions may not accomplish what they were intended to achieve. These risks may be elevated during certain periods, including periods when the values of equity securities are highly correlated with one another.

 

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The value of equity securities also may be influenced by changes in investor sentiment, such as perceptions as to whether investments in value equity assets provide attractive returns in the context of the risks being assumed. At times, negative sentiment and advisers’ perception of certain investments may predominate, price-earnings multiples may contract, or investors may avoid investment in equity securities altogether. Similarly, there may be periods during which certain segments of the equity assets spectrum, such as growth stocks, are favored over other equity segments. In addition, the securities of “value” companies can continue to be undervalued for long periods of time, and may never reach the Adviser’s expectation as to their worth.

 

Small- and Medium-Sized Companies - Investors in small- and medium-sized companies typically take on greater risk and price volatility than they would by investing in larger, more established companies. This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of their small or medium size, potentially higher borrowing costs, more limited markets and financial resources, reduced access to capital markets, narrower product lines and lack of management depth. The securities of small- and medium-sized companies more frequently trade in the over-the-counter markets and might not be traded in volumes typical of securities of larger issuers. Thus, the securities of small and medium capitalization companies may be less liquid, and subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements, than securities of larger, more established companies.

 

Technology Companies - Stocks of technology companies have tended to be subject to greater volatility than securities of companies that are not dependent upon or associated with technological issues. Companies that rely heavily on technology operate in various industries and it may not always be evident that an issuer is a “tech” company. Since these industries frequently share common characteristics, an event or issue affecting one industry may significantly influence other, related industries. For example, technology companies may be strongly affected by factors such as interest rates, worldwide scientific or technological developments and their products and services may be subject to governmental regulation or adversely affected by governmental policies.

 

Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”) - The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities of companies offering shares in IPOs. IPO securities are subject to, among other risks, market and liquidity risk. In addition, the purchase of IPO securities often involves higher transaction costs than those associated with the purchase of securities already trading on exchanges or markets. IPOs may have a magnified performance impact on a fund with a smaller asset base. Whether the Fund participates in these types of investments depends upon a number of factors, including the attractiveness and the availability of IPO securities and portfolio manager interest. There can be no assurance that the Fund will participate in IPOs. The Fund may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time, which may increase the turnover of the Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses for the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling IPO shares, the Fund may realize taxable gains it will subsequently distribute to shareholders.

 

In addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or inactive for extended periods of time. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may make it more difficult for the Fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Holders of IPO shares can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders. The market value of IPO shares may fluctuate considerably due to factors such as the absence of a prior public market, lack of support for the issuer or offering, unseasoned trading and speculation, a potentially small number of securities available for trading, more limited information about the issuer, and other factors.

 

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The Fund’s investment in IPO shares may include the securities of unseasoned companies (companies with less than three years of continuous operations), which can present risks considerably greater than common stocks of more established companies. These companies may have limited operating histories and their prospects for profitability may be uncertain. These companies may be involved in new and evolving businesses and may be vulnerable to competition and changes in technology, markets and economic conditions. They may be more dependent on key managers and third parties and may have limited product lines.

 

Foreign Securities

 

Equity and debt securities of issuers may be considered to be “foreign company” securities if 50% of the company’s assets are located outside of the United States, 50% of the company’s revenues are generated outside of the United States, or the company is domiciled or does a substantial amount of business outside of the United States. Foreign companies can operate in both developed and emerging market countries. Foreign securities include instruments denominated in foreign currencies and traded on foreign exchanges and markets, as well as depositary receipts.

 

American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) - ADRs, as well as other “hybrid” forms of depositary receipts, including European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), are certificates evidencing ownership interests in shares of a foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. A custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer’s home country holds the underlying shares in trust. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs in which the Fund invests trade on national exchanges and markets, or can trade over-the-counter. Over-the-counter ADRs generally trade at wider spreads, are less liquid, and can take additional time to accumulate positions in or liquidate.

 

ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign (ordinary) securities in their national markets and currencies; however, ADRs are still subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities traded in their national markets and currencies. EDRs are similar to ADRs, except that they are typically issued by European banks or trust companies. In addition to brokerage commissions charged for the purchase or sale of ADRs, the Fund may incur additional fees if it converts ADRs into foreign (ordinary) securities, and vice-versa.

 

ADRs can be sponsored or unsponsored. While similar, there are differences regarding a holder's rights and obligations and the practices of market participants. Sponsored depositary receipt facilities are established jointly by a depository and the underlying issuer through a deposit agreement. The deposit agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of the underlying issuer, the depository, and the depositary receipt holders. With sponsored facilities, the underlying issuer typically bears some of the costs of the depositary receipts (such as dividend payment fees of the depository), although most sponsored depositary receipt holders may bear costs such as deposit and withdrawal fees. Depositories of most sponsored depositary receipts agree to distribute notices of shareholder meetings, voting instructions, and other shareholder communications and information to the depositary receipt holders at the underlying issuer’s request. Unsponsored facilities are generally established without participation by (or acquiescence of) the underlying issuer; typically, however, the depository requests a letter of non-objection from the underlying issuer prior to establishing the facility. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of the facility. The depository usually charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the underlying securities, the conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars or other currency, the disposition of non-cash distributions, and the performance of other services. The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities. The Fund may also invest in EDRs, GDRs, and similar instruments representing foreign-traded depositary interests in securities of foreign companies.

 

Emerging Markets – An “emerging market” country is any country determined by the Adviser to have an emerging market economy, considering factors such as the country’s credit rating, its political and economic stability and the development of its financial and capital markets. Typically, emerging markets are in countries that are in the process of industrializing, with lower gross national products (“GNP”) than more developed countries.

 

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Investing in emerging market economies may involve greater risks than investing in developed market economies, including, but not limited to, greater political and economic instability (including elevated risks of war, civil disturbances, and acts of terrorism), enhanced boom and bust cycles, dependence on revenues from particular commodities, dependence on international aid, price controls, immature economic and market structures, and burdensome investment or trading requirements.

 

Some emerging countries currently prohibit or impose restrictions on direct foreign investment in the securities of their companies. Certain emerging countries, however, permit indirect foreign investment in the securities of companies listed and traded on their stock exchanges through investment funds that they have specifically authorized. Investments in these investment funds are subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act. If the Fund invests in such investment funds, Fund shareholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund (including operating expenses and the fees of the Adviser), but also will indirectly bear similar expenses of the underlying investment funds. In addition, these investment funds may trade at a premium over their net asset value.

 

Risks of Foreign Securities:

 

Foreign securities (including ADRs), foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.

 

Political and Economic Factors - Local political, economic, regulatory, or social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments may affect the value of foreign investments. Listed below are some of the more important political and economic factors that could negatively affect an investment in foreign securities:

 

The economies of foreign countries may differ from the economy of the United States in such areas as growth of GNP, interest rates, rate of inflation, capital formation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, economic diversification, inclusion in economic or monetary unions, budget deficits, sovereign solvency, and national debt;

 

Foreign governments sometimes participate to a significant degree, through ownership interests or regulation, in their respective economies. Actions by these governments could significantly impact the interests of investors, as well as influence the market prices of securities and payment of dividends;

 

The economies of many foreign countries are dependent on international trade and their trading partners and they could be severely affected if their trading partners were to enact protective trade barriers and economic conditions;

 

Securities issued by foreign companies in one country may be particularly susceptible to economic, regulatory or other conditions affecting issuers and countries within their region;

 

The internal policies of a particular foreign country may be less stable than in the United States. Other countries face significant external political risks, such as possible claims of sovereignty by other countries or tense and sometimes hostile border clashes;

 

A foreign government may act adversely to the interests of U.S. (and other) investors, including expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation and other restrictions on U.S. investment. A country may restrict or control foreign investments in its securities markets. These restrictions could limit the Fund’s ability to invest in a particular country or make it more expensive for the Fund to invest in that country. Some countries require prior governmental approval, may limit the types or amount of securities or companies in which a foreigner can invest, or may restrict the ability of foreign investors to repatriate their investment income and capital gains; and

 

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Periodic U.S. government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in the Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times, which may result in losses. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. government designation causing the market price of such prohibited securities to decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses.

 

Given the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, region or market can adversely affect financial conditions or issuers in other countries, regions or markets. For example, on January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) formally withdrew from the European Union (the "EU") (commonly referred to as “Brexit”). Following a transition period, the UK and the EU signed a post-Brexit trade agreement governing their future economic relationship on December 30, 2020. This agreement became effective on a provisional basis on January 1, 2021 and formally entered into force on May 1, 2021. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets. The effects of Brexit on the UK and EU economies and the broader global economy could be significant, resulting in negative impacts, such as business and trade disruptions, increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth of markets in the UK, EU and globally, which could negatively impact the value of the Fund’s investments. Brexit could also lead to legal uncertainty and politically divergent national laws and regulations while the new relationship between the UK and EU is further defined and the UK determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Additionally, depreciation of the British pound sterling and/or the euro in relation to the U.S. dollar following Brexit could adversely affect Fund investments denominated in the British pound sterling and/or the euro, regardless of the performance of the investment.

 

In addition, on February 24, 2022, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia, Ukraine, Europe, NATO, and the West. Following Russia’s actions, various countries, including the U.S., Canada, the UK, Germany, and France, as well as the EU, issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia. The sanctions consist of the prohibition of trading in certain Russian securities and engaging in certain private transactions, the prohibition of doing business with certain Russian corporate entities, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs, and the freezing of Russian assets. The extent and duration of the war in Ukraine and the longevity and severity of sanctions remain unknown, but they could have a significant adverse impact on the European economy as well as the price and availability of certain commodities, including wheat, oil, and natural gas, throughout the world. These sanctions, and the resulting disruption of the Russian economy, may cause volatility in other regional and global markets and may negatively impact the performance of various sectors and industries, as well as companies in other countries, which could have a negative effect on the performance of the Fund, even if the Fund does not have direct exposure to securities of Russian issuers or to issuers that conduct extensive business in Russia.

 

Whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund’s investments due to the interconnected nature of the global economy and capital markets.

 

Information and Supervision - There is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than companies based in the United States. For example, there are typically fewer reports and ratings published about foreign companies comparable to those analyzing U.S. companies, and information concerning foreign corporate actions such as acquisitions or divestitures, rights offerings, dividends, legal or compliance developments, requirements or restrictions, or other matters that can affect the value of foreign companies, may be more difficult to obtain. Certain foreign companies may not be subject to uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. The lack of comparable information makes investment decisions concerning foreign companies more difficult and less reliable than those concerning domestic companies.

 

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Stock Exchange and Market Risk - The Adviser will determine if an exchange or over-the-counter market located outside of the United States is the best available market for transacting in foreign securities traded in their national markets or currencies. Many foreign stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, generally remain less developed than the trading venues in the United States. Foreign stock markets tend to differ from those in the United States in a number of ways.

 

Foreign stock markets:

 

Are generally more volatile than, and not as developed or efficient as, those in the United States;

 

Typically have less trading volume;

 

Trade securities that tend to be less liquid and experience more rapid and erratic price movements than domestic stock markets;

 

Have generally higher commissions, which are typically based on the value of the security being traded, and are subject to set minimum rates, as opposed to negotiated rates;

 

Employ trading, settlement and custodial practices less developed than those in U.S. markets; and

 

May have different settlement practices, which may cause delays and increase the potential for failed settlements.

 

Foreign markets may offer less protection to shareholders than U.S. markets because:

 

Foreign accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements may render a foreign corporate balance sheet more difficult to understand and interpret than one subject to U.S. law and accounting practices and standards;

 

Adequate public information on foreign issuers may not be available, and it may be difficult to secure dividends and information regarding corporate actions on a timely basis;

 

In general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the United States;

 

Foreign over-the-counter markets tend to be less regulated than foreign stock exchange markets and, in certain countries, may be totally unregulated;

 

Economic or political concerns may influence regulatory enforcement and may make it difficult for shareholders to enforce their legal rights; and

 

Restrictions on transferring securities within the United States or to U.S. persons may make a particular security less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions.

 

Foreign Currency Risk - While the Fund denominates its net asset value in U.S. dollars, the securities of foreign companies are frequently denominated in foreign currencies. Thus, a change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in value of securities denominated in that currency. Some of the factors that may impact the investments denominated in a foreign currency are:

 

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Purchases and sales of foreign securities traded in their national markets or currencies necessitate foreign exchange transactions, and it may be expensive to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa;

 

Complex political and economic factors may significantly affect the relative values of currencies, including the U.S. dollar, and their exchange rates;

 

Government intervention may increase risks involved in purchasing or selling foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts, since exchange rates may not be free to fluctuate in response to other market forces;

 

There may be no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies or regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis;

 

Available quotation information is generally representative of very large round-lot transactions in the inter-bank market and thus may not reflect exchange rates for smaller odd-lot transactions (less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable; and

 

The inter-bank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that a securities market is closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, certain securities may not always reflect significant movements in currency values.

 

Taxes - Certain foreign governments levy withholding taxes on dividend and interest income. Although in some countries it is possible for the Fund to recover a portion of these taxes, the portion that is not recovered will reduce the income the Fund receives from its investments. Some foreign governments erect cumbersome administrative processes and other barriers to discourage reclaiming withheld taxes or to make the process more difficult.

 

Emerging Markets Risks - Investing in emerging markets may magnify the risks of foreign investing. Security prices in emerging markets can be significantly more volatile than those in more developed markets, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, countries with emerging markets may:

 

Be subject to greater political and economic instability (including elevated risks or war, civil disturbances, and acts of terrorism), enhanced boom and bust cycles, immature economic and market structures, dependence on revenues from commodities, dependence on international aid, price controls, unstable governments, and burdensome investment or trade requirements;

 

Present greater risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets;

 

Offer less protection of property rights than more developed countries; and

 

Have economies that are heavily based on only a few industries or commodities, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates.

 

Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times.

 

Investments in China. China is an emerging market, and as a result, investments in securities of companies organized and listed in China may be subject to liquidity constraints and significantly higher volatility, from time to time, than investments in securities of more developed markets. The Chinese economy and Chinese companies may be subject to considerable government intervention as well as varying degrees of economic, political and social instability. These factors may result in, among other things, greater stock market risk, interest rate risk, inflation, and currency fluctuations. Accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards in China are different from U.S. standards and, therefore, disclosure of certain material information may not be made, may be less available, or may be less reliable. These considerations also affect U.S. companies doing business in China. The inability of U.S. regulators to oversee and review the audits of Chinese companies that are listed and traded in the U.S. has caused volatility in the markets for their securities, and may, in the future, lead to these issuers being delisted from U.S. exchanges. It may also be difficult or impossible for the Fund to obtain or enforce a judgment in a Chinese court.

 

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Periodically, restrictions may be placed on investments in Chinese companies. For example, on November 12, 2020, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order prohibiting U.S. persons from purchasing or investing in publicly-traded securities of companies identified by the U.S. government as “Communist Chinese military companies” or in instruments that are derivative of, or are designed to provide investment exposure to, those companies. The universe of affected securities is not always clear and further pronouncements can be issued from time to time. As a result of an increase in the number of investors looking to sell such securities, or because of an inability to participate in an investment that the Adviser otherwise believes is attractive, the Fund may incur losses. Certain securities that are or become designated as prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, potentially causing losses to the Fund.

 

Debt Securities

 

Corporations and governments use debt securities to borrow money from investors. Most debt securities promise a variable or fixed rate of return and repayment of the amount borrowed at maturity. Some debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay current interest and are purchased at a discount from their face value.

 

Types of Debt Securities:

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations - U.S. Treasury obligations consist of direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, including Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations, including those transferable through the Federal book-entry system known as Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities (“STRIPS”).

 

The STRIPS program lets investors hold and trade the individual interest and principal components of eligible Treasury notes and bonds as separate securities. STRIPS have had their interest payments (“coupons”) separated from the underlying principal (“corpus”) by their holder, typically a custodian bank or investment brokerage firm. Once the holder of the security has stripped or separated corpus and coupons, it may sell each component separately. The principal or corpus is then sold at a deep discount because the buyer receives only the right to receive a future fixed payment on the security and does not receive any rights to periodic interest (cash) payments. Typically, the coupons are sold separately or grouped with other coupons with like maturity dates and sold bundled in such form. The underlying treasury security is held in book-entry form at the Federal Reserve Bank or, in the case of bearer securities (i.e., unregistered securities which are owned ostensibly by the bearer or holder thereof), in trust on behalf of the owners thereof. Purchasers of stripped obligations acquire, in effect, discount obligations that are economically identical to the zero coupon securities that the U.S. Treasury sells itself.

 

U.S. Government Securities - The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years. U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi-annually and repay the principal at maturity. Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (“Farmer Mac”).

 

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Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency. Additionally, some obligations are issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, which are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so because the entities are not funded by Congressional appropriations and their debt (and equity) securities are not guaranteed by the U.S. government. Guarantees of principal by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Fund’s shares.

 

On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (“FHFA”) announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), placing the two federal instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the takeover, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and obtained warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality (the “Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement” or “Agreement”). Under the Agreement, the U.S. Treasury pledged to provide up to $200 billion per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. This was intended to ensure that the instrumentalities maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was amending the Agreement to allow the $200 billion cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in net worth through the end of 2012. The unlimited support the U.S. Treasury extended to the two companies expired at the beginning of 2013 – Fannie Mae's support is now capped at $125 billion and Freddie Mac has a limit of $149 billion.

 

On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to terminate the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each pay a 10% annual dividend. Instead, the companies will transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceed a capital reserve amount. The capital reserve amount was $3 billion in 2013, and decreased by $600 million in each subsequent year through 2017. It is believed that this amendment put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a better position to service their debt because it eliminated the need for the companies to have to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to make fixed dividend payments. As part of the new terms, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also were required to reduce their investment portfolios over time. On December 21, 2017, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to reinstate the $3 billion capital reserve amount. On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was further amending the Agreement, now permitting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to retain earnings beyond the $3 billion capital reserves previously allowed through the 2017 amendment. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now permitted to maintain capital reserves of $25 billion and $20 billion, respectively.

 

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The future status of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac could be impacted by, among other things, the actions taken and restrictions placed on Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac by the FHFA in its role as conservator, the restrictions placed on Fannie Mae’s or Freddie Mac’s operations and activities under the Agreement, market responses to developments at Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and future legislative and regulatory action that alters the operations, ownership structure and/or mission of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, each of which may, in turn, impact the value of, and cash flows on, any securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

 

Corporate Bonds - Corporations issue bonds and notes to raise money for working capital or for capital expenditures such as plant construction, equipment purchases and expansion. In return for the money loaned to the corporation by investors, the corporation promises to pay investors interest at specified times, and repay the principal amount of the bond or note at maturity.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities - Mortgage-backed securities are interests in pools of mortgage loans that various governmental, government-related and private organizations assemble as securities for sale to investors. Unlike most debt securities, which pay interest periodically and repay principal at maturity or on specified call dates, mortgage-backed securities make monthly payments that consist of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Since homeowners usually have the option of paying either part or all of the mortgage loan balance before maturity, the effective maturity of a mortgage-backed security is often shorter than is stated.

 

Governmental entities, private insurers and mortgage poolers may insure or guarantee the timely payment of interest and principal of these pools through various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The Adviser will consider such insurance and guarantees and the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof in selecting mortgage-backed securities for the Fund. It is possible that the private insurers or guarantors will not meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements.

 

Although the market for such securities is becoming increasingly liquid, securities issued by certain private organizations may not be readily marketable.

 

Commercial Banks, Savings and Loan Institutions, Private Mortgage Insurance Companies, Mortgage Bankers and other Secondary Market Issuers - Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional mortgage loans. In addition to guaranteeing the mortgage-related security, such issuers may service and/or have originated the underlying mortgage loans. Pools created by these issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than pools created by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac because they are not guaranteed by a government agency.

 

Risks of Mortgage-Backed Securities - Yield characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from those of traditional debt securities in a variety of ways. The most significant differences of mortgage-backed securities are: 1) payments of interest and principal are more frequent (usually monthly); and 2) falling interest rates generally cause individual borrowers to pay off their mortgage earlier than expected, which results in prepayments of principal on the securities, thus forcing the Fund to reinvest the money at a lower interest rate. In addition to the risks associated with changes in interest rates described in “Factors Affecting the Value of Debt Securities,” a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors, such as the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, can cause investors to repay the loans underlying a mortgage-backed security sooner than expected.

 

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Other Asset-Backed Securities - These securities are interests in pools of a broad range of assets other than mortgages, such as automobile loans, computer leases and credit card receivables. Like mortgage-backed securities, these securities are pass-through. In general, the collateral supporting these securities is of shorter maturity than mortgage loans and is less likely to experience substantial prepayments with interest rate fluctuations, but may still be subject to prepayment risk.

 

Asset-backed securities present certain risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. Primarily, these securities may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets, which raises the possibility that recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on these securities. For example, credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which allow debtors to reduce their balances by offsetting certain amounts owed on the credit cards. Most issuers of asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables permit the servicers of such receivables to retain possession of the underlying obligations. If the servicer were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the related asset-backed securities. Due to the quantity of vehicles involved and requirements under state laws, asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables may not have a proper security interest in all of the obligations backing such receivables.

 

To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments, the entity administering the pool of assets may agree to ensure that the receipt of payments on the underlying pool occurs in a timely fashion (“liquidity protection”). In addition, asset-backed securities may obtain insurance, such as guarantees, policies or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties, for some or all of the assets in the pool (“credit support”). Delinquency or loss more than that anticipated or failure of the credit support could adversely affect the return on an investment in such a security.

 

The Fund may also invest in residual interests in asset-backed securities, which consist of the excess cash flow remaining after making required payments on the securities and paying related administrative expenses. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a particular issue of asset-backed securities depends in part on the characteristics of the underlying assets, the coupon rates on the securities, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the actual prepayment experience on the underlying assets.

 

Short-Term Investments - To earn a return on uninvested assets, meet anticipated redemptions, or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in the short-term debt securities listed below, U.S. government securities and investment-grade corporate debt securities. Unless otherwise specified, a short-term debt security has a maturity of one year or less.

 

Bank Obligations - The Fund will only invest in a debt security issued by a commercial bank if the bank:

 

Has total assets of at least $1 billion, or the equivalent in other currencies (based on the most recent publicly available information about the bank); and

 

Is a U.S. bank and a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; or is a foreign branch of a U.S. bank and the Adviser believes the security is of an investment quality comparable with other debt securities that the Fund may purchase.

 

Time Deposits - Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits, such as savings accounts or certificates of deposit, held by a financial institution for a fixed term with the understanding that the depositor can withdraw its money only by giving notice to the institution. However, there may be early withdrawal penalties depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. The Fund may only purchase time deposits maturing from two calendar days through seven calendar days.

 

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Certificates of Deposit - Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank or savings and loan association for a definite period of time and earning a specified return.

 

Bankers’ Acceptance - A bankers’ acceptance is a time draft drawn on a commercial bank by a borrower, usually in connection with an international commercial transaction (to finance the import, export, transfer or storage of goods).

 

Commercial Paper - Commercial paper is a short-term obligation with a maturity ranging from 1 to 270 days issued by banks, corporations and other borrowers. Such investments are unsecured and usually discounted. The Fund may invest in commercial paper rated A-1 or A-2 by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Prime-1 or Prime-2 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or, if not rated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated A or better by Moody’s or by S&P. See “Appendix A – Description of Ratings” for a description of commercial paper ratings.

 

Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities - Stripped mortgage-backed securities are derivative multiple-class mortgage-backed securities. Stripped mortgage-backed securities usually have two classes that receive different proportions of interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. Typically, one class will receive some of the interest and most of the principal, while the other class will receive most of the interest and the remaining principal. In extreme cases, one class will receive all of the interest (“interest only” or “IO” class) while the other class will receive the entire principal (“principal only” or “PO” class). The cash flow and yields on IOs and POs are extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. A rapid rate of principal payments may adversely affect the yield to maturity of IOs and could cause the total loss of investment. Slower than anticipated prepayments of principal may adversely affect the yield to maturity of a PO. The yields and market risk of interest only and principal only stripped mortgage-backed securities, respectively, may be more volatile than those of other fixed income securities, including traditional mortgage-backed securities.

 

Yankee Bonds - Yankee bonds are dollar-denominated bonds issued inside the United States by foreign entities. Investments in these securities involve certain risks that are not typically associated with investing in domestic securities. See “Foreign Securities.”

 

Zero Coupon Bonds - These securities are sold at a (usually substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal. When held to maturity, their entire income, which consists of accretion of discount, comes from the difference between the issue price and their value at maturity. The amount of the discount rate varies depending on factors including the time remaining until maturity, prevailing interest rates, the security’s liquidity and the issuer’s credit quality. The market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay interest periodically. Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar maturity and credit qualities. Because current tax laws require reporting the portion of the original issue discount on zero coupon bonds as interest income, even though holders receive no cash, the Fund’s investments in zero coupon bonds may require it to sell certain of its securities to generate sufficient cash to satisfy certain income distribution requirements.

 

Terms to Understand:

 

Maturity - Every debt security has a stated maturity date when the issuer must repay the amount it borrowed (principal) from investors. Some debt securities, however, are callable, meaning the issuer can repay the principal earlier, on or after specified dates (call dates). Debt securities are most likely to be called when interest rates are falling because the issuer can refinance at a lower rate, similar to a homeowner refinancing a mortgage. The effective maturity of a debt security is usually its nearest call date.

 

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Funds that invest in debt securities have no real maturity. Instead, they calculate their weighted average maturity. This number is an average of the effective or anticipated maturity of each debt security held by the fund, with the maturity of each security weighted by the percentage of the assets of the fund it represents.

 

Duration - Duration is a calculation that seeks to measure the price sensitivity of a debt security, or of a fund that invests in debt securities, to changes in interest rates. Duration measures sensitivity more accurately than maturity because it takes into account the time value of cash flows generated over the life of a debt security. Future interest payments and principal payments are discounted to reflect their present value and then are multiplied by the number of years they will be received to produce a value expressed in years — the duration. Effective duration takes into account call features and sinking fund prepayments that may shorten the life of a debt security.

 

An effective duration of four years, for example, would suggest that for each 1% reduction in interest rates at all maturity levels, the price of a security is estimated to increase by 4%. An increase in rates by the same magnitude is estimated to reduce the price of the security by 4%. By knowing the yield and the effective duration of a debt security, one can estimate total return based on an expectation of how much interest rates, in general, will change. While serving as a good estimator of prospective returns, effective duration is an imperfect measure.

 

Factors Affecting the Value of Debt Securities - The total return of a debt instrument is composed of two elements: the percentage change in the security’s price and interest income earned. The yield to maturity of a debt security estimates its total return only if the price of the debt security remains unchanged during the holding period and the coupon interest is reinvested at the same yield to maturity. The total return of a debt instrument, therefore, will be determined not only by how much interest is earned, but also by how much the price of the security and interest rates change.

 

Interest Rates

 

The price of a debt security generally moves in the opposite direction from interest rates (i.e., if interest rates go up, the value of the bond will go down, and vice versa).

 

Prepayment Risk

 

This risk affects mainly mortgage- and asset-backed securities. Unlike other debt securities, falling interest rates can adversely affect the value of mortgage- and asset-backed securities, which may cause your share price to fall. Lower rates motivate borrowers to pay off the instruments underlying mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities earlier than expected, resulting in prepayments on the securities. The Fund may then have to reinvest the proceeds from such prepayments at lower interest rates, which can reduce its yield. The unexpected timing of mortgage and asset-backed prepayments caused by the variations in interest rates may also shorten or lengthen the average maturity of the Fund. If left unattended, drifts in the average maturity of the Fund can have the unintended effect of increasing or reducing the effective duration of the Fund, which may adversely affect the expected performance of the Fund.

 

Extension Risk

 

The other side of prepayment risk is extension risk, which occurs when interest rates are rising. Rising interest rates can cause the Fund’s average maturity to lengthen unexpectedly due to a drop in mortgage prepayments. This would increase the sensitivity of the Fund to rising rates and its potential for price declines. Extending the average life of a mortgage-backed security increases the risk of depreciation due to future increases in market interest rates. For these reasons, mortgage-backed securities may be less effective than other types of debt securities as a means of “locking in” interest rates.

 

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Credit Rating

 

Coupon interest is offered to investors of debt securities as compensation for assuming risk, although short-term Treasury securities, such as three-month treasury bills, are considered “risk-free.” Corporate securities offer higher yields than Treasury securities because their payment of interest and complete repayment of principal is less certain. The credit rating or financial condition of an issuer usually affects the value of a debt security. Generally, the greater the risks that the issuer will fail to pay interest and return principal, the lower the quality rating of a security. To compensate investors for taking on increased risk, issuers with lower credit ratings usually offer their investors a higher “risk premium” in the form of higher interest rates than those available from investors with higher credit ratings.

 

Changes in investor confidence regarding the certainty of interest and principal payments of a corporate debt security will result in an adjustment to this “risk premium.” Since an issuer’s outstanding debt carries a fixed coupon, adjustments to the risk premium must occur in the price, which affects the yield to maturity of the bond. If an issuer defaults or becomes unable to honor its financial obligations, the bond may lose some or all of its value.

 

A security rated within the four highest rating categories by a rating agency is called investment-grade because its issuer is deemed to be more likely to pay interest and repay principal than an issuer of a lower rated bond. Adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances, however, may weaken the capacity of the issuer to pay interest and repay principal. If a security is not rated or is rated under a different system, the Adviser may determine that it is of investment-grade. The Adviser may retain securities that are downgraded, if it believes that keeping those securities is warranted.

 

Debt securities rated below investment-grade (“junk bonds”) are highly speculative securities that are usually issued by smaller, less credit worthy and/or more highly leveraged (indebted) companies. A corporation may issue a junk bond because of a corporate restructuring or other similar event. Compared with investment-grade bonds, junk bonds carry a greater degree of risk and are less likely to make payments of interest and principal. Market developments and the financial and business condition of the corporation issuing these securities influence their price and liquidity more than changes in interest rates, when compared to investment-grade debt securities. Insufficient liquidity in the junk bond market may make it more difficult to dispose of junk bonds and may cause the Fund to experience sudden and substantial price declines. A lack of reliable, objective data or market quotations may make it more difficult to value junk bonds accurately.

 

Rating agencies are organizations that assign ratings to securities based primarily on the rating agency’s assessment of the issuer’s financial strength. The Fund currently uses ratings compiled by Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”). Credit ratings are only the rating agency’s opinion, not an absolute standard of quality, and they do not reflect an evaluation of market risk. The section “Appendix A – Description of Ratings” contains further information concerning the ratings of certain rating agencies and their significance.

 

The Adviser may use ratings produced by ratings agencies as guidelines to determine the rating of a security at the time the Fund buys it. A rating agency may change its credit ratings at any time. The Adviser monitors the rating of the security and will take such action, if any, it believes appropriate when it learns that a rating agency has reduced the security’s rating. The Fund is not obligated to dispose of securities whose issuers subsequently are in default or which are downgraded. The Fund may invest in securities of any rating.

 

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Derivatives

 

Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is based on an underlying asset, such as a stock or a bond, an underlying economic factor, such as an interest rate, or a market benchmark, such as an index. Unless otherwise stated in the Prospectus, the Fund may use derivatives for risk management purposes, to hedge against the risk of unfavorable price movements in the underlying instruments, to gain exposure to underlying instruments and/or various markets in a cost efficient manner, to gain long or short exposure, to manage cash flows, or for other purposes. The Fund may also invest in derivatives to protect it from broad fluctuations in market prices, interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates (a practice known as “hedging”). When hedging is successful, the Fund will have offset any depreciation in the value of its portfolio securities by the appreciation in the value of the derivative position. Although techniques other than the sale and purchase of derivatives could be used to control the exposure of the Fund to market fluctuations, the use of derivatives may be a more effective, and in some instances, a more cost effective, means of hedging this exposure.

 

Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Derivatives Rule”) provides a comprehensive framework for the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. The Derivatives Rule permits a registered investment company, subject to various conditions described below, to enter into derivatives transactions and certain other transactions notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior securities” under Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other things, prohibits open-end funds, including the Fund, from issuing or selling any “senior security,” other than borrowing from a bank (subject to a requirement to maintain 300% “asset coverage”).

 

Registered investment companies that don’t qualify as “limited derivatives users” as defined below, are required by the Derivatives Rule to, among other things, (i) adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program (“DRMP”) and testing requirements; (ii) comply with a relative or absolute limit on fund leverage risk calculated based on value-at-risk (“VaR”); and (iii) comply with new requirements related to Board and SEC reporting. The DRMP is administered by a “derivatives risk manager,” who is appointed by the Board and periodically reviews the DRMP and reports to the Board.

 

The Derivatives Rule provides an exception from the DRMP, VaR limit and certain other requirements for a registered investment company that limits its “derivatives exposure” to no more than 10% of its net assets (as calculated in accordance with the Derivatives Rule) (a “limited derivatives user”), provided that the registered investment company establishes appropriate policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage derivatives risks, including the risk of exceeding the 10% “derivatives exposure” threshold.

 

The requirements of the Derivatives Rule may limit the Fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may also increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments and/or the performance of the Fund. The Derivatives Rule also may not be effective to limit the Fund’s risk of loss. In particular, measurements of VaR rely on historical data and may not accurately measure the degree of risk reflected in the Fund’s derivatives or other investments. There may be additional regulation of the use of derivatives transactions by registered investment companies, which could significantly affect their use. The ultimate impact of these regulations remains unclear. Additional regulation of derivatives transactions may make them more costly, limit their availability or utility, otherwise adversely affect their performance or disrupt markets.

 

CFTC Regulations. Pursuant to rules adopted under the CEA by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), the Fund must either operate within certain guidelines and restrictions with respect to the Fund's use of futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps, or the Adviser will be subject to registration and regulation with the CFTC as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”).

 

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Consistent with the CFTC’s regulations, the Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, has filed a notice of exclusion from the definition of the term CPO under the CEA pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 with respect to the Fund’s operations. Therefore, the Fund is not subject to regulation as a commodity pool under the CEA and the Adviser is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA with respect to the Fund. As a result, the Fund will be limited in its ability to use futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps. Complying with the limitations may restrict the Adviser’s ability to implement the Fund’s investment strategies and may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

 

Types of Derivatives:

 

Futures - A futures contract is an agreement between two parties whereby one party sells and the other party agrees to buy a specified amount of a financial instrument at an agreed upon price and time. The financial instrument underlying the contract may be a stock, stock index, bond, bond index, interest rate, foreign exchange rate or other similar instrument. Agreeing to buy the underlying financial information is called buying a futures contract or taking a long position in the contract. Likewise, agreeing to sell the underlying financial instrument is called selling a futures contract or taking a short position in the contract.

 

Futures contracts are traded in the United States on commodity exchanges or boards of trade - known as “contract markets” - approved for such trading and regulated by the CFTC. These contract markets standardize the terms, including the maturity date and underlying financial instrument, of all futures contracts.

 

Unlike other securities, the parties to a futures contract do not have to pay for or deliver the underlying financial instrument until some future date (the delivery date). Contract markets require both the purchaser and seller to deposit “initial margin” with a futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant or custodian bank, when they enter into the contract. Initial margin deposits are typically equal to a percentage of the contract’s value. After they open a futures contract, the parties to the transaction must compare the purchase price of the contract to its daily market value. If the value of the futures contract changes in such a way that a party’s position declines, that party must make additional “variation margin” payments so that the margin payment is adequate. On the other hand, the value of the contract may change in such a way that there is excess margin on deposit, possibly entitling the party that has a gain to receive all or a portion of this amount. This process is known as “marking to the market.”

 

Although the actual terms of a futures contract call for the actual delivery of and payment for the underlying security, in many cases the parties may close the contract early by taking an opposite position in an identical contract. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is less than the original purchase price, the person closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is more than the original purchase price, the person closing out the contract will realize a gain. If the purchase price upon closing out the contract is more than the original sale price, the person closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the purchase price upon closing out the contract is less than the original sale price, the person closing out the contract will realize a gain.

 

The Fund may incur commission expenses when it opens or closes a futures position.

 

Options - An option is a contract between two parties for the purchase and sale of a financial instrument for a specified price (known as the “strike price” or “exercise price”) at any time during the option period. Unlike a futures contract, an option grants a right (not an obligation) to buy or sell a financial instrument. Generally, a seller of an option can grant a buyer two kinds of rights: a “call” (the right to buy the security) or a “put” (the right to sell the security). Options have various types of underlying instruments, including specific securities, indices of securities prices, foreign currencies, interest rates and futures contracts. Options may be traded on an exchange (exchange-traded-options) or may be customized agreements between the parties (over-the-counter or “OTC” options). Like futures, a financial intermediary, known as a clearing corporation, financially backs exchange-traded options. However, OTC options have no such intermediary and are subject to the risk that the counter-party will not fulfill its obligations under the contract.

 

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Purchasing Put and Call Options

 

When the Fund purchases a put option, it buys the right to sell the instrument underlying the option at a fixed strike price. In return for this right, the Fund pays the current market price for the option (known as the “option premium”). The Fund may purchase put options to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of its securities (“protective puts”) or to benefit from a decline in the price of securities that it does not own. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs. However, if the price of the underlying instrument does not fall enough to offset the cost of purchasing the option, a put buyer would lose the premium and related transaction costs.

 

Call options are similar to put options, except that the Fund obtains the right to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the option’s strike price. The Fund would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase in the market value of securities it wants to buy. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying instrument exceeded the exercise price plus the premium paid and related transaction costs. Otherwise, the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.

 

The purchaser of an option may terminate its position by:

 

Allowing it to expire and losing its entire premium;

 

Exercising the option and either selling (in the case of a put option) or buying (in the case of a call option) the underlying instrument at the strike price; or

 

Closing it out in the secondary market at its current price.

 

Selling (Writing) Put and Call Options

 

When the Fund writes a call option it assumes an obligation to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. Similarly, when the Fund writes a put option it assumes an obligation to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a specified price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. The Fund may terminate its position in an exchange-traded put option before exercise by buying an option identical to the one it has written. Similarly, the Fund may cancel an OTC option by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counter-party to the option.

 

The Fund could try to hedge against an increase in the value of securities it would like to acquire by writing a put option on those securities. If security prices rise, the Fund would expect the put option to expire and the premium it received to offset the increase in the security’s value. If security prices remain the same over time, the Fund would hope to profit by closing out the put option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the Fund may lose an amount of money equal to the difference between the value of the security and the premium it received. Writing covered put options may deprive the Fund of the opportunity to profit from a decrease in the market price of the securities it would like to acquire.

 

The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, except that call writers expect to profit if prices remain the same or fall. The Fund could try to hedge against a decline in the value of securities it already owns by writing a call option. If the price of that security falls as expected, the Fund would expect the option to expire and the premium it received to offset the decline of the security’s value. However, the Fund must be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, which may deprive it of the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the securities it holds.

 

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The Fund is permitted only to write covered options; the Fund may not write uncovered call or put options. At the time of selling the call option, the Fund may cover the option by owning, among other things:

 

The underlying security (or securities convertible into the underlying security without additional consideration), index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract;

 

A call option on the same security or index with the same or lesser exercise price;

 

A call option on the same security or index with a greater exercise price and segregating cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise prices;

 

Cash or liquid securities equal to at least the market value of the optioned securities, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract; or

 

In the case of an index, the portfolio of securities that corresponds to the index.

 

At the time of selling a put option, the Fund may cover the put option by, among other things:

 

Entering into a short position in the underlying security;

 

Purchasing a put option on the same security, index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract with the same or greater exercise price;

 

Purchasing a put option on the same security, index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract with a lesser exercise price and segregating cash or liquid securities in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise prices; or

 

Maintaining the entire exercise price in liquid securities.

 

Options on Securities Indices

 

Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

Options on Futures

 

An option on a futures contract provides the holder with the right to buy a futures contract (in the case of a call option) or sell a futures contract (in the case of a put option) at a fixed time and price. Upon exercise of the option by the holder, the contract market clearing house establishes a corresponding short position for the writer of the option (in the case of a call option) or a corresponding long position (in the case of a put option). If the option is exercised, the parties will be subject to the futures contracts. In addition, the writer of an option on a futures contract is subject to initial and variation margin requirements on the option position. Options on futures contracts are traded on the same contract market as the underlying futures contract.

 

The buyer or seller of an option on a futures contract may terminate the option early by purchasing or selling an option of the same series (i.e., the same exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously purchased or sold. The difference between the premiums paid and received represents the trader’s profit or loss on the transaction.

 

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The Fund may purchase put and call options on futures contracts instead of selling or buying futures contracts. The Fund may buy a put option on a futures contract for the same reasons it would sell a futures contract. The Fund also may purchase such put options in order to hedge a long position in the underlying futures contract. The Fund may buy call options on futures contracts for the same purpose as the actual purchase of the futures contracts, such as in anticipation of favorable market conditions.

 

The Fund may write a call option on a futures contract to hedge against a decline in the prices of the instrument underlying the futures contracts. If the price of the futures contract at expiration were below the exercise price, the Fund would retain the option premium, which would offset, in part, any decline in the value of its portfolio securities.

 

The writing of a put option on a futures contract is similar to the purchase of the futures contracts, except that, if the market price declines, the Fund would pay more than the market price for the underlying instrument. The premium received on the sale of the put option, less any transaction costs, would reduce the net cost to the Fund.

 

Combined Positions

 

The Fund may purchase and write options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward contracts, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall position. For example, the Fund could construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract by purchasing a put option and writing a call option on the same underlying instrument. Alternatively, the Fund could write a call option at one strike price and buy a call option at a lower price to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts

 

A forward foreign currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific amount of currency at a future date or date range at a specific price. In the case of a cancelable forward contract, the holder has the unilateral right to cancel the contract at maturity by paying a specified fee. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts differ from foreign currency futures contracts in certain respects. Unlike futures contracts, forward contracts:

 

Do not have standard maturity dates or amounts (i.e., the parties to the contract may fix the maturity date and the amount);

 

Are traded in the inter-bank markets conducted directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers, as opposed to futures contracts which are traded only on exchanges regulated by the CFTC;

 

Do not require an initial margin deposit; and

 

May be closed by entering into a closing transaction with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract, as opposed to a commodities exchange.

 

Foreign Currency Hedging Strategies - A “settlement hedge” or “transaction hedge” is designed to protect the Fund against an adverse change in foreign currency values between the date a security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received. Entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in an underlying security transaction for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars “locks in” the U.S. dollar price of the security. The Fund may also use forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency when it anticipates purchasing or selling securities denominated in foreign currency, even if it has not yet selected the specific investments.

 

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The Fund may use forward contracts to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. Such a hedge, sometimes referred to as a “position hedge,” could offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar, but would not offset changes in security values caused by other factors. The Fund could also hedge the position by selling another currency expected to perform similarly to the currency in which the Fund’s investment is denominated. This type of hedge, sometimes referred to as a “proxy hedge,” could offer advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but generally would not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a direct hedge into U.S. dollars. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.

 

Transaction and position hedging do not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities that the Fund owns or intends to purchase or sell. The hedges simply establish a rate of exchange that one can achieve at some future point in time. Additionally, these techniques which may minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency also may limit potential gains that might result from the increase in value of such currency.

 

The Fund may enter into forward contracts to shift its investment exposure from one currency into another. Such transactions may call for the delivery of one foreign currency in exchange for another foreign currency, including currencies in which its securities are not then denominated. This may include shifting exposure from U.S. dollars to a foreign currency, or from one foreign currency to another foreign currency. This type of strategy, sometimes known as a “cross-hedge,” will tend to reduce or eliminate exposure to the currency that is sold, and increase exposure to the currency that is purchased. Cross-hedges may protect against losses resulting from a decline in the hedged currency, but will cause the Fund to assume the risk of fluctuations in the value of the currency it purchases. Cross-hedging transactions also involve the risk of imperfect correlation between changes in the values of the currencies involved.

 

It is difficult to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration or maturity of a forward or futures contract. Accordingly, the Fund may have to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot market if the market value of a security it is hedging is less than the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver. Conversely, the Fund may have to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency it received upon the sale of a security if the market value of such security exceeds the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver. The Fund may bear transaction costs in connection with these purchases or sales.

 

Participatory Notes (“P-Notes”) - P-Notes are participation interest notes that are issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to offer a return linked to a particular underlying foreign equity, debt, currency or market. When purchasing a P-Note, the posting of margin is not required because the full cost of the P-Note (plus commission) is paid at the time of purchase. When the P-Note matures, the issuer will pay to, or receive from, the purchaser the difference between the nominal value of the underlying instrument at the time of purchase and that instrument's value at maturity. Investments in P-Notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate.

 

In addition, there can be no assurance that the trading price of P-Notes will equal the underlying value of the foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate. The holder of a P-Note that is linked to a particular underlying security is entitled to receive any dividends paid in connection with an underlying security or instrument. However, the holder of a P-Note does not receive voting rights as it would if it directly owned the underlying security or instrument. P-Notes constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them. There is also counterparty risk associated with these investments because the purchaser is relying on the creditworthiness of such counterparty and has no rights under a P-Note against the issuer of the underlying security. In addition, purchasers incur transaction costs when investing in P-Notes. P-Notes are generally traded over-the-counter.

 

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Swaps, Caps, Collars and Floors

 

Swap Agreements - A swap is a financial instrument that typically involves the exchange of cash flows between two parties on specified dates (settlement dates), where the cash flows are based on agreed-upon prices, rates, indices, etc. The nominal amount on which the cash flows are calculated is called the notional amount. Swaps are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, such as interest rates, foreign currency rates, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, security prices or inflation rates.

 

Swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of the Fund and its share price. The performance of swap agreements may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterparty’s creditworthiness declined, the value of a swap agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses.

 

Generally, swap agreements have a fixed maturity date that will be agreed upon by the parties. The agreement can be terminated before the maturity date under certain circumstances, such as default by one of the parties or insolvency, among others, and can be transferred by a party only with the prior written consent of the other party. The Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or by other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. If the counter-party is unable to meet its obligations under the contract, declares bankruptcy, defaults or becomes insolvent, the Fund may not be able to recover the money it expected to receive under the contract. The Fund will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Adviser believes that the other party to the transaction is creditworthy.

 

A swap agreement can be a form of leverage, which can magnify the Fund’s gains or losses.

 

Equity Swaps

 

In a typical equity swap, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a single stock, stock index or basket of stocks in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Equity index swaps involve not only the risk associated with investment in the securities represented in the index, but also the risk that the performance of such securities, including dividends, will not exceed the return on the interest rate that the Fund will be committed to pay.

 

Total Return Swaps

  

Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from a reference instrument – which may be a single asset, a pool of assets or an index of assets – during a specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from another underlying reference instrument. The total return includes appreciation or depreciation on the underlying asset, plus any interest or dividend payments. Payments under the swap are based upon an agreed upon principal amount but, since the principal amount is not exchanged, it represents neither an asset nor a liability to either counterparty, and is referred to as notional. Total return swaps are marked to market daily using different sources, including quotations from counterparties, pricing services, brokers or market makers. The unrealized appreciation (depreciation) related to the change in the valuation of the notional amount of the swap is combined with the amount due to the Fund at termination or settlement. The primary risks associated with total return swaps are credit risks (if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations) and market risk (if there is no liquid market for the agreement or unfavorable changes occur to the underlying reference instrument).

 

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Interest Rate Swaps

 

Interest rate swaps are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. Some of the different types of interest rate swaps are “fixed-for-floating rate swaps,” “termed basis swaps” and “index amortizing swaps.” Fixed-for-floating rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed interest rate cash flows for floating rate cash flows. Termed basis swaps entail cash flows to both parties based on floating interest rates, where the interest rate indices are different. Index amortizing swaps are typically fixed-for-floating rate swaps where the notional amount changes if certain conditions are met.

 

Like a traditional investment in a debt security, the Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely. For example, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest, the Fund may have to pay more money than it receives if the floating rate of interest exceeds the fixed rate of interest.

 

Currency Swaps

 

A currency swap is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make interest rate payments in one currency and the other promises to make interest rate payments in another currency. The Fund may enter into a currency swap when it holds one currency and desires a different currency. Typically, the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the contract and returned at the end of the contract. Changes in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above may negatively affect currency swaps.

 

Caps, Collars and Floors - Caps and floors have an effect similar to buying or writing options. In a typical cap or floor agreement, one party agrees to make payments only under specified circumstances, usually in return for payment of a fee by the other party. For example, the buyer of an interest rate cap obtains the right to receive payments to the extent that a specified interest rate exceeds an agreed-upon level. The seller of an interest rate floor is obligated to make payments to the extent that a specified interest rate falls below an agreed-upon level. An interest rate collar combines elements of buying a cap and selling a floor.

 

Risks of Derivatives:

 

While transactions in derivatives may reduce certain risks, these transactions themselves entail certain other risks. For example, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance of the Fund than if it had not entered into any derivatives transactions. Derivatives may magnify the Fund’s gains or losses, causing it to make or lose substantially more than it invested.

 

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When used for hedging purposes, increases in the value of the securities the Fund holds or intends to acquire should offset any losses incurred with a derivative. Purchasing derivatives for purposes other than hedging could expose the Fund to greater risks.

 

Correlation of Prices - The Fund’s ability to hedge its securities through derivatives depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index or instrument correlate with price movements in the relevant securities. In the case of poor correlation, the price of the securities the Fund is hedging may not move in the same amount, or even in the same direction as the hedging instrument. The Adviser will try to minimize this risk by investing only in those contracts whose behavior it expects to resemble the portfolio securities it is trying to hedge. However, if the Fund’s prediction of interest and currency rates, market value, volatility or other economic factors is incorrect, the Fund may lose money, or may not make as much money as it expected.

 

Derivative prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the characteristics of the underlying instruments are very similar to the derivative. Listed below are some of the factors that may cause such a divergence:

 

Current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract;

 

A difference between the derivatives and securities markets, including different levels of demand, how the instruments are traded, the imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or trading of an instrument stops; and

 

Differences between the derivatives, such as different margin requirements, different liquidity of such markets and the participation of speculators in such markets.

 

Derivatives based upon a narrower index of securities, such as those of a particular industry group, may present greater risk than derivatives based on a broad market index. Since narrower indices are made up of a smaller number of securities, they are more susceptible to rapid and extreme price fluctuations because of changes in the value of those securities.

 

While currency futures and options values are expected to correlate with exchange rates, they may not reflect other factors that affect the value of the investments of the Fund. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a yen-denominated security from a decline in the yen, but will not protect the Fund against a price decline resulting from deterioration in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Because the value of the Fund’s foreign-denominated investments changes in response to many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to match the amount of currency options and futures to the value of the Fund’s investments precisely over time.

 

Lack of Liquidity - Before a futures contract or option is exercised or expires, the Fund can terminate it only by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. Moreover, the Fund may close out a futures contract only on the exchange the contract was initially traded. Although the Fund intends to purchase options and futures only where there appears to be an active market, market liquidity cannot be guaranteed. If there is no secondary market for the contract, or the market is illiquid, the Fund may not be able to close out its position. In an illiquid market, the Fund may:

 

Have to sell securities to meet its daily margin requirements at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so;

 

Have to purchase or sell the instrument underlying the contract;

 

Not be able to hedge its investments; and

 

Not be able to realize profits or limit its losses.

 

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Derivatives may become illiquid (i.e., difficult to sell at a desired time and price) under a variety of market conditions. For example:

 

An exchange may suspend or limit trading in a particular derivative instrument, an entire category of derivatives or all derivatives, which sometimes occurs because of increased market volatility;

 

Unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations of an exchange;

 

The facilities of the exchange may not be adequate to handle current trading volume;

 

Equipment failures, government intervention, insolvency of a brokerage firm or clearing house or other occurrences may disrupt normal trading activity; or

 

Investors may lose interest in a particular derivative or category of derivatives.

 

Management Risk - If the Adviser incorrectly predicts stock market and interest rate trends, the Fund may lose money by investing in derivatives. For example, if the Fund were to write a call option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would fall, but the price were to rise instead, the Fund could be required to sell the security upon exercise at a price below the current market price. Similarly, if the Fund were to write a put option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would rise, but the price were to fall instead, the Fund could be required to purchase the security upon exercise at a price higher than the current market price.

 

Pricing Risk - At times, market prices for certain derivatives may be unavailable or unreliable and market conditions might make it difficult to value some derivative investments. For example, if the Fund has valued its derivatives too high, the Fund may, upon sale, be unable to obtain the price at which it was valuing the instrument.

 

Margin - Because of the low margin deposits required upon the opening of a derivative position, such transactions may involve an extremely high degree of leverage. Consequently, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to the Fund and it may lose more than it originally invested in the derivative.

 

If the price of a futures contract changes adversely, the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so to meet its minimum daily margin requirement. The Fund may lose its margin deposits if a broker-dealer with whom it has an open futures contract or related option becomes insolvent or declares bankruptcy.

 

Volatility and Leverage - The prices of derivatives are volatile (i.e., they may change rapidly, substantially and unpredictably) and are influenced by a variety of factors, including:

 

actual and anticipated changes in interest rates;

 

fiscal and monetary policies; and

 

national and international political events.

 

Most exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a derivative can change during a single trading day. Daily trading limits establish the maximum amount that the price of a derivative may vary from the settlement price of that derivative at the end of trading on the previous day. Once the price of a derivative reaches this value, the Fund may not trade that derivative at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a given day and does not limit potential gains or losses. Derivative prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days, preventing prompt liquidation of the derivative.

 

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Investment Companies

 

The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies, to the extent permitted by applicable law, subject to certain restrictions. Investment companies are companies that are engaged primarily in the business of investing in securities or that hold a large proportion of their assets in the form of investment securities. The Fund itself is an investment company, as are many mutual funds, including money market funds, and exchange-traded and closed-end funds. Investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by shareholders investing in the Fund. The Fund’s investment in such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that Fund shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying the Fund’s own expenses.

 

Generally, the federal securities laws limit the extent to which the Fund can invest in securities of other investment companies, subject to certain exceptions. For example, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act prohibits the Fund from (i) acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any one investment company, (ii) investing more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, and (iii) investing more than 10% of its total assets in all investment companies combined, including its exchange-traded fund investments.

 

The Fund may rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, which provides an exemption from Section 12(d)(1) that allows the Fund to invest all of its assets in other registered funds, including ETFs, if, among other conditions, the Fund, together with its affiliates, acquires no more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any acquired fund. The Fund may also rely on Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 12d1-4 permits the Fund to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions specified in the Rule including, among other conditions, that the Fund and its advisory group will not control (individually or in the aggregate) an acquired fund (e.g., hold more than 25% of the outstanding voting securities of an acquired fund that is a registered open-end management investment company). In addition, the Fund may be able to rely on certain other rules under the 1940 Act to invest in shares of money market funds or other investment companies beyond the statutory limits noted above, but subject to certain conditions.

 

For hedging or other purposes, the Fund may invest in investment companies that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific indexes or portions of specific indexes. Certain of these investment companies, including ETFs, are traded on a securities exchange. The market prices of ETFs will fluctuate in accordance with changes in their underlying portfolio securities and also due to supply and demand of the investment company’s shares on the exchange upon which the shares are traded. Index-based investments may not precisely replicate or otherwise match the composition or performance of their specified index due to transaction costs, among other considerations. Actively managed ETFs are subject to the risk that the investment strategies employed by their investment advisers may underperform other investments.

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”)

 

A U.S. REIT is a corporation or business trust (that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation) that invests primarily in income producing real estate or real estate-related loans or interests and which meets the definitional requirements of the Code. The Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct from taxable income the dividends paid, thereby effectively eliminating corporate level federal income tax. To meet the definitional requirements of the Code, a REIT must, among other things: invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate (including mortgages and other REITs), cash and government securities; derive most of its income from rents from real property or interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property; and distribute annually 90% or more of its otherwise taxable income to shareholders.

 

REITs are sometimes informally characterized as Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs. An Equity REIT invests primarily in the fee ownership or leasehold ownership of land and buildings; a Mortgage REIT invests primarily in mortgages on real property, which may secure construction, development or long-term loans.

 

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REITs may be affected by changes in underlying real estate values, which may have an exaggerated effect to the extent that REITs in which the Fund invests may concentrate investments in particular geographic regions or property types. Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalization, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of securities issued by such REITs. Additionally, rising interest rates may cause investors in REITs to demand a higher annual yield from future distributions, which may in turn decrease market prices for equity securities issued by REITs. Rising interest rates also generally increase the costs of obtaining financing, which could cause the value of the Fund’s investments to decline. During periods of declining interest rates, certain Mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by such Mortgage REITs. Equity and Mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency, defaults by borrowers, and self-liquidation. In addition, Mortgage REITs may be affected by the ability of borrowers to repay when due the debt extended by the REIT and Equity REITs may be affected by the ability of tenants to pay rent. The above factors may adversely affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments.

 

Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders. In addition, U.S. REITs could possibly fail to qualify for tax free pass-through of income under the Code or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act.

 

Repurchase Agreements

 

A repurchase agreement is an agreement in which one party sells securities to the Fund in return for cash with an agreement to repurchase equivalent securities at an agreed-upon price and on an agreed-upon future date. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions and follow certain procedures designed to minimize the risks inherent in such agreements. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with large, well-capitalized and well-established financial institutions deemed creditworthy by the Adviser. The repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund will provide that the underlying collateral shall have a value equal to at least 102% of the resale price stated in the agreement at all times. The Adviser monitors compliance with this requirement as well as the ongoing financial condition and creditworthiness of the counterparty. Under all repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund, the custodian or its agent must take possession of the underlying collateral.

 

In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Fund's right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. At times, the investments of the Fund in repurchase agreements may be substantial when, in the view of the Adviser, liquidity or other considerations so warrant. The Fund may enter into “tri-party” repurchase agreements. In “tri-party” repurchase agreements, an unaffiliated third party custodian maintains accounts to hold collateral for the Fund and its counterparties and, therefore, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of those custodians.

 

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Reverse Repurchase Agreements

 

Reverse repurchase agreements involve sales by the Fund of portfolio assets concurrently with an agreement by the Fund to repurchase the same assets at a later date at a fixed price. Generally, the effect of such a transaction is that the Fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while the Fund will be able to keep the interest income associated with those portfolio securities. Such transactions are advantageous only if the interest cost to the Fund of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the cost of obtaining the cash otherwise. Opportunities to achieve this advantage may not always be available, and the Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only when it will be advantageous to the Fund. Reverse repurchase agreement are considered to be borrowings under the 1940 Act. Although there is no limit on the percentage of Fund assets that can be used in connection with reverse repurchase agreements, the Fund does not expect to engage, under normal circumstances, in reverse repurchase agreements with respect to more than 33 1/3% of its total assets.

 

The Derivatives Rule permits the Fund to enter into reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions, notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the 1940 Act. The Derivatives Rule permits the Fund to elect whether to treat a reverse repurchase agreement as a borrowing, subject to the asset coverage requirements of Section 18 of the 1940 Act, or as a derivatives transaction under the Derivatives Rule.

 

Restricted and Illiquid Investments

 

While the Fund does not anticipate doing so to any appreciable extent, the Fund may purchase illiquid investments, including securities that are not readily marketable and securities that are not registered (“restricted securities”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), but which can be offered and sold to “qualified institutional buyers” under Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. The Fund may not acquire an illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. If the percentage of the Fund’s net assets held in illiquid investments exceeds 15%, the Fund will take such measures as required by the Fund’s liquidity risk management program. Illiquid investments are investments that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. There may be a limited trading market or low trading volumes for illiquid investments that may result in erratic price movements. In addition, the Fund may be unable to dispose of its holdings in illiquid investments quickly, and may need to liquidate such positions over extended periods of time, which exposes the positions to additional market risk, or sales at sharply discounted prices.

 

Securities Lending

 

The Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial organizations that meet capital and other credit requirements or other criteria established by the Board. These loans, if and when made, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the total asset value of the Fund (including the loan collateral). The Fund will not lend portfolio securities to the Adviser or its affiliates unless permissible under the 1940 Act and the rules and promulgations thereunder. Loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized by cash, letters of credit or U.S. government securities, and the collateral will be maintained in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities by marking to market daily. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned by the Fund that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the account of the Fund.

 

The Fund may pay a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral, or other fee, to an unaffiliated third party for acting as the Fund’s securities lending agent but will bear all of any losses from the investment of collateral.

 

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By lending its securities, the Fund may increase its income by receiving payments from the borrower that reflect the amount of any interest or any dividends payable on the loaned securities as well as by either investing cash collateral received from the borrower in short-term instruments or obtaining a fee from the borrower when U.S. government securities or letters of credit are used as collateral. The Fund will adhere to the following conditions whenever its portfolio securities are loaned: (i) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral or equivalent securities of the type discussed above from the borrower; (ii) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (iii) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan on demand; (iv) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in market value; (v) the Fund may pay only reasonable fees in connection with the loan (which fees may include fees payable to the lending agent, the borrower, the Fund’s administrator and the custodian); and (vi) voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, provided, however, that if the Fund has knowledge of a material vote affecting the security, the Fund must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities. The Board has adopted procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the foregoing criteria will be met. Loan agreements involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the borrower, including possible delays or restrictions upon the Fund’s ability to recover the loaned securities (including for the purpose of voting the securities) or dispose of the collateral for the loan, which could give rise to loss because of adverse company or market action, expenses and/or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying securities.

 

Short Sales

 

Description of Short Sales:

 

The Fund is permitted to engage in short sales of securities except as prohibited by the 1940 Act. Selling a security short is when an investor sells a security it does not own. To sell a security short an investor must borrow the security from someone else to deliver to the buyer. The investor then replaces the security it borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at or before the time of replacement. Until it replaces the security, the investor repays the person that lent it the security for any interest or dividends that may have accrued during the period of the loan.

 

Investors typically sell securities short to:

 

Take advantage of an anticipated decline in prices.

 

Protect a profit in a security it already owns.

 

Manage exposure to securities or markets.

 

The Fund can lose money if the price of the security it sold short increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. Because the market price of the security sold short could increase without limit, the Fund could also be subject to a theoretically unlimited loss. Likewise, the Fund can profit if the price of the security declines between those dates.

 

To borrow the security, the Fund may be required to pay a premium, which increases the cost of the security sold. The Fund will also incur transaction costs in effecting short sales. The Fund’s gains and losses will be decreased or increased, as the case may be, by the amount of the premium, dividends, interest, or expenses the Fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale.

 

The broker will retain the net proceeds of the short sale, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

 

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Short Sales Against the Box - In addition, the Fund may engage in short sales “against the box.” In a short sale against the box, the Fund agrees to sell at a future date a security that it either currently owns or has the right to acquire at no extra cost. The Fund will incur transaction costs to open, maintain and close short sales against the box.

 

Restrictions on Short Sales:

 

The Fund will not short sell a security if:

 

After giving effect to such short sale, the total market value of all securities sold short would exceed 25% of the value of the Fund’s net assets;

 

The market value of the securities of any single issuer that have been sold short by the Fund would exceed two percent (2%) of the value of the Fund’s net assets; or

 

Any security sold short would constitute more than two percent (2%) of any class of the issuer’s securities.

 

When-Issued, Delayed-Delivery and Forward-Delivery Transactions

 

A when-issued security is one whose terms are available and for which a market exists, but which have not been issued. “Delayed-delivery” refers to securities transactions on the secondary market where settlement occurs in the future. In a forward-delivery transaction, the Fund contracts to purchase securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary settlement time. In each of these transactions, the parties fix the payment obligation and the interest rate that they will receive on the securities at the time the parties enter the commitment; however, they do not pay money or deliver securities until a later date. Typically, no income accrues on securities the Fund has committed to purchase before the securities are delivered. The Fund will only enter into these types of transactions with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but may sell them before the settlement date.

 

The Fund uses when-issued, delayed-delivery and forward-delivery transactions to secure what it considers an advantageous price and yield at the time of purchase. When the Fund engages in when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward-delivery transactions, it relies on the counterparty to consummate the sale. If the other party fails to complete the sale, the Fund may miss the opportunity to obtain the security at a favorable price or yield.

 

When purchasing a security on a when-issued, delayed-delivery, or forward-delivery basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield changes. At the time of settlement, the market value of the security may be more or less than the purchase price. The yield available in the market when the delivery takes place also may be higher than those obtained in the transaction itself. Because the Fund does not pay for the security until the delivery date, these risks are in addition to other risks typically associated with equity or debt investments.

 

The Derivatives Rule permits the Fund to enter into when-issued or delayed delivery basis securities notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the 1940 Act, provided that the Fund intends to physically settle the transaction and the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date. If a when-issued or delayed delivery basis security entered into by the Fund does not satisfy those requirements, the Fund would need to comply with the Derivatives Rule with respect to its when issued or delayed delivery transactions, which are considered derivatives transactions under the Derivatives Rule. See “Derivatives – Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act” above.

 

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Special Risks of Cyber Attacks

 

As with any entity that conducts business through electronic means in the modern marketplace, the Fund, and its service providers, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber attacks. Cyber attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized monitoring, misappropriation, release, misuse, loss, destruction or corruption of confidential information, unauthorized access to relevant systems, compromises to networks or devices that the Fund and its service providers use to service the Fund’s operations, ransomware, operational disruption or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Fund and its service providers, or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber attacks affecting the Fund or the Adviser, the Fund’s distributor, custodian, administrator, Authorized Participant(s), market makers or any other of the Fund’s intermediaries or service providers may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders, potentially resulting in, among other things, financial losses, the inability of the Fund to conduct normal operations, or the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business with the Fund. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with or prevent the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes designed to mitigate or prevent the risk of cyber attacks. Such costs may be ongoing because threats of cyber attacks are constantly evolving as cyber attackers become more sophisticated and their techniques become more complex and adapt to enhanced securities features. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investments in such companies to lose value. There can be no assurance that the Fund, the Fund’s service providers, or the issuers of the securities in which the Fund invests will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches in the future.

 

LIBOR Replacement Risk

 

The Fund may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from, or continue to be tied to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. Such instruments may include bank loans, derivatives, floating rate securities, and other assets or liabilities. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, has ceased publishing all LIBOR settings on a representative basis. In April 2023, however, the FCA announced that some USD LIBOR settings will continue to be published under a synthetic methodology until September 30, 2024 for certain legacy contracts.

 

The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market, has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. Under U.S. regulations that implement a statutory fallback mechanism to replace LIBOR, benchmark rates based on SOFR have replaced LIBOR in different categories of financial contracts.

 

Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. While some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities, or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The Fund may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.

 

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Health-Related Market Risk

 

An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus designated as COVID-19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. The transmission of COVID-19 has had significant health consequences around the globe. Efforts to contain its spread have resulted in international, national and local border closings and other significant travel restrictions and disruptions, significant disruptions to business operations, supply chains and diminished customer activity, event cancellations and restrictions, service cancellations, reductions and other changes, significant challenges in healthcare service preparation and delivery, and quarantines, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. These events have also caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, which have caused losses for investors. Health crises caused by viral or bacterial outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social, economic, market and financial risks. The impact of this outbreak, and future epidemics and pandemics, could negatively affect the global economy over either the short term or the long term, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseeable ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

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INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

Investment Adviser. Cambiar Investors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company located at 200 Columbine Street, Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80206, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. The Adviser manages and supervises the investment of the Fund’s assets on a discretionary basis. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $3.4 billion in discretionary assets under management. The Adviser and its predecessor, Cambiar Investors, Inc., which was an affiliate of Old Mutual (US) Holdings, Inc. (formerly United Asset Management Company) (“Old Mutual”), have provided investment management services to corporations, foundations, endowments, collective investment trusts, pension and profit sharing plans, trusts, estates and other institutions as well as individuals since 1973. The Adviser is owned by Cambiar Holdings, LLLP, which is controlled by Mr. Brian Barish.

 

Advisory Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Adviser have entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser serves as the investment adviser and makes investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the investment program of the Fund, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Trustees.

 

After the initial two-year term, the continuance of the Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually: (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, on not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser, or, by the Adviser, on 90 days’ written notice to the Trust. The Advisory Agreement provides that the Adviser shall not be protected against any liability to the Trust or its shareholders by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on its part in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard of its obligations or duties thereunder. As used in the Advisory Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested persons” and “assignment” have the same meaning as such terms in the 1940 Act.

 

Advisory Fees Paid to the Adviser. For its services under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.59% of the Fund’s average daily net assets. This advisory fee is a unitary management fee designed to pay the Fund’s expenses and to compensate the Adviser for the services it provides to the Fund. Out of the unitary management fee, the Adviser pays substantially all expenses of the Fund, including the cost of transfer agency, custody, fund administration, legal, audit, sub-advisory fees, and other service and license fees. However, the Adviser is not responsible for (a) the management fee; (b) interest; (c) taxes; (d) brokerage commissions, and other expenses incurred in placing or settlement of orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments; (e) acquired fund fees and expenses; (f) accrued deferred tax liability; (g) extraordinary expenses; and (h) distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted by the Board pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, if any.

 

For its services to the Predecessor Fund, the Adviser was entitled to a fee, which was calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.90% based on the average daily net assets of the Predecessor Fund.

 

For the Predecessor Fund, the Adviser contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses for that Fund in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding any class-specific expenses (including shareholder servicing fees), interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other costs and expenses relating to the securities that are purchased and sold by the Fund, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and other non-routine expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 0.95% of the average daily net assets of the Predecessor Fund’s Investor Class Shares and Institutional Class Shares.

 

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For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid the following advisory fees to the Adviser:

 

Contractual Advisory Fees
20231
$200,432

 

1Reflects the fiscal period from the Reorganization to October 31, 2023.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Predecessor Fund paid the following advisory fees to the Adviser:

 

Contractual Advisory Fees Fees Waived by the Adviser Total Fees Paid (After Waivers) to the Adviser
2021 2022 20231 2021 2022 20231 2021 2022 20231
$472,505 $427,633 $114,906 $117,801 $135,667 $73,276 $354,704 $291,966 $41,630

 

1Reflects the fiscal period from November 1, 2022 to the Reorganization.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGER

 

This section includes information about the Fund’s portfolio manager, including information about other accounts managed, the dollar range of Fund shares owned and how the portfolio manager is compensated.

 

Compensation. The Adviser compensates the Fund’s portfolio manager for his management of the Fund and the Adviser’s other accounts. The portfolio manager’s compensation consists of an industry competitive base salary, discretionary cash bonus, and a profit-sharing contribution at year-end. While the Adviser’s investment professionals receive a competitive salary plus a bonus tied to firm and individual performance, contributions are also measured through performance attribution which details individual stock/product and sector-relative contribution, as well as other overall “value added” considerations important to the firm, such as success of products managed or client service. Equity in the Adviser’s parent company is also available to reward key employees. The portfolio manager’s pre-tax performance results are compared against the Russell 1000® Value Index.

 

Fund Shares Owned by the Portfolio Manager. The following table shows the dollar amount range of the portfolio manager’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Fund as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”).

 

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Name Dollar Range of Fund Shares1
Brian M. Barish Over $1,000,000

 

1Valuation date is October 31, 2023.

 

The Fund's portfolio manager may also have significant investments in vehicles employing investment strategies substantially similar to those of the Fund, which are not reflected in the above table.

 

Other Accounts. In addition to the Fund, the portfolio manager is responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as follows. None of the accounts included below are currently subject to a performance based advisory fee. The information below is provided as of October 31, 2023.

 

  Registered Investment Companies Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Other Accounts
Name Number of Accounts Total Assets (in millions) Number of Accounts Total Assets Number of Accounts Total Assets (in millions)
Brian M. Barish 3 $506.16 0 $0 159 $1,936. 56

 

Conflicts of Interest. The portfolio manager’s management of “other accounts” may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with his management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The management of multiple accounts may result in the portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each account. Although the Adviser does not track the time the portfolio manager spends on a single portfolio, it does seek to ensure that the portfolio manager has adequate time and resources to effectively manage all of the accounts for which he is responsible. Even where multiple accounts are managed by the portfolio manager within the same investment strategy, the manager may take action with respect to one account that may differ from the timing or nature of action taken with respect to another account because of different investment platforms, account types, opening or funding dates, cash flows, client-specific objectives or restrictions, or for other reasons. Accordingly, the performance of each account managed by the portfolio manager will vary.

 

Potential conflicts of interest may also arise when allocating and/or aggregating trades. The Adviser often seeks to aggregate into a single trade order several individual contemporaneous client trade orders in a single security. Under applicable Adviser policies, when trades are aggregated on behalf of more than one account, such transactions will be allocated to participating client accounts in a fair and equitable manner. The Adviser’s policies also seek to ensure that the portfolio manager does not systematically allocate other types of trades in a manner that would be more beneficial to one account than another, and the Adviser’s compliance personnel monitor transactions made on behalf of multiple clients to seek to ensure adherence to its policies. In addition, the Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures, including brokerage and trade allocation policies and procedures, that seek to minimize potential conflicts of interest that may arise because the Adviser advises multiple accounts.

 

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THE ADMINISTRATOR

 

General. SEI Investments Global Funds Services (the “Administrator”), a Delaware statutory trust, has its principal business offices at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. SEI Investments Management Corporation (“SIMC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company (“SEI Investments”), is the owner of all beneficial interest in the Administrator. SEI Investments and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including the Administrator, are providers of fund evaluation services, trust accounting systems, and brokerage and information services to financial institutions, institutional investors, and money managers. The Administrator and its affiliates also serve as administrator or sub-administrator to other funds.

 

Administration Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Administrator have entered into an amended and restated administration agreement dated November 13, 2018, as amended (the “Administration Agreement”). Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides the Trust with administrative services, including regulatory reporting and all necessary office space, equipment, personnel and facilities.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss arising out of any investment or for any act or omission in carrying out its duties thereunder, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Administrator in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

Administration Fees Paid to the Administrator. For its services under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator is paid a fee, which varies based on the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to certain minimums. For the fiscal period from the Reorganization to October 31, 2023, the Fund did not pay the Administrator any administration fees because the administration fees incurred by the Fund were paid by the Adviser in accordance with the terms of the Advisory Agreement.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021 and 2022 and the fiscal period from November 1, 2022 to the Reorganization, the Predecessor Fund paid the Administrator the following fees:

 

Administration Fees Paid
2021 2022 20231
$28,134 $25,030 $6,888

 

1Reflects the fiscal period from November 1, 2022 to the Reorganization.

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

The Trust and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments and an affiliate of the Administrator, are parties to a distribution agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 14, 2005 and as amended August 30, 2010 and November 13, 2018 (the “Distribution Agreement”) whereby the Distributor acts as principal underwriter for the Trust’s shares and distributes the shares of the Fund. Shares of the Fund are continuously offered for sale by the Distributor only in Creation Units. The Distributor will not distribute shares of the Fund in amounts less than a Creation Unit. The principal business address of the Distributor is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

Under the Distribution Agreement, the Distributor, as agent for the Trust, will solicit orders for the purchase of shares of the Fund, provided that any subscriptions and orders will not be binding on the Trust until accepted by the Trust. The Distributor will deliver prospectuses and, upon request, statements of additional information, to persons purchasing Creation Units and will maintain records of orders placed with it. The Distributor is a broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act and a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

 

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The Distributor also may enter into agreements with securities dealers (“Soliciting Dealers”) who will solicit purchases of Creation Units of shares of the Fund. Such Soliciting Dealers also may be Authorized Participants (as discussed in “Procedures for Creation of Creation Units” below) or DTC Participants (as defined below).

 

The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually: (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act), and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or by the Distributor, upon not less than 60 days’ written notice to the other party.

 

The Distributor also may provide trade order processing services pursuant to a services agreement.

 

PAYMENTS BY THE FUND OR THE ADVISER TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

Distribution Plan. The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan applicable to the Fund in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which regulates circumstances under which an investment company may directly or indirectly bear expenses relating to the distribution of its shares. Continuance of the Plan must be approved annually by a majority of the Trustees and by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan (“Qualified Trustees”). The Plan requires that quarterly written reports of amounts spent under the Plan and the purposes of such expenditures be furnished to and reviewed by the Trustees. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount that may be spent thereunder without approval by a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. All material amendments of the Plan will require approval by a majority of the Trustees and of the Qualified Trustees.

 

The Plan provides a method of paying for distribution and shareholder services, which may help the Fund grow or maintain asset levels to provide operational efficiencies and economies of scale, provided by the Distributor or other financial intermediaries that enter into agreements with the Distributor. The Fund may make payments to financial intermediaries, such as banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, investment counselors, broker-dealers, mutual fund “supermarkets” and the Distributor’s affiliates and subsidiaries, as compensation for services, reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with distribution assistance or provision of shareholder services. The Distributor may, at its discretion, retain a portion of such payments to compensate itself for distribution services and distribution-related expenses such as the costs of preparation, printing, mailing or otherwise disseminating sales literature, advertising, and prospectuses (other than those furnished to current shareholders of the Fund), promotional and incentive programs, and such other marketing expenses that the Distributor may incur.

 

Under the Plan, the Distributor or financial intermediaries may receive up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of Fund shares as compensation for distribution and shareholder services. The Plan is characterized as a compensation plan since the distribution fee will be paid to the Distributor without regard to the distribution or shareholder service expenses incurred by the Distributor or the amount of payments made to financial intermediaries. The Trust intends to operate the Plan in accordance with its terms and with FINRA rules concerning sales charges.

 

No Rule 12b-1 fees are currently paid by the Fund, and there are no plans to impose these fees. Because Rule 12b-1 fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets, and over time, these fees increase the cost of your investment and they may cost you more than certain other types of sales charges.

 

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Payments by the Adviser. The Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments from their own resources and not from Fund assets to affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and other institutions having service, administration, or similar arrangements with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates, as incentives to help market and promote the Fund and/or in recognition of their distribution, marketing, administrative services, and/or processing support.

 

These additional payments may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Fund, the Distributor or shareholders of the Fund through the financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel and/or fund supermarkets. Payments may also be made through the financial intermediary’s retirement, qualified tuition, fee-based advisory, wrap fee bank trust, or insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. These payments may include, but are not limited to, placing the Fund in a financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel or on a preferred or recommended fund list; providing business or shareholder financial planning assistance; educating financial intermediary personnel about the Fund; providing access to sales and management representatives of the financial intermediary; promoting sales of Fund shares; providing marketing and educational support; maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder transaction processing services. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services. These financial intermediaries may also be paid Rule 12b-1 fees by the Fund if the Fund commences payments under the Plan.

 

The Adviser and/or its affiliates also may make payments from their own resources to financial intermediaries for costs associated with the purchase of products or services used in connection with sales and marketing, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs, client and investor entertainment and other sponsored events. The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.

 

Revenue sharing payments may be negotiated based on a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the amount of Fund assets attributable to investments in the Fund by financial intermediaries’ customers, a flat fee or other measures as determined from time to time by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. A significant purpose of these payments is to increase the sales of Fund shares, which in turn may benefit the Adviser through increased fees as Fund assets grow.

 

Investors should understand that some financial intermediaries may also charge their clients fees in connection with purchases of shares or the provision of shareholder services.

 

TRANSFER AGENT

 

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (in its capacity as transfer agent, the "Transfer Agent"), located at 40 Water Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, serves as the transfer agent of the Fund.

 

CUSTODIAN

 

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (in its capacity as custodian, the "Custodian"), located at 40 Water Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02109, serves as the custodian of the Fund. The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Fund as required by the 1940 Act.

 

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INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Ernst & Young, LLP, One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 700, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. The financial statements and financial highlights of the Fund, including the notes thereto, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are incorporated by reference in reliance on the authority of their report as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 2222 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

 

SECURITIES LENDING

 

The Fund did not engage in securities lending activities during the fiscal period from the Reorganization to October 31, 2023.

 

The Predecessor Fund did not engage in securities lending activities during the fiscal period from November 1, 2022 to the Reorganization.

 

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

 

Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series, including the Fund described in this SAI, are overseen by the Trustees. The Board has approved contracts, as described above, under which certain companies provide essential management services to the Trust.

 

Like most funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of risk, is performed by third-party service providers, such as the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, have oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the Fund. The Fund and its service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust’s business (e.g., the Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the Fund’s service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

 

The Trustees’ role in risk oversight begins before the inception of the Fund, at which time certain of the Fund’s service providers present the Board with information concerning the investment objective, strategies and risks of the Fund as well as proposed investment limitations for the Fund. Additionally, the Adviser provides the Board with an overview of, among other things, its investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the Adviser and other service providers, such as the Fund’s independent accountants, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the Fund may be exposed.

 

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The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the Fund by the Adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the Advisory Agreement, the Board meets with the Adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the Adviser’s adherence to the Fund’s investment restrictions and compliance with various Fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the Fund’s investments, including, for example, reports on the Adviser’s use of derivatives in managing the Fund, if any, as well as reports on the Fund’s investments in other investment companies, if any.

 

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues and Fund and Adviser risk assessments. At least annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the Adviser. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report; any material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures; and any material compliance matters since the date of the last report.

 

The Board receives reports from the Fund’s service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. The Adviser makes regular reports to the Board concerning investments for which market quotations are not readily available. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of the Fund’s financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the Fund and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Fund’s internal controls. Additionally, in connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees Fund management’s implementation of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with the SEC are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust's internal controls over financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Trust's financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust's financial statements.

 

From their review of these reports and discussions with the Adviser, the Chief Compliance Officer, the independent registered public accounting firm and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee learn in detail about the material risks of the Fund, thereby facilitating a dialogue about how management and service providers identify and mitigate those risks.

 

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the Fund can be identified and/or quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the Fund’s goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the Fund’s investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the Adviser and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management, but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the Fund’s and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s ability to monitor and manage risk, as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.

 

Members of the Board. There are seven members of the Board, five of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“independent Trustees”). Robert Nesher, an interested person of the Trust, serves as Chairman of the Board. Joseph T. Grause, Jr., an independent Trustee, serves as the lead independent Trustee. The Trust has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Trust made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the independent Trustees constitute more than two-thirds of the Board, the fact that the chairperson of each Committee of the Board is an independent Trustee, the amount of assets under management in the Trust, and the number of funds (and classes of shares) overseen by the Board. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the independent Trustees from fund management.

 

S-45

 

 

The Board has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and Governance Committee. The Audit Committee and Governance Committee are chaired by an independent Trustee and composed of all of the independent Trustees.

 

As noted, the Board has a lead independent Trustee. In his role as lead independent Trustee, Mr. Grause, among other things: (i) presides over Board meetings in the absence of the Chairman of the Board; (ii) presides over executive sessions of the independent Trustees; (iii) along with the Chairman of the Board, oversees the development of agendas for Board meetings; (iv) facilitates communication between the independent Trustees and management, and among the independent Trustees; (v) serves as a key point person for dealings between the independent Trustees and management; and (vi) has such other responsibilities as the Board or independent Trustees determine from time to time.

 

Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations and other directorships held during at least the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee. There is no stated term of office for the Trustees. Nevertheless, an independent Trustee must retire from the Board as of the end of the calendar year in which such independent Trustee first attains the age of seventy-five years; provided, however, that, an independent Trustee may continue to serve for one or more additional one calendar year terms after attaining the age of seventy-five years (each calendar year a “Waiver Term”) if, and only if, prior to the beginning of such Waiver Term: (1) the Governance Committee (a) meets to review the performance of the independent Trustee; (b) finds that the continued service of such independent Trustee is in the best interests of the Trust; and (c) unanimously approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above; and (2) a majority of the Trustees approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each Trustee is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

S-46

 

 

Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served

Principal Occupations

in the Past 5 Years

Other Directorships Held in the Past 5 Years
Interested Trustees

Robert Nesher

(Born: 1946)

 

Chairman of the Board of Trustees1

(since 1991)

SEI employee 1974 to present; currently performs various services on behalf of SEI Investments for which Mr. Nesher is compensated. President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. President and Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP. Vice Chairman of Winton Series Trust to 2017. Vice Chairman of Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund (closed-end investment company), The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Gallery Trust, Schroder Series Trust and Schroder Global Series Trust to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Catholic Responsible Investments Funds, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP, SEI Global Master Fund plc, SEI Global Assets Fund plc, SEI Global Investments Fund plc, SEI Investments—Global Funds Services, Limited, SEI Investments Global, Limited, SEI Investments (Europe) Ltd., SEI Investments—Unit Trust Management (UK) Limited, SEI Multi-Strategy Funds PLC and SEI Global Nominee Ltd.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

N. Jeffrey Klauder

(Born: 1952)

 

Trustee1

(since 2018)

Senior Advisor of SEI Investments since 2018. Executive Vice President and General Counsel of SEI Investments, 2004 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds. Director of SEI Private Trust Company, SEI Global Fund Services Ltd., SEI Investments Global Limited, SEI Global Master Fund, SEI Global Investments Fund, SEI Global Assets Fund and SEI Investments - Guernsey Limited.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of SEI Investments Management Corporation, SEI Trust Company, SEI Investments (South Africa), Limited and SEI Investments (Canada) Company to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

 

S-47

 

 

Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served

Principal Occupations

in the Past 5 Years

Other Directorships Held in the Past 5 Years
Independent Trustees

Kathleen Gaffney

(Born: 1961)

Trustee

(since 2022)

 

Retired since 2019. Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Eaton Vance Management from 2012 to 2019. Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

Joseph T. Grause, Jr.

(Born: 1952)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Lead Independent Trustee

(since 2018)

Self-Employed Consultant since 2012. Director of Endowments and Foundations, Morningstar Investment Management, Morningstar, Inc., 2010 to 2011. Director of International Consulting and Chief Executive Officer of Morningstar Associates Europe Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2007 to 2010. Country Manager – Morningstar UK Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2005 to 2007.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Director of The Korea Fund, Inc. to 2019. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

Robert Mulhall

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2019)

Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, from 1998 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of Villanova University Alumni Board of Directors to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

Bruce Speca

(Born: 1956)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Global Head of Asset Allocation, Manulife Asset Management (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2010 to 2011. Executive Vice President – Investment Management Services, John Hancock Financial Services (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2003 to 2010.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022. Director of Stone Harbor Investments Funds (8 Portfolios), Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Income Fund (closed-end fund) and Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Total Income Fund (closed-end fund) to 2022.

Monica Walker

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2022)

Retired. Private Investor since 2017. Co-Founder (1991-2017), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (2009 to 2017) and Chief Investment Officer – Equity (2007 to 2017) of Holland Capital Management, LLC (Chicago). Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

1Denotes Trustees who may be deemed to be “interested” persons of the Fund as that term is defined in the 1940 Act by virtue of their affiliation with the Distributor and/or its affiliates.

 

S-48

 

 

Individual Trustee Qualifications. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of their ability to review and understand information about the Fund provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the Fund, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on their own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Nesher should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 1974, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 1991.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Klauder should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 2004, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he gained serving as a partner of a large law firm.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Gaffney should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as a vice president and portfolio manager for a large asset management company, her experience in and knowledge of the asset management industry, and the experience she has gained serving in board and leadership positions in a variety of nonprofit and civic organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Grause should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with different financial institutions, his knowledge of the mutual fund and investment management industries, his past experience as an interested trustee and chair of the investment committee for a multi-managed investment company, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Mulhall should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with an audit firm and various financial services firms, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and his experience serving in a variety of leadership capacities for non-profit organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Speca should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained serving as president of a mutual fund company and portfolio manager for a $95 billion complex of asset allocation funds, his over 25 years of experience working in a management capacity with mutual fund boards, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Walker should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained in a variety of leadership roles with an asset management company that she co-founded, her experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience she has gained in various other corporate accounting, finance and investment roles.

 

In its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the funds.

 

S-49

 

 

Board Committees. The Board has established the following standing committees:

 

Audit Committee. The Board has a standing Audit Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee include: (i) recommending which firm to engage as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this relationship; (ii) reviewing the independent registered public accounting firm’s compensation, the proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firm’s independence; (iii) pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; (iv) serving as a channel of communication between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; (v) reviewing the results of each external audit, including any qualifications in the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion, any related management letter, management’s responses to recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the audit, reports submitted to the Committee by the internal auditing department of the Administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and management’s responses to any such reports; (vi) reviewing the Fund’s audited financial statements and considering any significant disputes between the Trust’s management and the independent registered public accounting firm that arose in connection with the preparation of those financial statements; (vii) considering, in consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trust’s senior internal accounting executive, if any, the independent registered public accounting firms’ reports on the adequacy of the Trust’s internal financial controls; (viii) reviewing, in consultation with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed when preparing the Fund’s financial statements; and (ix) other audit related matters. Mses. Gaffney and Walker and Messrs. Grause, Mulhall and Speca currently serve as members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Mulhall serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met four (4) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Governance Committee. The Board has a standing Governance Committee (formerly the Nominating Committee) that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Governance Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Governance Committee include: (i) considering and reviewing Board governance and compensation issues; (ii) conducting a self-assessment of the Board’s operations; (iii) selecting and nominating all persons to serve as independent Trustees; and (iv) reviewing shareholder recommendations for nominations to fill vacancies on the Board if such recommendations are submitted in writing and addressed to the Committee at the Trust’s office. Mses. Gaffney and Walker and Messrs. Grause, Mulhall and Speca currently serve as members of the Governance Committee. Mr. Speca serves as the Chairman of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met two (2) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Fund Shares Owned by Board Members. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each Trustee’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Fund as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act. The Trustees and officers of the Trust own less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.

 

S-50

 

  

Name

Dollar Range of Fund Shares

(Fund)1

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares

(All Funds in the Family of Investment Companies)1,2

Interested Trustees
Nesher None None
Klauder None None
Independent Trustees
Gaffney None None
Grause None None
Mulhall None None
Speca None None
Walker None None

 

1Valuation date is December 31, 2023.
2The Cambiar Opportunity Fund, Cambiar International Equity Fund, Cambiar Small Cap Fund, Cambiar SMID Fund and the Fund are the only funds in the family of investment companies.

 

Board Compensation. The Trust paid the following fees to the Trustees during the Fund's most recently completed fiscal year:

 

Name Aggregate Compensation from the Trust Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement Total Compensation from the Trust and Fund Complex1
Interested Trustees
Nesher $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Klauder $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Independent Trustees
Gaffney $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Grause $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Johnson2 $25,660 N/A N/A $25,660 for service on one (1) board
Krikorian3 $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Mulhall $114,666 N/A N/A $114,666 for service on one (1) board
Speca $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Walker $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board

 

1All funds in the Fund Complex are series of the Trust.
2In accordance with the Trust’s retirement policy, Mr. Johnson retired from the Board effective December 31, 2022, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.
3In accordance with the Trust’s retirement policy, Ms. Krikorian retired from the Board effective December 31, 2023, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.

 

S-51

 

 

Trust Officers. Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations for the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as executive officers of the Trust. There is no stated term of office for officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each officer is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. The Chief Compliance Officer is the only officer who receives compensation from the Trust for his services.

 

Certain officers of the Trust also serve as officers of one or more funds for which SEI Investments or its affiliates act as investment manager, administrator or distributor.

 

Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served Principal Occupations in Past 5 Years

Michael Beattie

(Born: 1965)

President

(since 2011)

Director of Client Service, SEI Investments, since 2004.

James Bernstein

(Born: 1962)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2017)

Attorney, SEI Investments, since 2017.

 

Prior Positions: Self-employed consultant, 2017. Associate General Counsel & Vice President, Nationwide Funds Group and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, from 2002 to 2016. Assistant General Counsel & Vice President, Market Street Funds and Provident Mutual Insurance Company, from 1999 to 2002.

John Bourgeois

(Born: 1973)

Assistant Treasurer

(since 2017)

Fund Accounting Manager, SEI Investments, since 2000.

Donald Duncan

(Born: 1964)

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer and Privacy Officer

(since 2023)

Chief Compliance Officer and Global Head of Anti-Money Laundering Strategy of SEI Investments Company since January 2023. Head of Global Anti-Money Laundering Program for Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC from August 2021 until December 2022. Senior VP and Supervising Principal of Hamilton Lane Securities, LLC from June 2016 to August 2021. Senior Director at AXA-Equitable from June 2011 until May 2016. Senior Director at PRUCO Securities, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. from October 2005 until December 2009.

Eric C. Griffith

(Born: 1969)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2019)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2019. Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co., from 2012 to 2018.

Matthew M. Maher

(Born: 1975)

Vice President

(since 2018)

 

Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2018. Attorney, Blank Rome LLP, from 2015 to 2018. Assistant Counsel & Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon, from 2013 to 2014. Attorney, Dilworth Paxson LLP, from 2006 to 2013.

Andrew Metzger

(Born: 1980)

Treasurer, Controller and Chief Financial Officer

(since 2021)

Director of Fund Accounting, SEI Investments, since 2020. Senior Director, Embark, from 2019 to 2020. Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, from 2002 to 2019.

 

S-52

 

 

Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served Principal Occupations in Past 5 Years

Robert Morrow

(Born: 1968)

Vice President

(since 2017)

Account Manager, SEI Investments, since 2007.

Stephen F. Panner

(Born: 1970)

Chief Compliance Officer

(since 2022)

Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds, SEI Structured Credit Fund LP, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds since September 2022. Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Alternative Income Fund since May 2023. Chief Compliance Officer of Symmetry Panoramic Trust since December 2023. Fund Compliance Officer of SEI Investments Company from February 2011 to September 2022. Fund Accounting Director and CFO and Controller for the SEI Funds from July 2005 to February 2011.

Alexander F. Smith

(Born: 1977)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2020. Associate Counsel & Manager, Vanguard, 2012 to 2020. Attorney, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, 2008 to 2012.

 

BOOK ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM

 

Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) acts as securities depositary for the Fund’s shares. Shares of the Fund are represented by securities registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., and deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC. Except in very limited circumstances set forth below, certificates will not be issued for shares.

 

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company that was created to hold securities of its participants (the “DTC Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among the DTC Participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the DTC Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. More specifically, DTC is owned by a number of its DTC Participants and by the NYSE and FINRA. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers, and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (the “Indirect Participants”).

 

Beneficial ownership of shares of the Fund is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants, and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in shares of the Fund (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to herein as “Beneficial Owners”) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from or through the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of shares of the Fund. The Trust recognizes DTC or its nominee as the record owner of all shares of the Fund for all purposes. Beneficial Owners of shares of the Fund are not entitled to have such shares registered in their names, and will not receive or be entitled to physical delivery of share certificates. Each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC and any DTC Participant and/or Indirect Participant through which such Beneficial Owner holds its interests, to exercise any rights of a holder of shares of the Fund.

 

S-53

 

 

Conveyance of all notices, statements, and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. DTC will make available to the Trust upon request and for a fee a listing of shares of the Fund held by each DTC Participant. The Trust shall obtain from each such DTC Participant the number of Beneficial Owners holding shares of the Fund, directly or indirectly, through such DTC Participant. The Trust shall provide each such DTC Participant with copies of such notice, statement, or other communication, in such form, number and at such place as such DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that such notice, statement or communication may be transmitted by such DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to such Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Trust shall pay to each such DTC Participant a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to such transmittal, all subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

 

Share distributions shall be made to DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., as the registered holder of all shares of the Fund. DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall credit immediately DTC Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the Fund as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of shares of the Fund held through such DTC Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.

 

The Trust has no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners, or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Fund’s shares, or for maintaining, supervising, or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and the DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants.

 

DTC may determine to discontinue providing its service with respect to the Fund at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Fund and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Fund shall take action either to find a replacement for DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost or, if such replacement is unavailable, to issue and deliver printed certificates representing ownership of shares of the Fund, unless the Trust makes other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the Exchange.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES IN CREATION UNITS

 

The Fund issues and redeems its shares on a continuous basis, at NAV, only in a large specified number of shares called a “Creation Unit,” either principally in-kind for securities, in cash for the value of such securities, or in a combination of each. The NAV of the Fund’s shares is determined once each business day, as described below under “Determination of Net Asset Value.” The Creation Unit size may change. Authorized Participants will be notified of such change.

 

S-54

 

 

CUSTOM BASKETS. Typically, a basket is generally representative of the Fund’s portfolio, and together with a cash balancing amount, is equal to the NAV of the Fund shares comprising the Creation Unit. These are generally referred to as “standard baskets.” However, Rule 6c-11 of the 1940 Act permits the Fund to utilize “custom baskets” provided the conditions of the rule are met. Rule 6c-11 defines “custom baskets” to include two categories of baskets. First, a basket containing a non-representative selection of the ETF’s portfolio holdings would constitute a custom basket. These types of custom baskets include, but are not limited to, baskets that do not reflect: (i) a pro rata representation of the Fund’s portfolio holdings; or (ii) a representative sampling of the Fund’s portfolio holdings. Second, if different baskets are used in transactions on the same business day (as defined below), each basket after the initial basket would constitute a custom basket. For example, if the Fund exchanges a basket with either the same or another Authorized Participant that reflects a representative sampling that differs from the initial basket, that basket (and any such subsequent baskets) would be a custom basket. Similarly, if the Fund substitutes cash in lieu of a portion of basket assets for a single Authorized Participant, that basket would be a custom basket.

 

PURCHASE (CREATION). The Trust issues and sells shares of the Fund only in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load (but subject to transaction fees), at their NAV per share next determined after receipt of an order, on any business day, in proper form pursuant to the terms of the Authorized Participant Agreement (“Participant Agreement”). The Fund will not issue fractional Creation Units. A business day is, generally, any day on which the Exchange is open for business.

 

FUND DEPOSIT. The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit of the Fund generally consists of either (i) the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of securities (the “Deposit Securities”) per each Creation Unit, and the Cash Component (defined below), computed as described below, (ii) Deposit Securities plus cash as a substitute for the value of certain Deposit Securities (“Deposit Cash”) and the Cash Component, or (iii) Deposit Cash representing the cash value of the Deposit Securities and the Cash Component. When accepting purchases of Creation Units for cash, the Fund may incur additional costs associated with the acquisition of Deposit Securities that would otherwise be provided by an in-kind purchaser. These additional costs may be recoverable from the purchaser of Creation Units.

 

Together, the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, and the Cash Component constitute the “Fund Deposit,” which represents the minimum initial and subsequent investment amount for a Creation Unit of the Fund. The “Cash Component” is an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares of the Fund (per Creation Unit) and the market value of the Deposit Securities and/or Deposit Cash, as applicable. If the Cash Component is a positive number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit exceeds the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable), the Fund will be entitled to receive cash in an amount equal to the Cash Component. If the Cash Component is a negative number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit is less than the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable), the Cash Component shall be such negative amount and the creator will be entitled to receive cash in an amount equal to the Cash Component. The Cash Component serves the function of compensating for any differences between the NAV per Creation Unit and the market value of the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable. Computation of the Cash Component excludes any stamp duty or other similar fees and expenses payable upon transfer of beneficial ownership of the Deposit Securities, if applicable, which shall be the sole responsibility of the Authorized Participant (as defined below).

 

The Fund, through NSCC, makes available on each business day, prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m., Eastern time), the list of the names and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security and/or the required amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, to be included in the current Fund Deposit (based on information at the end of the previous business day) for the Fund. Such Fund Deposit is subject to any applicable adjustments as described below, in order to effect purchases of Creation Units of the Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the Deposit Securities and/or the required amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, is made available.

 

The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities or the amount of Deposit Cash, as applicable, required for the Fund Deposit for the Fund changes as rebalancing adjustments and corporate action events are reflected from time to time by the Adviser with a view to the investment objective of the Fund.

 

The Trust reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of Deposit Cash to replace any Deposit Security, which shall be added to the Cash Component, including, without limitation, in situations where the Deposit Security: (i) may not be available in sufficient quantity for delivery; (ii) may not be eligible for transfer through the systems of DTC for corporate securities and municipal securities or the Federal Reserve System for U.S. Treasury securities; (iii) may not be eligible for trading by an Authorized Participant (as defined below) or the investor for which it is acting; (iv) would be restricted under the securities laws or where the delivery of the Deposit Security to the Authorized Participant would result in the disposition of the Deposit Security by the Authorized Participant becoming restricted under the securities laws; or (v) in certain other situations (collectively, “custom orders”). The Trust also reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of Deposit Securities in lieu of Deposit Cash. The adjustments described above will reflect changes, known to the Adviser on the date of announcement to be in effect by the time of delivery of a Fund Deposit resulting from certain corporate actions.

 

S-55

 

 

CASH PURCHASE METHOD. The Trust may at its discretion permit full or partial cash purchases of Creation Units of the Fund. When full or partial cash purchases of Creation Units are available or specified for the Fund, they will be effected in essentially the same manner as in-kind purchases thereof. In the case of a full or partial cash purchase, the Authorized Participant must pay the cash equivalent of the Deposit Securities it would otherwise be required to provide through an in-kind purchase, plus the same Cash Component required to be paid by an in-kind purchaser together with a creation transaction fee and non-standard charges, as may be applicable.

 

PROCEDURES FOR PURCHASE OF CREATION UNITS. To be eligible to place orders with the Distributor to purchase a Creation Unit of the Fund, an entity must be (i) a “Participating Party”, i.e., a broker-dealer or other participant in the clearing process through the Continuous Net Settlement System of the NSCC (the “Clearing Process”), a clearing agency that is registered with the SEC; or (ii) a DTC Participant (see “BOOK ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM”). In addition, each Participating Party or DTC Participant (each, an “Authorized Participant”) must execute a Participant Agreement that has been agreed to by the Distributor, and that has been accepted by the Transfer Agent and the Trust, with respect to purchases and redemptions of Creation Units. Each Authorized Participant will agree, pursuant to the terms of a Participant Agreement, on behalf of itself or any investor on whose behalf it will act, to certain conditions, including that it will pay to the Trust an amount of cash sufficient to pay the Cash Component together with the creation transaction fee and any other applicable fees, taxes, and additional variable charges. The Adviser may retain all or a portion of the creation transaction fee to the extent the Adviser bears the expenses that otherwise would be borne by the Trust in connection with the purchase of a Creation Unit, which the creation transaction fee is designed to cover.

 

All orders to purchase shares directly from the Fund, including custom orders, must be placed for one or more Creation Units in the manner and by the time set forth in the Participant Agreement and/or applicable order form. The date on which an order to purchase Creation Units (or an order to redeem Creation Units, as set forth below) is accepted is referred to as the “Order Placement Date.”

 

An Authorized Participant may require an investor to make certain representations or enter into agreements with respect to the order, e.g., to provide for payments of cash, when required. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement and that, therefore, orders to purchase shares directly from the Fund in Creation Units have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant that has executed a Participant Agreement. In such cases there may be additional charges to such investor. At any given time, there may be only a limited number of broker-dealers that have executed a Participant Agreement and only a small number of such Authorized Participants may have international capabilities.

 

On days when the Exchange closes earlier than normal, the Fund may require orders to create Creation Units to be placed earlier in the day. In addition, if a market or markets on which the Fund’s investments are primarily traded is closed, the Fund also will generally not accept orders on such day(s). Orders must be transmitted by an Authorized Participant by telephone or other transmission method acceptable to the Distributor pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement and in accordance with the AP Handbook or applicable order form. The Distributor will notify the Custodian of such order. The Custodian will then provide such information to the appropriate local sub-custodian(s), as applicable. Those placing orders through an Authorized Participant should allow sufficient time to permit proper submission of the purchase order to the Distributor by the applicable cut-off time on such business day. Economic or market disruptions or changes, or telephone or other communication failure may impede the ability to reach the Distributor or an Authorized Participant.

 

Fund Deposits must be delivered by an Authorized Participant through the Federal Reserve System (for cash and U.S. government securities) or through DTC (for corporate securities), through a subcustody agent (for foreign securities) and/or through such other arrangements allowed by the Trust or its agents. With respect to foreign Deposit Securities, the Custodian shall cause the subcustodian of the Fund to maintain an account into which the Authorized Participant shall deliver, on behalf of itself or the party on whose behalf it is acting, such Deposit Securities (or Deposit Cash for all or a part of such securities, as permitted or required), with any appropriate adjustments as advised by the Trust. Foreign Deposit Securities must be delivered to an account maintained at the applicable local subcustodian. The Fund Deposit transfer must be ordered by the Authorized Participant in a timely fashion so as to ensure the delivery of the requisite number of Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, to the custodial account of the Fund or its agents by no later than the Settlement Date. The “Settlement Date” for the Fund is generally the second business day after the Order Placement Date. All questions as to the number of Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash to be delivered, as applicable, and the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) for the deposit of any tendered securities or cash, as applicable, will be determined by the Trust, whose determination shall be final and binding. The amount of cash represented by the Cash Component must be transferred directly to the Custodian through the Federal Reserve Bank wire transfer system in a timely manner so as to be received by the Custodian no later than the Settlement Date. If the Cash Component and the Deposit Securities and/or Deposit Cash, as applicable, are not received by the Custodian in a timely manner by the Settlement Date, the creation order may be cancelled and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. Upon written notice to the Distributor, such canceled order may be resubmitted by the Authorized Participant the following business day using the Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the then current NAV of the Fund.

 

S-56

 

 

The order shall be deemed to be received on the business day on which the order is placed provided that the order is placed in proper form prior to the applicable cut-off time and the federal funds in the appropriate amount are deposited by 4:00 p.m., Eastern time, with the Custodian on the Settlement Date. If the order is not placed in proper form as required, or federal funds in the appropriate amount are not received by 4:00 p.m. Eastern time on the Settlement Date, then the order may be deemed to be rejected and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the applicable Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. A creation request is considered to be in “proper form” if all procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement, AP Handbook, order form, and this SAI are properly followed.

 

ISSUANCE OF A CREATION UNIT. Except as provided herein, Creation Units will not be issued until the transfer of good title to the Trust of the Deposit Securities and/or payment of Deposit Cash, as applicable, and the payment of the Cash Component have been completed. When (i) the Custodian has confirmed that the required Fund Deposit has been delivered to the Fund’s account at the Custodian, and/or (ii) the subcustodian has confirmed to the Custodian that the required Fund Deposit has been delivered to the account of the relevant subcustodian or subcustodians, as applicable, the Distributor and the Adviser shall be notified of such delivery, and the Trust will issue and cause the delivery of the Creation Units. The delivery of Creation Units so created generally will occur no later than the second business day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received by the Distributor. However, the Fund reserves the right to settle Creation Unit transactions on a basis other than the second business day following the day on which the purchase order is deemed received in proper form by the Distributor in order to accommodate foreign market holiday schedules, to account for different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and ex-dividend dates (that is the last day the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable on the security), and in certain other circumstances. The Authorized Participant shall be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting from unsettled orders.

 

Creation Units may be purchased in advance of receipt by the Trust of all or a portion of the applicable Fund Deposit Securities as described below. In these circumstances, the initial deposit will have a value greater than the NAV of the shares of the Fund on the date the order is placed in proper form since in addition to available Deposit Securities and/or Deposit Cash, cash must be deposited in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Cash Component, plus (ii) an additional amount of cash equal to a percentage of the market value as set forth in the Participant Agreement, of the undelivered Deposit Securities (the “Additional Cash Deposit”), which shall be maintained in a separate non-interest bearing collateral account. The Authorized Participant must deposit with the Custodian the Additional Cash Deposit, as applicable, by the time set forth in the Participant Agreement on the Settlement Date. If the Fund or its agents do not receive the Additional Cash Deposit in the appropriate amount, by such time, then the order may be deemed rejected and the Authorized Participant shall be liable to the Fund for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. An additional amount of cash shall be required to be deposited with the Trust, pending delivery of the missing Deposit Securities to the extent necessary to maintain the Additional Cash Deposit with the Trust in an amount at least equal to the applicable percentage, as set forth in the Participant Agreement, of the daily marked to market value of the missing Deposit Securities. The Trust may use such Additional Cash Deposit to buy the missing Deposit Securities at any time. Authorized Participants will be liable to the Trust for all costs, expenses, dividends, income, and taxes associated with missing Deposit Securities, including the costs incurred by the Trust in connection with any such purchases. These costs will be deemed to include the amount by which the actual purchase price of the Deposit Securities exceeds the value of such Deposit Securities on the day the purchase order was deemed received by the Distributor plus the brokerage and related transaction costs associated with such purchases. The Trust will return any unused portion of the Additional Cash Deposit once all of the missing Deposit Securities have been properly received by the Custodian or purchased by the Trust and deposited into the Trust. In addition, a creation transaction fee as set forth below under “Creation Transaction Fee” may be charged and an additional variable charge may also apply. The delivery of Creation Units so created generally will occur no later than the Settlement Date.

 

S-57

 

 

ACCEPTANCE OF ORDERS OF CREATION UNITS. The Trust reserves the right to reject an order for Creation Units in respect of the Fund at its discretion, including, without limitation, if (a) the order is not in proper form or the Deposit Securities delivered do not consist of the securities that the Custodian specified; (b) the Deposit Securities or Deposit Cash, as applicable, delivered by the Participant are not as disseminated through the facilities of the NSCC for that date by the Custodian; (c) the investor(s), upon obtaining the shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the currently outstanding shares of the Fund; (d) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; or (e) in the event that circumstances outside the control of the Trust, the Custodian, the Transfer Agent, the Distributor and/or the Adviser make it for all practical purposes not feasible to process orders for Creation Units.

 

Examples of circumstances outside the control of the foregoing Fund stakeholders include acts of God or public service or utility problems such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions and power outages resulting in telephone, telecopy and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the Trust, the Distributor, the Custodian, a sub-custodian, the Transfer Agent, the Adviser, DTC, NSCC, Federal Reserve System, or any other participant in the creation process, and other extraordinary events. The Distributor shall communicate to the Authorized Participant its rejection of the order. The Trust, the Transfer Agent, the Custodian, any sub-custodian and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any defects or irregularities in the delivery of Fund Deposits nor shall either of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification. The Trust, the Adviser, the Transfer Agent, the Custodian and the Distributor shall not be liable for the rejection of any purchase order for Creation Units. Given the importance of the ongoing issuance of Creation Units to maintaining a market price that is at or close to the underlying net asset value of the Fund, the Trust is not intending to suspend acceptance of orders for Creation Units.

 

All questions as to the number of shares of each security in the Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered shall be determined by the Trust, and the Trust’s determination shall be final and binding.

 

CREATION TRANSACTION FEE. A fixed purchase (i.e., creation) transaction fee may be imposed by the Fund for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the purchase of Creation Units (“Creation Order Costs”). The standard creation transaction fee for the Fund, regardless of the number of Creation Units created in the transaction, is set forth in the table below.

 

Fund Creation Transaction Fee
Cambiar Aggressive Value ETF $100

 

The Fund may adjust the creation transaction fee from time to time. The creation transaction fee may be waived on certain orders if the Custodian has determined to waive some or all of the Creation Order Costs associated with the order or another party, such as the Adviser, has agreed to pay such fee.

 

In addition, a variable fee may be imposed by the Fund for cash purchases, non-standard orders, or partial cash purchases of Creation Units. The variable fee is primarily designed to cover non-standard charges, e.g., brokerage, taxes, foreign exchange, execution, market impact, and other costs and expenses, related to the execution of trades resulting from such transaction. In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the SEC applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities. The Fund may determine not to charge a variable fee on certain orders when the Adviser has determined that doing so is in the best interests of Fund shareholders, e.g., for creation orders that facilitate the rebalance of the Fund’s portfolio in a more efficient manner than could have been achieved without such order.

 

Investors who use the services of an Authorized Participant, broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services which may include an amount for the creation transaction fee and non-standard charges. Investors are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Deposit Securities to the account of the Trust. The Adviser may retain all or a portion of the transaction fee to the extent the Adviser bears the expenses that otherwise would be borne by the Trust in connection with the issuance of a Creation Unit, which the transaction fee is designed to cover.

 

S-58

 

 

RISKS OF PURCHASING CREATION UNITS. There are certain legal risks unique to investors purchasing Creation Units directly from the Fund. Because the Fund’s shares may be issued on an ongoing basis, a “distribution” of shares could be occurring at any time. Certain activities that a shareholder performs as a dealer could, depending on the circumstances, result in the shareholder being deemed a participant in the distribution in a manner that could render the shareholder a statutory underwriter and subject to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the 1933 Act. For example, a shareholder could be deemed a statutory underwriter if it purchases Creation Units from the Fund, breaks them down into the constituent shares, and sells those shares directly to customers, or if a shareholder chooses to couple the creation of a supply of new shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary-market demand for shares. Whether a person is an underwriter depends upon all of the facts and circumstances pertaining to that person’s activities, and the examples mentioned here should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could cause you to be deemed an underwriter.

 

Dealers who are not “underwriters” but are participating in a distribution (as opposed to engaging in ordinary secondary-market transactions), and thus dealing with the Fund’s shares as part of an “unsold allotment” within the meaning of Section 4(a)(3)(C) of the 1933 Act, will be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(a)(3) of the 1933 Act.

 

REDEMPTION. Shares of the Fund may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by the Fund through the Transfer Agent and only on a business day. EXCEPT UPON LIQUIDATION OF THE FUND, THE TRUST WILL NOT REDEEM SHARES IN AMOUNTS LESS THAN CREATION UNITS. Investors must accumulate enough shares of the Fund in the secondary market to constitute a Creation Unit in order to have such shares redeemed by the Trust. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit. Investors should expect to incur brokerage and other costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of Fund shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit.

 

With respect to the Fund, the Custodian, through the NSCC, makes available prior to the opening of business on the Exchange (currently 9:30 a.m. Eastern time) on each business day, the list of the names and share quantities of the Fund’s portfolio securities that will be applicable (subject to possible amendment or correction) to redemption requests received in proper form (as defined below) on that day (“Fund Securities”). Fund Securities received on redemption may not be identical to Deposit Securities.

 

Redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit are paid either in-kind or in cash, or combination thereof, as determined by the Trust. With respect to in-kind redemptions of the Fund, redemption proceeds for a Creation Unit will consist of Fund Securities - as announced by the Custodian on the business day of the request for redemption received in proper form plus cash in an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares of the Fund being redeemed, as next determined after a receipt of a request in proper form, and the value of Fund Securities (the “Cash Redemption Amount”), less any fixed redemption transaction fee as set forth below and any applicable additional variable charge as set forth below. In the event that the Fund’s securities have a value greater than the NAV of the shares of the Fund, a compensating cash payment equal to the differential is required to be made by or through an Authorized Participant by the redeeming shareholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the Trust’s discretion, an Authorized Participant may receive the corresponding cash value of the securities in lieu of the in-kind securities value representing one or more Fund Securities.

 

CASH REDEMPTION METHOD. Although the Trust does not ordinarily permit full or partial cash redemptions of Creation Units of the Fund, when full or partial cash redemptions of Creation Units are available or specified for the Fund, they will be effected in essentially the same manner as in-kind redemptions thereof. In the case of full or partial cash redemptions, the Authorized Participant receives the cash equivalent of the Fund Securities it would otherwise receive through an in-kind redemption, plus the same Cash Redemption Amount to be paid to an in-kind redeemer.

 

REDEMPTION TRANSACTION FEE. A fixed redemption transaction fee may be imposed by the Fund for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the redemption of Creation Units (“Redemption Order Costs”). The standard redemption transaction fee for the Fund, regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed in the transaction, is set forth in the table below.

 

Fund Redemption Transaction Fee
Cambiar Aggressive Value ETF $100

 

S-59

 

 

The Fund may adjust the redemption transaction fee from time to time. The redemption transaction fee may be waived on certain orders if the Custodian has determined to waive some or all of the Redemption Order Costs associated with the order or another party, such as the Adviser, has agreed to pay such fee.

 

In addition, a variable fee, payable to the Fund, may be imposed for cash redemptions, non-standard orders, or partial cash redemptions for the Fund. The variable fee is primarily designed to cover non-standard charges, e.g., brokerage, taxes, foreign exchange, execution, market impact, and other costs and expenses, related to the execution of trades resulting from such transaction. In all cases, such fees will be limited in accordance with the requirements of the SEC applicable to management investment companies offering redeemable securities. The Fund may determine not to charge a variable fee on certain orders when the Adviser has determined that doing so is in the best interests of Fund shareholders, e.g., for redemption orders that facilitate the rebalance of the Fund’s portfolio in a more tax efficient manner than could be achieved without such order.

 

Investors who use the services of an Authorized Participant, broker or other such intermediary may be charged a fee for such services, which may include an amount for the redemption transaction fees and non-standard charges. Investors are responsible for the costs of transferring the securities constituting the Fund Securities to the account of the Trust. The non-standard charges are payable to the Fund as it incurs costs in connection with the redemption of Creation Units, the receipt of Fund Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount and other transactions costs. The Adviser may retain all or a portion of the redemption transaction fee to the extent the Adviser bears the expenses that otherwise would be borne by the Trust in connection with the redemption of a Creation Unit, which the redemption transaction fee is designed to cover.

 

PROCEDURES FOR REDEMPTION OF CREATION UNITS. Orders to redeem Creation Units must be submitted in proper form to the Transfer Agent prior to the time as set forth in the Participant Agreement. A redemption request is considered to be in “proper form” if (i) an Authorized Participant has transferred or caused to be transferred to the Transfer Agent Fund Securities constituting the Creation Unit(s) being redeemed through the book-entry system of DTC so as to be effective by the time as set forth in the Participant Agreement and (ii) a redemption request in form satisfactory to the Trust is received by the Transfer Agent from the Authorized Participant on behalf of itself or another redeeming investor within the time periods specified in the Participant Agreement. If the Transfer Agent does not receive the investor’s Fund shares through DTC’s facilities by the times and pursuant to the other terms and conditions set forth in the Participant Agreement, the redemption request shall be rejected, unless, to the extent contemplated by the Participant Agreement, collateral is posted in an amount equal to a percentage of the value of the missing shares of the Fund as specified in the Participant Agreement (and marked to market daily).

 

The Authorized Participant must transmit the request for redemption, in the form required by the Trust, to the Transfer Agent in accordance with procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement. Investors should be aware that their particular broker may not have executed a Participant Agreement, and that, therefore, requests to redeem Creation Units may have to be placed by the investor’s broker through an Authorized Participant who has executed a Participant Agreement. Investors making a redemption request should be aware that such request must be in the form specified by such Authorized Participant. Investors making a request to redeem Creation Units should allow sufficient time to permit proper submission of the request by an Authorized Participant and transfer of the shares of the Fund to the Trust’s Transfer Agent; such investors should allow for the additional time that may be required to effect redemptions through their banks, brokers or other financial intermediaries if such intermediaries are not Authorized Participants.

 

ADDITIONAL REDEMPTION PROCEDURES. In taking delivery of shares of Fund Securities in connection with a redemption of Creation Units, a redeeming shareholder or Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such shareholder must maintain appropriate custody arrangements with a qualified broker-dealer, bank or other custody providers in each jurisdiction in which any of the Fund’s securities are customarily traded, to which account such Fund Securities will be delivered. Deliveries of redemption proceeds generally will be made within two business days of the trade date. However, due to the schedule of holidays in certain countries, the different treatment among foreign and U.S. markets of dividend record dates and dividend ex-dates (that is the last date the holder of a security can sell the security and still receive dividends payable on the security sold), and in certain other circumstances, the delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds may take longer than two business days after the day on which the redemption request is received in proper form. If neither the redeeming shareholder nor the Authorized Participant acting on behalf of such redeeming shareholder has appropriate arrangements to take delivery of the Fund Securities in the applicable foreign jurisdiction and it is not possible to make other such arrangements, or if it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities in such jurisdiction, the Trust may, in its discretion, exercise its option to redeem such shares in cash, and the redeeming shareholders will be required to receive redemption proceeds in cash.

 

S-60

 

 

In addition, an investor may request a redemption in cash that the Fund may, in its sole discretion, permit. In either case, the investor will receive a cash payment equal to the NAV of its shares based on the NAV of shares of the Fund next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (minus a redemption transaction fee and additional charge for requested cash redemptions specified above, to offset the Trust’s brokerage and other transaction costs associated with the disposition of Fund Securities). The Fund also may, in its sole discretion, upon request of a shareholder, provide such redeemer a portfolio of securities that differs from the exact composition of the Fund Securities but does not differ in NAV.

 

Pursuant to the Participant Agreement, an Authorized Participant submitting a redemption request is deemed to make certain representations to the Trust regarding the Authorized Participant’s ability to tender for redemption the requisite number of shares of the Fund. The Trust reserves the right to verify these representations at its discretion, but will typically require verification with respect to a redemption request from the Fund in connection with higher levels of redemption activity and/or short interest in the Fund. If the Authorized Participant, upon receipt of a verification request, does not provide sufficient verification of its representations as determined by the Trust, the redemption request will not be considered to have been received in proper form and may be rejected by the Trust.

 

Redemptions of shares for Fund Securities will be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and the Fund (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserves the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Trust, among other reasons, does not believe that it can lawfully deliver specific Fund Securities upon redemptions or could not do so without first registering the Fund Securities under such laws. An Authorized Participant or an investor for which it is acting subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the Fund Securities applicable to the redemption of Creation Units may be paid an equivalent amount of cash. The Authorized Participant may request the redeeming investor of the shares of the Fund to complete an order form or to enter into agreements with respect to such matters as compensating cash payment. Further, an Authorized Participant that is not a “qualified institutional buyer,” (“QIB”) as such term is defined under Rule 144A of the 1933 Act, will not be able to receive Fund Securities that are restricted securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A. An Authorized Participant may be required by the Trust to provide a written confirmation with respect to QIB status in order to receive Fund Securities.

 

Because the portfolio securities of the Fund may trade on the relevant exchange(s) on days that the Exchange is closed or are otherwise not business days for the Fund, shareholders may not be able to redeem their shares, or to purchase or sell shares on the Exchange, on days when the NAV of the Fund could be significantly affected by events in the relevant foreign markets.

 

The right to redeem a creation unit may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to the Fund (1) for any period during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (2) for any period during which trading on the New York Stock Exchange is suspended or restricted; (3) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the securities owned by the Fund or determination of the NAV of the shares is not reasonably practicable; or (4) in such other circumstance as is permitted by the SEC.

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

General Policy. The Fund adheres to Section 2(a)(41), and Rules 2a-4 and 2a-5 thereunder, of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other securities are valued at fair value by the Adviser in good faith, and subject to the oversight of the Board. In complying with the 1940 Act, the Trust relies on guidance provided by the SEC and by the SEC staff in various interpretive letters and other guidance.

 

S-61

 

 

Equity Securities. Securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system for which quotations are readily available (except for securities traded on NASDAQ), including securities traded over the counter, are valued at the last quoted sale price on an exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on the valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time if such exchange is normally open at that time), or, if there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recent quoted bid price. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price will be used. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Money Market Securities and other Debt Securities. If available, money market securities and other debt securities are priced based upon valuations provided by recognized independent, third-party pricing agents. Such values generally reflect the last reported sales price if the security is actively traded. The third-party pricing agents may also value debt securities by employing methodologies that utilize actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations, or other methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities. Such methodologies generally consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. Money market securities and other debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less may be valued at their amortized cost, which approximates market value. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of each Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Foreign Securities. The prices for foreign securities are reported in local currency and converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates. Exchange rates are provided daily by recognized independent pricing agents.

 

Derivatives and Other Complex Securities. Exchange traded options on securities and indices purchased by the Fund generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last bid price. Exchange traded options on securities and indices written by the Fund generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last asked price. In the case of options traded in the over-the-counter market, if the OTC option is also an exchange traded option, the Fund will follow the above policies regarding the valuation of exchange traded options. If the OTC option is not also an exchange traded option, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Futures and swaps cleared through a central clearing house (“centrally cleared swaps”) are valued at the settlement price established each day by the board of exchange on which they are traded. The daily settlement prices for financial futures are provided by an independent source. On days when there is excessive volume or market volatility, or the future or centrally cleared swap does not end trading by the time the Fund calculates NAV, the settlement price may not be available at the time at which the Fund calculates its NAV. On such days, the best available price (which is typically the last sales price) may be used to value the Fund’s futures or centrally cleared swaps position.

 

Foreign currency forward contracts are valued at the current day’s interpolated foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day’s spot rate, and the thirty, sixty, ninety and one-hundred eighty day forward rates provided by an independent source.

 

If available, non-centrally cleared swaps, collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations and bank loans are priced based on valuations provided by an independent third party pricing agent. If a price is not available from an independent third party pricing agent, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

S-62

 

 

Use of Third-Party Independent Pricing Services. Pursuant to contracts with the Administrator, prices for securities held by the Fund with readily available market quotations are provided by independent, third-party pricing agents. The valuations for these securities are reviewed by the Administrator. In accordance with the Adviser’s Valuation Procedures, the Adviser may also use third-party independent pricing agents (reviewed and approved by the Adviser) to fair value certain securities without readily available market quotations (or where market quotations are unreliable).

 

Fair Value Procedures. Securities for which market prices are not “readily available” or which cannot be valued using the methodologies described above are valued in accordance with Fair Value Procedures established by the Adviser and implemented through the Adviser’s Valuation Committee. In establishing a fair value for an investment, the Adviser will use valuation methodologies established by the Adviser and may consider inputs and methodologies provided by, among others, third-party independent pricing agents, independent broker dealers and/or the Adviser’s own personnel (including investment personnel).

 

Some of the more common reasons that may necessitate a security being valued using Fair Value Procedures include: the security’s trading has been halted or suspended; the security has been de-listed from a national exchange; the security’s primary trading market is temporarily closed at a time when under normal conditions it would be open; the security has not been traded for an extended period of time; the security’s primary pricing source is not able or willing to provide a price; trading of the security is subject to local government-imposed restrictions; or a significant event with respect to a security has occurred after the close of the market or exchange on which the security principally trades and before the time the Fund calculates NAV. When a security is valued in accordance with the Fair Value Procedures, the Adviser’s Valuation Committee will determine the value after taking into consideration relevant information reasonably available to the Committee.

 

DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS

 

The following information supplements and should be read in conjunction with the section in the Prospectus entitled “Dividends, Distributions and Taxes.”

 

General Policies. Dividends from net investment income, if any, are declared and paid annually by the Fund. Distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, generally are declared and paid once a year, but the Fund may make distributions on a more frequent basis to comply with the distribution requirements of the Code, in all events in a manner consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act.

 

Dividends and other distributions on shares of the Fund are distributed, as described below, on a pro rata basis to Beneficial Owners of such shares. Dividend payments are made through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners then of record with proceeds received from the Fund.

 

The Fund makes additional distributions to the extent necessary (i) to distribute the entire annual taxable income of the Fund, plus any net capital gains and (ii) to avoid the imposition of the excise tax imposed by Section 4982 of the Code. Management of the Trust reserves the right to declare special dividends by the Fund if, in its reasonable discretion, such action is necessary or advisable to preserve the Fund’s eligibility for treatment as a RIC or to avoid imposition of income or excise taxes on undistributed income.

 

Dividend Reinvestment Service. The Trust will not make the DTC book-entry dividend reinvestment service available for use by Beneficial Owners for reinvestment of their cash proceeds, but certain individual broker-dealers may make available a dividend reinvestment service for reinvestment of dividend distributions. Investors should contact their brokers to ascertain the availability and description of these services. Shareholders should be aware that each broker may require investors to adhere to specific procedures and timetables in order to participate in the dividend reinvestment service and investors should ascertain from their brokers such necessary details. If this service is available and used, dividend distributions of both income and realized gains will be automatically reinvested in additional whole shares purchased in the secondary market at current market prices. Distributions reinvested in additional shares of the Fund will nevertheless be taxable to shareholders acquiring such additional shares to the same extent as if such distributions had been received in cash.

 

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FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

 

The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that supplements the discussion in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a comprehensive explanation of the federal, state, local or foreign tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended to be a substitute for careful tax planning. The summary is very general, and does not address investors subject to special rules, such as investors who hold shares through an individual retirement account (“IRA”), 401(k) or other tax-advantaged account.

 

The following general discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences is based on provisions of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.

 

Unless your investment in shares is made through a tax-exempt entity or tax-deferred retirement account, such as an individual retirement account (“IRA”), you need to be aware of the possible tax consequences when the Fund makes distributions or you sell shares.

 

Shareholders are urged to consult their own tax advisers regarding the application of the provisions of tax law described in this SAI in light of the particular tax situations of the shareholders and regarding specific questions as to federal, state, foreign, or local taxes.

 

Regulated Investment Company Status. The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year to be treated as a RIC. By following such a policy, the Fund expects to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal taxes to which it may be subject. If the Fund qualifies as a RIC, it will generally not be subject to federal income taxes on the net investment income and net realized capital gains that it timely distributes to its shareholders. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

In order to qualify as a RIC under the Code, the Fund must distribute annually to its shareholders at least an amount equal to the sum of 90% of the Fund’s net investment company taxable income for such year (including, for this purpose, dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, less operating expenses), computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction, and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income for such year, if any (the “Distribution Requirement”) and also must meet certain additional requirements. One of these additional requirements for RIC qualification is that the Fund must receive at least 90% of its gross income each taxable year from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to the Fund’s business of investing in such stock, securities, foreign currencies and net income from interests in qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “90% Test”). A second requirement for qualification as a RIC is that the Fund must diversify its holdings so that, at the end of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year: (a) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs, and other securities, with these other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, including the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership; and (b) not more than 25% of the value of its total assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of another RIC) of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Asset Test”).

 

If the Fund fails to satisfy the 90% Test or the Asset Test, the Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the Asset Test where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period of time. In order to be eligible for the relief provisions with respect to a failure to meet the Asset Test, the Fund may be required to dispose of certain assets. If these relief provisions are not available to the Fund and it fails to qualify for treatment as a RIC for a taxable year, all of its taxable income would be subject to tax at the regular corporate income tax rate (currently 21%) without any deduction for distributions to shareholders, and its distributions (including capital gains distributions) generally would be taxable to its shareholders as ordinary income dividends to the extent of the Fund’s current and accumulated earnings and profits, although corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends received deduction (subject to certain limitations) and individuals may benefit from the lower tax rates on qualified dividend income. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC. If the Fund determines that it will not qualify for treatment as a RIC, the Fund will establish procedures to reflect the anticipated tax liability in the Fund’s NAV.

 

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Although the Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and may distribute its capital gains for any taxable year, the Fund will be subject to federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed.

 

Notwithstanding the Distribution Requirement described above, the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax on undistributed income if it does not distribute to its shareholders in each calendar year an amount at least equal to 98% of its ordinary income for the calendar year and 98.2% of its capital gain net income for the twelve months ended October 31 of such year, subject to an increase for any shortfall in the prior year’s distribution. For this purpose, any ordinary income or capital gain net income retained by the Fund and subject to corporate income tax will be considered to have been distributed. The Fund intends to declare and distribute dividends and distributions in the amounts and at the times necessary to avoid the application of this 4% excise tax but can make no assurances that such tax will be completely eliminated. For example, the Fund may receive delayed or corrected tax reporting statements from its investments that cause the Fund to accrue additional income and gains after the Fund has already made its excise tax distributions for the year. In such a situation, the Fund may incur an excise tax liability resulting from such delayed receipt of such tax information statements. In addition, the Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate Fund investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal excise tax liability at a time when the investment adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Fund to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.

 

The Fund may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year. A “qualified late year loss” generally includes net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (commonly referred to as “post-October losses”) and certain other late-year losses.

 

Capital losses in excess of capital gains (“net capital losses”) are not permitted to be deducted against a RIC’s net investment income. Instead, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, potentially subject to certain limitations, a RIC may carry net capital losses from any taxable year forward to offset capital gains in future years. The Fund is permitted to carry net capital losses forward indefinitely. To the extent subsequent capital gains are offset by such losses, they will not result in U.S. federal income tax liability to the Fund and may not be distributed as capital gains to shareholders. Generally, the Fund may not carry forward any losses other than net capital losses. The carryover of capital losses may be limited under the general loss limitation rules if the Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Code.

 

Taxation of Shareholders – Distributions. The Fund receives income generally in the form of dividends and interest on investments. This income, plus net short-term capital gains, if any, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, constitutes the Fund’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. Any distributions by the Fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary income or at the lower capital gains rates that apply to individuals receiving qualified dividend income, whether you take them in cash or in additional shares.

 

Subject to certain limitations and requirements, dividends reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income will be taxable to non-corporate shareholders at rates of up to 20%. In general, dividends may be reported by the Fund as qualified dividend income if they are paid from dividends received by the Fund on common and preferred stock of U.S. companies or on stock of certain eligible foreign corporations, provided that certain holding period and other requirements are met by the Fund with respect to the dividend-paying stocks in its portfolio. Subject to certain limitations, eligible foreign corporations include those incorporated in possessions of the United States or in certain countries with comprehensive tax treaties with the United States, and other foreign corporations if the stock with respect to which the dividends are paid is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States. A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that: (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become “ex-dividend” (which is the day on which declared distributions (dividends or capital gains) are deducted from the Fund’s assets before it calculates the net asset value) with respect to such dividend, (ii) the Fund has not satisfied similar holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder), (iii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property, or (iv) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Code. Therefore, if you lend your shares in the Fund, such as pursuant to a securities lending arrangement, you may lose the ability to treat dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. Distributions that the Fund receives from an underlying fund taxable as a RIC will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such underlying fund. Certain of the Fund’s investment strategies may limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.

 

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Distributions by the Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Capital gains distributions consisting of the Fund’s net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains for individual shareholders currently set at a maximum rate of 20% regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Fund. Distributions from capital gains are generally made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards.

 

In the case of corporate shareholders, the Fund’s distributions (other than capital gain distributions) generally qualify for the dividends received deduction to the extent such distributions are so reported and do not exceed the gross amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund for the year. Generally, and subject to certain limitations (including certain holding period limitations), a dividend will be treated as a qualifying dividend if it has been received from a domestic corporation. Certain of the Fund’s investment strategies may significantly limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.

 

The Fund’s participation in loans of securities may affect the amount, timing, and character of distributions to Fund shareholders. If the Fund participates in a securities lending transaction and receives a payment in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan in a securities lending transaction, such income generally will not constitute qualified dividend income and thus dividends attributable to such income will not be eligible for taxation at the rates applicable to qualified dividend income for individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

Although dividends generally will be treated as distributed when paid, any dividend declared by the Fund in October, November or December and payable to shareholders of record in such a month that is paid during the following January will be treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which it was declared.

 

Any dividend or distribution paid shortly after an investor’s purchase of fund shares may have the effect of reducing the aggregate NAV of the shares below the cost of the investment (“buying a dividend”). Such a dividend or distribution would be a return of capital in an economic sense, although taxable as stated in the Prospectus and this SAI. Accordingly, a taxable shareholder may wish to avoid investing in the Fund shortly before a dividend or other distribution. In addition, the Code provides that if a shareholder holds shares of a fund for six months or less and has (or is deemed to have) received a capital gain distribution with respect to such shares, any loss incurred on the sale of such shares will be treated as long-term capital loss to the extent of the capital gain distribution received or deemed to have been received.

 

If the Fund’s distributions exceed its current and accumulated earnings and profits (as calculated for federal income tax purposes), all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be treated as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution generally will not be taxable but will reduce the shareholder’s cost basis and result in a higher capital gain or lower capital loss when the shares on which the distribution was received are sold. After a shareholder’s basis in the shares has been reduced to zero, distributions in excess of earnings and profits will be treated as gain from the sale of the shareholder’s shares.

 

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The Fund’s shareholders will be notified annually by the Fund (or their broker) as to the federal tax status of all distributions made by the Fund. Distributions may be subject to state and local taxes. Shareholders who have not held Fund shares for a full year should be aware that the Fund may report and distribute to a shareholder, as ordinary dividends or capital gain dividends, a percentage of income that is not equal to the percentage of the Fund’s ordinary income or net capital gain, respectively, actually earned during the shareholder’s period of investment in the Fund.

 

Sales or Redemptions. A sale of shares or redemption of Creation Units in the Fund may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares by individual shareholders will be treated as capital gain or loss if the shares are capital assets in the shareholder’s hands, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than 12 months, and short-term capital gain or loss if the shares are held for 12 months or less. However, if shares on which a shareholder has received a long-term capital gain distribution are subsequently sold or redeemed and such shares have been held for six months or less, any loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the long-term capital gain distribution. In addition, the loss realized on a sale or other disposition of shares will be disallowed to the extent a shareholder repurchases (or enters into a contract or option to repurchase) shares within a period of 61 days (beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares). This loss disallowance rule will apply to shares received through the reinvestment of dividends during the 61-day period. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

An Authorized Participant who exchanges securities for Creation Units generally will recognize gain or loss from the exchange. The gain or loss will be equal to the difference between the market value of the Creation Units at the time of the exchange and the sum of the exchanger’s aggregate basis in the securities surrendered plus the amount of cash paid for such Creation Units. The ability of Authorized Participants to receive a full or partial cash redemption of Creation Units of the Fund may limit the tax efficiency of the Fund. A person who redeems Creation Units will generally recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between the sum of the aggregate market value of any securities received plus the amount of any cash received for such Creation Units and the exchanger’s basis in the Creation Units. The Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), however, may assert that an Authorized Participant may not be permitted to currently deduct losses realized upon an exchange of securities for Creation Units under the rules governing “wash sales” (for an Authorized Participant which does not mark-to-market its holdings) or on the basis that there has been no significant change in economic position.

 

The Trust, on behalf of the Fund, has the right to reject an order for a purchase of shares of the Fund if the purchaser (or group of purchasers) would, upon obtaining the shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund and if, pursuant to Section 351 of the Code, the Fund would have a basis in the securities different from the market value of such securities on the date of deposit. The Trust also has the right to require information necessary to determine beneficial share ownership for purposes of the 80% determination. If the Fund does issue Creation Units to a purchaser (or group of purchasers) that would, upon obtaining the shares so ordered, own 80% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund, the purchaser (or group of purchasers) may not recognize gain or loss upon the exchange of securities for Creation Units.

 

Authorized Participants purchasing or redeeming Creation Units should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax treatment of any creation or redemption transaction and whether the wash sales rules apply and when a loss might be deductible.

 

Cost Basis Reporting. The cost basis of shares acquired by purchase will generally be based on the amount paid for the shares and then may be subsequently adjusted for other applicable transactions as required by the Code. The difference between the selling price and the cost basis of shares generally determines the amount of the capital gain or loss realized on the sale or exchange of shares. Contact the broker through whom you purchased your shares to obtain information with respect to the available cost basis reporting methods and elections for your account.

 

Net Investment Income Tax. U.S. individuals with adjusted gross income (subject to certain adjustments) exceeding certain threshold amounts ($250,000 if married and filing jointly or if considered a “surviving spouse” for federal income tax purposes, $125,000 if married filing separately, and $200,000 in other cases) are subject to a 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their “net investment income.” This 3.8% tax also applies to all or a portion of the undistributed net investment income of certain shareholders that are estates and trusts. For these purposes, interest, dividends and certain capital gains (including capital gain distributions and capital gains realized on the sale of shares of the Fund or the redemption of Creation Units), among other categories of income, are generally taken into account in computing a shareholder’s net investment income.

 

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Taxation of Complex Securities. The Fund may hold certain investments that are subject to complex provisions of the Code and that, among other things, may affect the Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC, affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer losses and, in limited cases, subject the Fund to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of its foreign securities. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders and may require the Fund to sell securities to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so. The Fund intends to monitor its transactions, intends to make appropriate tax elections, and intends to make appropriate entries in its books and records in order to mitigate the effect of these rules and preserve its qualification for treatment as a RIC. To the extent the Fund invests in an underlying fund that is taxable as a RIC, the rules applicable to the tax treatment of complex securities will also apply to the underlying funds that also invest in such complex securities and investments.

 

Certain derivative investment by the Fund, such as exchange-traded products and OTC derivatives may not produce qualifying income for purposes of the 90% Test described above, which must be met in order for the Fund to maintain its status as a RIC under the Code. In addition, the determination of the value and the identity of the issuer of such derivative investments are often unclear for purposes of the “Asset Test” described above. The Fund intends to carefully monitor such investments to ensure that any non-qualifying income does not exceed permissible limits and to ensure that it is adequately diversified under the Asset Test. The Fund, however, may not be able to accurately predict the non-qualifying income from these investments and there are no assurances that the IRS will agree with the Fund’s determination of the “Asset Test” with respect to such derivatives.

 

The Fund is required for federal income tax purposes to mark-to-market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures and options contracts that are subject to section 1256 of the Code (“Section 1256 Contracts”) as of the end of the year as well as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from Section 1256 Contracts on broad-based indexes required to be marked to market will be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. The Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on Section 1256 Contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the Fund. These provisions may also require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the distribution requirement and for avoiding the excise tax discussed above. Accordingly, to avoid certain income and excise taxes, the Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the investment adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

With respect to investments in STRIPS and other zero coupon securities which are sold at original issue discount and thus do not make periodic cash interest payments, the Fund will be required to include as part of its current income the imputed interest on such obligations even though the Fund has not received any interest payments on such obligations during that period. Because the Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income to its shareholders, the Fund may have to sell Fund securities to distribute such imputed income which may occur at a time when the Adviser would not have chosen to sell such securities and which may result in taxable gain or loss.

 

Any market discount recognized on a bond is taxable as ordinary income. A market discount bond is a bond acquired in the secondary market at a price below redemption value or adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount. Absent an election by the Fund to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on the Fund’s disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount.

 

The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies will generally be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also may require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out) which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirements and for avoiding the excise tax described above. The Fund intends to monitor its transactions, intends to make the appropriate tax elections, and intends to make the appropriate entries in its books and records when it acquires any foreign currency in order to mitigate the effect of these rules so as to prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC and minimize the imposition of income and excise taxes.

 

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Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates which occur between the time the Fund accrues income or other receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time the Fund actually collects such income or receivables or pays such expenses or liabilities generally are treated as ordinary income or loss. Similarly, on dispositions of debt securities denominated in a foreign currency and on disposition of certain other instruments, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in the value of the foreign currency between the date of acquisition of the security or contract and the date of disposition are also treated as ordinary gain or loss. The gains and losses may increase or decrease the amount of the Fund’s income to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income.

 

Foreign Taxes. The Fund may be subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by foreign countries, including taxes on interest, dividends and capital gains with respect to any investments in those countries. Any such taxes would, if imposed, reduce the yield on or return from those investments. Tax conventions between certain countries and the U.S. may reduce or eliminate such taxes in some cases. If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign corporations, then the Fund will be eligible to and intends to file an election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. Pursuant to the election, the Fund will treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders. Each such shareholder will be required to include a proportionate share of those taxes in gross income as income received from a foreign source and must treat the amount so included as if the shareholder had paid the foreign tax directly. The shareholder may then either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him or her in computing his or her taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating any foreign tax credit they may be entitled to use against the shareholders’ federal income tax. If the Fund makes the election, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions. If the Fund does not hold sufficient foreign securities to meet the above threshold, then shareholders will not be entitled to claim a credit or further deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund.

 

A shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by the Fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, which may result in a shareholder not receiving a full credit or deduction (if any) for the amount of such taxes. In particular, shareholders must hold their Fund shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 additional days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a given dividend. Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such foreign taxes. Even if the Fund were eligible to make such an election for a given year, it may determine not to do so. Shareholders that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and those who invest in the Fund through tax-advantaged accounts (including those who invest through IRAs or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by the Fund.

 

Backup Withholding. The Fund or financial intermediaries, such as brokers, through which a shareholder holds shares) will be required in certain cases to withhold (as “backup withholding”) at a 24% withholding rate and remit to the U.S. Treasury such withheld amounts on any distributions paid to any shareholder who: (1) fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number certified under penalty of perjury; (2) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report all payments of interest or dividends; (3) fails to provide a certified statement that the shareholder is not subject to backup withholding; or (4) fails to provide a certified statement that the shareholder is a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien). Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

 

Foreign Shareholders. Any foreign shareholders in the Fund may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in the Fund. Foreign shareholders (i.e., nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on distributions derived from taxable ordinary income. The Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Short-term capital gain dividends received by a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year are not exempt from this 30% withholding tax. Gains realized by foreign shareholders from the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Foreign shareholders who fail to provide an applicable IRS form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from the Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described in this paragraph. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.

 

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Under legislation generally known as “FATCA” (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), a U.S. withholding tax at a 30% rate is imposed on dividends for shareholders who own their shares through foreign accounts or foreign intermediaries if certain disclosure requirements related to U.S. accounts or ownership are not satisfied. In general, no such withholding will be required with respect to a U.S. person or non-U.S. person that timely provides the certifications required by the Fund or its agent on a valid IRS Form W-9 or applicable series of IRS Form W-8, respectively. Shareholders potentially subject to withholding include foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”), such as non-U.S. investment funds, and non-financial foreign entities (“NFFEs”). To avoid withholding under FATCA, an FFI generally must enter into an information sharing agreement with the IRS in which it agrees to report certain identifying information (including name, address, and taxpayer identification number) with respect to its U.S. account holders (which, in the case of an entity shareholder, may include its direct and indirect U.S. owners), and an NFFE generally must identify and provide other required information to the Fund or other withholding agent regarding its U.S. owners, if any. Such non-U.S. shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by regulations and other guidance. A non-U.S. shareholder resident or doing business in a country that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement. The Fund will not pay any additional amounts in respect to any amounts withheld.

 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, IRAs, salary deferral arrangements, 401(k)s, and other tax-exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Tax-exempt entities are not permitted to offset losses from one trade or business against the income or gain of another trade or business. Certain net losses incurred prior to January 1, 2018 are permitted to offset gain and income created by an unrelated trade or business, if otherwise available. Under current law, the Fund generally serves to block UBTI from being realized by its tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, a tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of an investment in the Fund where, although currently not part of the Fund’s investment strategy, for example: (i) the Fund invests in residual interests of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”), (ii) the Fund invests in a REIT that is a taxable mortgage pool (“TMP”) or that has a subsidiary that is a TMP or that invests in the residual interest of a REMIC, or (iii) shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisor. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding these issues.

 

The Fund’s shares held in a tax-qualified retirement account will generally not be subject to federal taxation on income and capital gains distributions from the Fund until a shareholder begins receiving payments from their retirement account.

 

Certain Potential Tax Reporting Requirements. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder (or certain greater amounts over a combination of years), the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on IRS Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance shareholders of a RIC are not excepted. A shareholder who fails to make the required disclosure to the IRS may be subject to substantial penalties. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

S-70

 

 

State Taxes. Depending upon state and local law, distributions by the Fund to its shareholders and the ownership of such shares may be subject to state and local taxes. Rules of state and local taxation of dividend and capital gains distributions from RICs often differ from the rules for federal income taxation described above. It is expected that the Fund will not be liable for any corporate excise, income or franchise tax in Massachusetts if it qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes.

 

The foregoing discussion is based on U.S. federal tax laws and regulations which are in effect on the date of this SAI. Such laws and regulations may be changed by legislative or administrative action. Shareholders are advised to consult their tax advisors concerning their specific situations and the application of federal, state, local and foreign taxes.

 

BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES

 

Brokerage Transactions. Typically, equity securities, both listed and over the counter, are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Money market securities and other debt securities are usually bought and sold directly from the issuer or an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Generally, the Fund will not pay brokerage commissions for such purchases. When an equity or debt security is bought from an underwriter, the purchase price will usually include an underwriting commission or concession. The purchase price for equity or debt securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealer’s mark up or reflect a dealer’s mark down.

 

In addition, the Adviser may place a combined order for two or more accounts over which it has brokerage discretion, including the Fund, engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, the aggregation of trades can be expected to result in an overall economic benefit to the affected accounts, or to obtain efficiencies potentially available on larger transactions. Transactions involving aggregated orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account consistent with the Adviser’s applicable policies and procedures. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or the Fund may obtain, it is the opinion of the Adviser and the Board that the advantages of combined orders generally outweigh the possible disadvantages of combined orders.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid the following aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions:

 

Aggregate Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions Paid
20231
$25,398

 

1Reflects the fiscal period from the Reorganization to October 31, 2023.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Predecessor Fund paid the following aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions:

 

Aggregate Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions Paid
2021 2022 20231
$28,134 $76,643 $6,379

 

1Reflects the fiscal period from November 1, 2022 to the Reorganization.

 

S-71

 

 

Brokerage Selection. The Adviser’s primary objective in executing securities trades for the Fund is to attempt to ensure that the total cost or proceeds associated with the transaction are the most favorable reasonably available under prevailing market conditions, based on considerations including overall investment goals.

 

Some of the qualitative and quantitative considerations that may be relevant in assessing whether best execution is achieved include, among others: (1) in relation to the security: price, size of the order, market depth, available liquidity, recent order flow and other trading characteristics, the availability of accurate information affecting choices as to the most favorable market center or other trading venue for execution, the feasibility of using a traditional broker or an electronic communications network or other alternative trading system (together, “ATS”), and the cost and difficulty of achieving an execution in a particular market center or other trading venue, and (2) in relation to the broker or ATS: amount of commissions or spreads or fees, the value of qualifying research or services provided to the Adviser that generally benefits clients, speed of execution, ability to locate liquidity or natural counterparties, ability to trade in local markets, willingness to commit the broker’s own capital, quality of the sales trader, execution and settlement capabilities, responsiveness, knowledge of the other side of the trade, financial responsibility, and the confidentiality of trading information.

 

The Trust does not expect to use one particular broker or dealer, and when one or more brokers is believed capable of providing the best combination of price and execution, the Adviser may select a broker based upon brokerage or research services provided to the Adviser. The Adviser may pay a higher commission than otherwise obtainable from other brokers in return for such services only if a good faith determination is made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.

 

Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause the Fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting an agency transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer if a good faith determination is made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided by the broker, viewed in terms of either the specific transactions or the Adviser’s overall responsibilities to client accounts. In addition to agency transactions, the Adviser may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). The Adviser’s arrangements in this respect are intended to fall within the “safe harbor” provided under Section 28(e) and applicable SEC and staff guidance. In the case of research services, the Adviser believes that access to independent investment research is beneficial to its investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Fund.

 

S-72

 

 

To the extent that research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the Adviser might utilize Fund commissions include attendance at investment conferences, access to corporate executives, broker analysts, and economists, furnishing of market letters and reports concerning the state of the economy, economic models, the outlook for particular industries, the prospects of individual companies and portfolio strategy, access to software to assist in post-trade matching and settlement, portfolio management and analysis software, and other research-oriented software. The Adviser may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used in connection with the account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Adviser will be in addition to and not in lieu of the research services required to be performed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. Any advisory or other fees paid to the Adviser are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services obtained in exchange for brokerage.

 

In some cases the Adviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a “research” and a “non-research” use. When this occurs, the Adviser makes a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions, while the Adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the Adviser believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.

 

Commission Sharing Arrangement (“CSA”). The Adviser utilizes Commission Sharing Arrangements (“CSA”) facilitated by one or more executing brokers to obtain research from certain macro research and other firms. Allocations to the firms are determined by the Adviser’s broker-vote process.

 

For the fiscal period from the Reorganization to October 31, 2023, the Fund paid the following commissions through the CSA program:

 

Total Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions for Research Services
(“CSA”)
Total Dollar Amount of Transactions Involving Brokerage Commissions for Research Services (“CSA”)
$3,244 $6,448,258

 

For the fiscal period from November 1, 2022 to the Reorganization, the Predecessor Fund paid the following commissions through the CSA program:

 

Total Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions for Research Services
(“CSA”)
Total Dollar Amount of Transactions Involving Brokerage Commissions for Research Services (“CSA”)
$1,015 $621,423

 

Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. The Fund may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Fund or the Adviser for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act and rules promulgated thereunder by the SEC. The 1940 Act requires that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Fund for exchange transactions not exceed “usual and customary” brokerage commissions. The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” The Trustees, including those who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.

 

For the fiscal period from the Reorganization to October 31, 2023, the Fund paid no brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions effected by affiliated brokers.

 

S-73

 

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021 and 2022, and the fiscal period from November 1, 2022 to the Reorganization, the Predecessor Fund paid no brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions effected by affiliated brokers.

 

Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealers.” The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers and dealers” that the Fund held during its most recent fiscal year. The Fund’s regular broker-dealers are (i) the ten broker-dealers that received the greatest dollar amount of brokerage commissions from the Fund; (ii) the ten broker-dealers that engaged as principal in the largest dollar amount of portfolio transactions of the Fund; and (iii) the ten broker-dealers that sold the largest dollar amount of Fund shares. During the fiscal period from the Reorganization to October 31, 2023, the Fund held securities of its “regular brokers and dealers” as follows:

 

Name of Issuer Type of Security Amount (000)
Goldman Sachs Group Equity $1,922

 

During the fiscal period from November 1, 2022 to the Reorganization, the Predecessor Fund held securities of its “regular brokers and dealers” as follows:

 

Name of Issuer Type of Security Amount (000)
Goldman Sachs Group Equity $1,114

 

Portfolio Turnover Rates. Portfolio turnover is calculated by dividing the lesser of total purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. Excluded from both the numerator and denominator are amounts relating to securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less. The Fund may at times hold investments in short-term instruments, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the portfolio turnover rate for the Fund was as follows:

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate
2023
70%

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, the portfolio turnover rate for the Predecessor Fund was as follows:

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate
2022
103%

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

The Board has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of information about the Fund’s security holdings. The Fund’s entire portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day the Fund is open for business through financial reporting and news services including publicly available internet websites, as well as through the following website: www.cambiar.com/etf/camx/. In addition, the composition of the in-kind creation basket and the in-kind redemption basket is publicly disseminated daily prior to the opening of the Exchange via the NSCC.

 

Greater than daily access to information concerning the Fund’s portfolio holdings will be permitted (i) to certain personnel of service providers to the Fund involved in portfolio management and providing administrative, operational, risk management, or other support to portfolio management, and (ii) to other personnel of the Fund’s service providers who deal directly with, or assist in, functions related to investment management, administration, custody and fund accounting, as may be necessary to conduct business in the ordinary course in a manner consistent with agreements with the Fund, and the terms of the Trust’s current registration statement. From time to time, and in the ordinary course of business, such information may also be disclosed (i) to other entities that provide services to the Fund, including pricing information vendors, and third parties that deliver analytical, statistical or consulting services to the Fund and (ii) generally after it has been disseminated to the NSCC.

 

S-74

 

 

No person is authorized to disclose any of the Fund’s portfolio holdings or other investment positions (whether in writing, by fax, by e-mail, orally, or by other means) except in accordance with this policy. The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer may authorize disclosure of portfolio holdings. The Board reviews the implementation of this policy on a periodic basis.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of funds and shares of each fund. Each share of the Fund represents an equal proportionate interest with each other share. Shares are entitled upon liquidation to a pro rata share in the net assets of the Fund. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees may create additional series or classes of shares. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of the Fund and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to the Fund and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto. Share certificates representing shares will not be issued. The Fund’s shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY

 

The Trust is an entity commonly known as a “Massachusetts business trust.” Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the trust. Even if, however, the Trust were held to be a partnership, the possibility of the shareholders incurring financial loss for that reason appears remote because the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees, and because the Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the Trust property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust.

 

LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY

 

The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful defaults and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents, employees or investment advisers, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust, unless it is determined in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. Nothing contained in this section attempts to disclaim a Trustee’s individual liability in any manner inconsistent with the federal securities laws.

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund to the Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy voting policies and procedures, which are included in Appendix B to this SAI.

 

S-75

 

 

The Trust is required to disclose annually the Fund’s complete proxy voting record during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 on Form N-PX. This voting record is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-777-8227; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

CODES OF ETHICS

 

The Board, on behalf of the Trust, has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics (each a “Code of Ethics” and together the “Codes of Ethics”) apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers and certain employees (“access persons”). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by access persons. Under each Code of Ethics, access persons are permitted to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund, but are required to report certain personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. The Codes of Ethics further require certain access persons to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings and limited offerings. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.

 

5% AND 25% SHAREHOLDERS

 

Although the Trust does not have information concerning the beneficial ownership of shares of the Fund held in the names of DTC Participants, as of February 6, 2024, the name, address and percentage ownership of each DTC Participant that owned of record 5% or more of the outstanding shares of the Fund is set forth in the table below. Shareholders having more than 25% beneficial ownership of the Fund's outstanding shares may be in control of the Fund and be able to affect the outcome of certain matters presented for a vote of shareholders.

 

Participant Name and Address Percentage of Ownership

NFS LLC

499 WASHINGTON BOULEVARD

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310

49.57%

PERSHING

ONE PERSHING PLAZA

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07399

26.93%

CHARLES SCHWAB

2423 E LINCOLN DRIVE

PHOENIX, AZ 85016

8.46%

US BANK NA

1555 N RIVERCENTER DRIVE, SUITE 302

MILWAUKEE, WI 53212

6.69%

 

 

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APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

 

Description of Ratings

 

The following descriptions of securities ratings have been published by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), respectively.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Ratings

 

Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Long-Term Ratings

 

Aaa Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

Aa Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

A Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

Baa Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

Ba Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

B Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

Caa Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

Ca Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

C Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

Hybrid Indicator (hyb)

 

The hybrid indicator (hyb) is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms. By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.

 

A-1

 

 

Description of Moody’s Global Short-Term Ratings

 

P-1 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-2 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-3 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

NP Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Description of Moody’s U.S. Municipal Short-Term Obligation Ratings

 

The Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale is used to rate U.S. municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less. Under certain circumstances, the MIG scale is used to rate bond anticipation notes with maturities of up to five years.

 

Moody’s U.S. municipal short-term obligation ratings are as follows:

 

MIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

MIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

MIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

Description of Moody’s Demand Obligation Ratings

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), Moody’s assigns both a long-term rating and a short-term payment obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer’s ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term payment obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to meet any purchase price payment obligation resulting from optional tenders (“on demand”) and/or mandatory tenders of the VRDO. The short-term payment obligation rating uses the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (“VMIG”) scale. VMIG ratings with liquidity support use as an input the short-term counterparty risk assessment of the support provider, or the long-term rating of the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support. Transitions of VMIG ratings with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions of Prime ratings reflecting the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade. For VRDOs, Moody’s typically assigns a VMIG rating if the frequency of the payment obligation is less than every three years. If the frequency of the payment obligation is less than three years, but the obligation is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the VMIG short-term rating is not assigned and it is denoted as “NR”.

 

Moody’s demand obligation ratings are as follows:

 

VMIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

A-2

 

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or legal protections.

 

Description of S&P’s Issue Credit Ratings

 

An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term issue credit ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. S&P would typically assign a long-term issue credit rating to an obligation with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. However, the ratings S&P assigns to certain instruments may diverge from these guidelines based on market practices. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

 

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations:

 

The likelihood of payment—the capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitments on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

 

The nature and provisions of the financial obligation, and the promise S&P imputes; and

 

The protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

 

An issue rating is an assessment of default risk but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

 

NR indicates that a rating has not been assigned or is no longer assigned.

 

Description of S&P’s Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings*

 

AAA An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

AA An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.

 

A An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.

 

BBB An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

BB; B; CCC; CC; and C Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.

 

A-3

 

 

BB An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CCC An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CC An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

C An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.

 

D An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

* Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.

 

Description of S&P’s Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

 

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

 

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

 

A-3 A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

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

 

D A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

A-4

 

 

Description of S&P’s Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings

 

An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

Source of payment—the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

S&P’s municipal short-term note ratings are as follows:

 

SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

D ‘D’ is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.

 

Description of Fitch’s Credit Ratings

 

Fitch’s credit ratings relating to issuers are an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Credit ratings relating to securities and obligations of an issuer can include a recovery expectation. Credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.

 

Fitch’s credit rating scale for issuers and issues is expressed using the categories ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’ (investment grade) and ‘BB’ to ‘D’ (speculative grade) with an additional +/- for AA through CCC levels indicating relative differences of probability of default or recovery for issues. The terms “investment grade” and “speculative grade” are market conventions and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the speculative grade categories signal either a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred.

 

Fitch may also disclose issues relating to a rated issuer that are not and have not been rated. Such issues are also denoted as ‘NR’ on its web page.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. Credit ratings do not deal with the risk of market value loss due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and/or other market considerations. However, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay or refinance a financial commitment. Ratings nonetheless do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, in the case of payments linked to performance of an index).

 

In the default components of ratings assigned to individual obligations or instruments, the agency typically rates to the likelihood of non-payment or default in accordance with the terms of that instrument’s documentation. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations (i.e. rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation’s documentation).

 

A-5

 

 

Description of Fitch’s Long-Term Corporate Finance Obligations Ratings

 

AAA Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

AA Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

A High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

BBB Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

BB Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

B Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

CCC Substantial credit risk. ‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.

 

CC Very high levels of credit risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.

 

C Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. ‘C’ ratings indicate exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Ratings in the categories of ‘CCC’, ‘CC’ and ‘C’ can also relate to obligations or issuers that are in default. In this case, the rating does not opine on default risk but reflects the recovery expectation only.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned ‘RD’ or ‘D’ ratings, but are instead rated in the ‘CCC’ to ‘C’ rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Description of Fitch’s Short-Term Ratings

 

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

 

Fitch’s short-term ratings are as follows:

 

F1 Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

F2 Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

F3 Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

A-6

 

 

B Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

C High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

 

RD Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

D Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

A-7

 

 

APPENDIX B - PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

PROXY VOTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES
Objective: The objective of Cambiar Investors, LLC’s (“Cambiar” or the “Firm”) proxy voting process is to seek to maximize the long-term investment performance of our client accounts by exercising delegated voting authority over proxies in clients’ best economic interests as determined by Cambiar in good faith after appropriate review. Cambiar will use reasonable best efforts to vote proxies for which it receives ballots in good order and in a timely manner. Where Cambiar has authority to vote proxies on behalf of a client, proxies will be voted or otherwise processed (such as by a decision to abstain from voting or to take no action) consistent with these Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures (“Proxy Voting Policies”).

 

Policy: Under its investment discipline, Cambiar seeks to invest in issuers with management teams that it believes are committed to enhancing shareholder value and serving shareholder interests. Cambiar believes that the management teams of most companies it invests in generally pursue these objectives, and therefore believes that voting proxy proposals in clients’ best economic interests generally equates to voting with the recommendations of company management teams and/or the company’s board of directors.

 

Cambiar’s analysis of a specific proxy proposal can lead it to conclude that a particular management or board recommendation may not be in clients’ best interests. Where appropriate, Cambiar may consider environmental, social, or governance factors in determining whether a proxy proposal is in the best interests of clients. Cambiar may, in its sole discretion, choose to vote against a management or board recommendation based on its analysis, if such action appears more consistent with the best interests of clients.

 

In certain circumstances, such as when a proxy issuer is also a client of Cambiar, a potential material conflict in how the proxies are voted may arise between Cambiar’s interests and the interests of affected clients. In the event there exists a material conflict of interest between Cambiar and the interests of one or more clients in how proxies are voted, Cambiar has adopted procedures that are designed to resolve such conflicts. In such situations, Cambiar will seek to have the shares voted in the client’s best interest, often as recommended by an independent, third-party proxy research provider.

 

Cambiar may abstain from voting or take no action on certain proxy proposals. Instances when this might occur include, but are not limited to, situations where Cambiar has determined that abstaining is in the best interests of clients, proxies issued by companies that Cambiar has decided to sell, proxies issued by companies that Cambiar did not select for a client portfolio, or proxies issued by foreign companies, as described further below.

 

Special challenges may arise in connection with voting proxies for companies organized in foreign countries or subject to foreign securities laws. Certain foreign markets, for example, may require that the securities positions be held or “blocked” for extended periods leading up to (or even following) the meeting. Because foreign markets may impose these or other types of burdensome or expensive voting requirements, Cambiar may choose, in its discretion, to abstain or take no action on these proxies. For certain foreign securities held in depositary receipt form, Cambiar may not have the option to vote proxies as the receipt issuer may not pass through to receipt holders the voting rights of the ordinary shares.

 

B-1

 

 

Cambiar may use an independent, third-party proxy service provider to assist in the ministerial and administrative aspects of voting proxies, including assisting in preparing ballots and reports, casting votes, maintaining voting records, and disclosing voting information to clients. Cambiar uses reasonable best efforts to periodically reconcile available votes or votes cast by the proxy service provider against shares held in client accounts in an effort to ensure that Cambiar is receiving and voting proxies for those clients and relationships for which it has voting authority.

 

Cambiar maintains records relating to how it votes proxies for client accounts, as well as other records relating to these Proxy Voting Policies, as required by the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (“Advisers Act”). These policies and procedures, as well as a record of how Cambiar votes proxies for client accounts, are available to clients upon request.

 

Background

 

These Proxy Voting Policies are intended to assist the Firm in satisfying its fiduciary obligations to clients. As fiduciaries, investment advisers owe their clients duties of care and loyalty with respect to services undertaken on the client’s behalf, including proxy voting. To satisfy its fiduciary duty in voting proxies, the investment adviser makes proxy voting determinations in the best interests of clients and must not place the investment adviser’s own interests ahead of its clients. Cambiar’s intent throughout these Proxy Voting Policies is to exercise any authority over proxy voting consistent with the agreement reached with the client, in clients’ best interests, and effected in compliance with the proxy voting rule for investment advisers, Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Rule”).

 

The Rule mandates that it is a fraudulent, deceptive, or manipulative act, practice or course of business for an investment adviser registered with the SEC to exercise voting authority with respect to client securities unless the adviser, among other things, adopts and implements written policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure that the investment adviser votes proxies in the best interest of clients. Among other measures, the Firm seeks to satisfy its obligations under the Rule by disclosing that voting proxy proposals in clients’ best economic interests generally results in voting with the recommendations of company management teams and/or the company’s board of directors, with certain exceptions described herein. Cambiar seeks to disclose its intention to vote in this manner, consistent with this policy, in its agreements with clients, in periodic transmissions of its policies, and in disclosure documents such as Form ADV, Part 2A or applicable Statements of Additional Information.

 

Proxy Voting Procedures:

 

1.Responsibilities: Cambiar’s Operations Department has primary responsibility for implementing these Proxy Voting Policies. The head of the Operations staff will designate one individual (“Proxy Administrator”) to assume primary responsibility for voting proxies and associated duties. The Proxy Administrator may select other Cambiar employees, including members of the investment and compliance teams, to assist in complying with these policies.

 

Cambiar retains an independent, third-party proxy voting service provider (“proxy service provider”) to assist in recordkeeping, reporting, voting and processing proxies. Cambiar currently uses Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”) and its ProxyEdge voting platform to provide these services. Certain clients’ ballots may be voted using an alternative method (such as a different proxy service provider designated by the client). In some cases, proxies may only be voted using paper ballots, such as when required by certain client custodians or by issuers of foreign ordinary shares. In those cases, Cambiar will use reasonable best efforts to vote those proxies if it is determined to be in clients’ best interests. Further, Cambiar uses reasonable best efforts to periodically reconcile available votes or votes cast by the proxy service provider against shares held in client accounts in an effort to ensure that Cambiar is receiving and voting proxies for those clients and relationships for which it has voting authority.

 

B-2

 

 

Cambiar also retains an independent, third-party proxy research service (“proxy advisory firm”) to assist in effectuating these policies and procedures, including providing independent proxy voting research. At present, Cambiar uses Glass Lewis & Co. (“Glass Lewis”) for these purposes.

 

In selecting a proxy advisory firm and as a condition for retention of such firm, Cambiar will seek to ensure (or reconfirm) that the firm has the capacity, ability, and independence necessary to provide recommendations in the best interests of Cambiar clients. Factors that Cambiar considers critical to the employment or retention of a proxy advisory firm include the capabilities of the advisory firm’s personnel, its capacity and competency to adequately analyze proxy issues, its methodologies for assessing proxy voting matters, the manner in which it engages (or chooses not to engage) with proxy proponents, its treatment and disclosure of actual and potential conflicts of interest, and its propensity to commit (and correct) errors in its recommendations.

 

Cambiar periodically reevaluates the basis of its continuing relationship with Glass Lewis. Cambiar will review, among other documents and policies, its conflicts of interest disclosures, its approach to how proxies are voted, and other relevant information in seeking to reconfirm that the bases upon which Glass Lewis was originally selected remain intact and that the selection of Glass Lewis continues to be in clients’ best interests. The Firm also reviews any on-going updates or notices transmitted from Glass Lewis that materially modify its approach to proxy voting. In addition, Cambiar will review any disclosures from Glass Lewis, or indications from other sources, of material errors, incompleteness or other problems with that firm’s proxy advice.

 

Cambiar will conduct oversight of third-party research providers that it retains to assist with proxy voting to determine that proxies continue to be voted in clients’ best interests. Cambiar will request that proxy advisory firms update Cambiar regarding relevant business changes (i.e., with respect to the firm’s capacity and competency to provide proxy voting advice) or conflict policies and procedures. Cambiar will use such information to identify and address conflicts that may arise on an ongoing basis.

 

2.Procedures: The Proxy Administrator will review the applicable investment management agreement/client profile for each eligible new account to determine if the client has elected to have Cambiar vote proxies on its behalf.1 If so, the Operations staff will forward to the client the information necessary to register the account on Broadridge’s ProxyEdge voting platform to identify relevant proxy voting data.

 

Upon notification through the proxy service provider or client custodian that a proxy has been issued for a security held in a Cambiar client portfolio, the Proxy Administrator will retrieve and review the applicable research report from the proxy advisory firm. Among other things, the Proxy Administrator will review the report to determine if the proxy advisory firm recommends voting in a manner consistent with the recommendations of company management and/or the company’s board of directors. As discussed above, because Cambiar believes that the issuers it invests in generally attempt to serve shareholder interests, Cambiar generally seeks to vote with the recommendations of management or the board when such recommendation is in clients’ best interests. In the event that the proxy advisory firm recommends voting with management or the board on all ballot measures and Cambiar concurs with the recommendation, the Proxy Administrator will rely on the proxy service provider to vote according to established instructions on the ProxyEdge voting platform.

 

 

1In seeking to exercise its proxy voting authority in clients’ best interests, Cambiar has assessed whether it should adopt different proxy voting policies for different clients or grouping of clients. Because the Firm employs its relative value equity investment approach across all of its clients’ accounts, it does not believe that distinct proxy voting polices/approaches for different clients are warranted.

 

B-3

 

 

If the proxy advisory firm recommends voting differently from management or the board, as described below in Voting Away from Management, the Proxy Administrator will provide the relevant research materials to a Cambiar portfolio manager or investment analyst. Once the research materials have been reviewed by an appropriate member of the investment team, the team member will provide the Proxy Administrator with instructions as to whether to vote as recommended by the board or management, to vote as recommended by the proxy advisory firm, as applicable, or take some other action, such as a decision to abstain or take no action. The Proxy Administrator will review the vote instructions on the ProxyEdge voting platform to confirm that the correct vote instructions are displayed consistent with investment team member instructions, as needed.

 

Some custodians may require that proxies be voted on paper ballots. In these instances, the paper ballots are reviewed, analyzed, and voted manually, as per procedures similar to those described above.

 

3.Voting Away from Management: In certain circumstances, analysis of proxy proposals could lead Cambiar to the conclusion that certain recommendations of the board or management may not be in clients’ best interests. For example, certain proxy proposals or recommendations by management, the board, shareholders, or other proponents-such as, without limitation, proposals that would affect corporate governance, anti-takeover measures, directors, director qualifications, or compensation programs-could present circumstances in which the management or board recommendation, in Cambiar’s view, may not maximize client interests. Similarly, Cambiar may determine that certain shareholder proposals, including those implicating environmental, social, or governance issues, place the interest of shareholders first, contrary to the conclusions of a corporate board or management team.

 

In these and other circumstances, Cambiar may choose to vote against (or abstain or take no action on) a management or board recommendation. Cambiar uses the proxy advisory firm to assist in identifying ballot measures that may warrant additional analysis. Members of Cambiar’s investment management team also may identify matters in which Cambiar may choose to vote away from management or the board. A decision to vote against a particular management or board recommendation or to otherwise abstain or take no action on a proxy proposal does not necessarily signal a departure from Cambiar’s overall view that management is committed to shareholder interests.

 

The Proxy Administrator provides the research and analysis issued by the proxy advisory firm to the investment team member responsible for following that company if the service recommends voting in a manner inconsistent with a management or board recommendation. The Proxy Administrator will then solicit the views of the portfolio manager or analyst, who will provide a final determination as to whether to vote as recommended by management or the board, to vote as recommended by the proxy advisory firm, as applicable, or take some other action. The Proxy Administrator will update the votes in the system accordingly. In the event the Portfolio Manager/Analyst determines to vote against (or abstain or take no action on) a management or board recommendation, the Proxy Administrator will maintain certain records, as described in Recordkeeping, below.

 

B-4

 

 

4.Material Conflicts of Interest: In certain circumstances, such as when a proxy issuer is also a client of Cambiar, a potential material conflict in how the proxies are voted may arise between Cambiar’s interests and the interests of affected clients. Cambiar has established certain procedures to be followed when a potential material conflict of interest is identified.

 

Cambiar defines a “material conflict of interest” to mean those circumstances in which Cambiar: (1) knowingly does a material amount of business with a particular proxy issuer or another principal proponent of a proxy proposal; (2) does a material amount of business with an entity closely affiliated with the proxy issuer or other principal proponent of a proposal; or (3) may appear to have a significant conflict of interest between its own interests and the interests of clients. Cambiar generally considers proxies issued by publicly-traded institutional investor clients (or their affiliates) that sponsor wrap arrangements or maintain separate accounts with Cambiar as potentially presenting material conflicts of interest. Cambiar also considers significant service providers to Cambiar as potentially presenting material conflicts of interest.

 

Cambiar does not consider the beneficial ownership of SMA/UMA/Model wrap accounts for which it maintains proxy voting authority to present potential material conflicts of interest because: (1) it considers Cambiar’s primary relationship to be with the wrap account sponsor, rather than the underlying account; (2) such accounts are less likely to be materially significant; and (3) in many instances wrap account sponsors do not provide Cambiar with information necessary to identify or evaluate the owner or a potential conflict of interest.

 

The Proxy Administrator will seek to maintain (and periodically review and update) a spreadsheet listing each entity or person identified by Cambiar as potentially presenting a material conflict of interest with respect to voting proxies. In addition to large institutional clients that sponsor wrap arrangements or maintain separate accounts, Cambiar will include individuals identified to Cambiar as officers or board members of public companies, significant service providers to Cambiar or its affiliates, and other entities and individuals deemed to present potential material conflicts of interest.

 

Upon receipt of an issuer’s proxy ballot, the Proxy Administrator will review the spreadsheet in an effort to identify potential material conflicts of interest. In the event that a material conflict of interest is identified with respect to one or more ballot measures, Cambiar will seek to vote the proxies as recommended by the proxy advisory firm, will “echo” or “mirror” vote those shares in the same proportion as other votes, will seek guidance from affected clients, or will abstain or take no action on that ballot. To the extent that conflicts of interest dictate that it defer to the proxy advisory firm, Cambiar believes that it is voting in clients’ best interest since Cambiar’s selection of the advisory firm itself was determined to be in the best interests of clients. The Proxy Administrator will document instances in which material conflicts of interest are identified and addressed, as described in Recordkeeping, below.

 

5.Voting in Foreign Markets: Corporate governance standards, disclosure requirements, and the mechanics of voting proxies in foreign markets can vary greatly from U.S. markets. Certain foreign markets impose unduly burdensome or expensive proxy voting requirements on equity holders, including “share-blocking” requirements that require that the foreign securities be held for designated periods of time leading up to, and sometimes following, the meeting. In other jurisdictions, ballots may not be cast if a current and valid power of attorney between the client and the custodian is not in place. Other jurisdictions require that shares be re-registered out of street name and into the name of the beneficial owner in order to vote; an action that typically must be followed by re-registering the shares back into street name.

 

Foreign proxies may raise other issues as well. For example, ballots cast for foreign proxies may be voted, but not counted, due to foreign voting requirements or other limitations. In some jurisdictions, ballots for foreign securities held in omnibus accounts for multiple clients may be voted in an unexpected manner if the custodian receives different voting instructions from its customers and cannot split votes.

 

B-5

 

 

Because some foreign markets impose these and other hurdles to casting proxy ballots, in some instances the costs of voting proxies, monetary or otherwise, may outweigh the benefits of doing so. Cambiar may, in its discretion, choose to abstain or take no action on foreign proxies if it determines, in its own reasonable discretion, that these burdens and costs outweigh the potential benefits to clients. The Proxy Administrator will document proxy voting for foreign issuers, as described in Recordkeeping, below.

 

6.Abstaining or Taking No Action/Closed Accounts: Cambiar will use reasonable best efforts to vote proxies for which Cambiar receives ballots in good order and with timely notice. Such proxies will be voted or otherwise processed as intended under this Proxy Voting Policy when consistent with clients’ best interests.

 

On occasion, Cambiar may be unable to vote or otherwise process certain proxy ballots. For example, proxies that are not received or processed in a timely manner due to functional limitations of the proxy voting system, proxies relating to securities that are out for loan under securities lending programs, custodial limitations, factors relating to voting proxies for foreign securities or interests, or other factors beyond Cambiar’s control may compromise the ability to vote such proxies. In certain instances, Cambiar may not vote a proxy in instances in which voting would not reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the value of the client’s investment.

 

In the event that a client account closes, Cambiar will attempt, within a reasonable period, to contact the proxy service provider or custodian, as applicable, to request that proxy information for that client no longer be forwarded to Cambiar and that Cambiar be removed from the client’s proxy voting designation. As a result of complexities and limitations within the proxy voting process and the systems of proxy service providers and custodians, however, Cambiar may vote proxies for clients whose accounts close after the record date.

 

7.Voting by Client: Clients may elect to vote proxies for their own account as an alternative to directing Cambiar to do so. Cambiar recommends this approach if a client believes that proxies should be voted based on religious, political or social interests or other client-specific considerations that may take precedence over other considerations, e.g., maximizing shareholder value. Cambiar generally cannot implement client proxy voting guidelines that do not delegate full discretion to Cambiar, or that are not fully consistent with this Proxy Voting Policy. Cambiar does not accept direction from clients in voting individual proxy ballot measures. In its discretion and on a limited basis, Cambiar may agree to a client request to vote proxies according to a specific set of guidelines promulgated by an independent third-party proxy service.

 

8.Reconciliation: As part of Cambiar’s compliance with the Rule, the Proxy Administrator, with assistance from Cambiar’s Compliance department, will use reasonable best efforts to periodically reconcile available votes or votes cast on Broadridge’s ProxyEdge system (and on ballots received or voted outside of the system) against shares held in client accounts in an effort to confirm that Cambiar is receiving and voting proxies for clients and relationships for which it has voting authority, and that proxies are voted in the manner directed by Cambiar. Furthermore, the Proxy Administrator will periodically sample proxy votes, including those voted away from management or the board or had resulted in Cambiar abstaining or taking no action, to review whether they complied with these policies and procedures.

 

B-6

 

 

9.Recordkeeping: Pursuant to Rule 204-2(c)(2), Cambiar shall maintain the following records: (1) copies of all proxy voting policies and procedures; (2) copies of proxy statements received for client securities; (3) a record of each domestic and foreign proxy vote cast on behalf of clients; (4) documents prepared by Cambiar that are material to making certain proxy voting decisions, including research provided by a proxy advisory firm; (5) written client requests for proxy voting information regarding client accounts; and (6) written responses to written or oral requests for proxy information. Cambiar may keep such records on Broadridge’s ProxyEdge platform or a similar electronic system maintained by a proxy service provider or advisory firm. For records maintained by third-parties, Cambiar will obtain an undertaking from the third-party provider that such records are available promptly upon request. Cambiar may also rely on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR system to keep records of certain proxy statements issued by companies. Proxy-related records will be maintained in an easily accessible place for at least five years (and at an appropriate office of Cambiar or its service provider for the first two years).

 

The Proxy Administrator will document instances in which it identifies a material conflict of interest, as well as the analysis for resolving the particular conflict. Further, the Proxy Administrator will document certain non-routine proxy voting issues, including the basis for decisions to vote against a management or board recommendation or any decision to abstain or take no action on a proxy that is intended to demonstrate divergence from a management or board recommendation.

 

Other than as required by Rule 204-2(c)(2), Cambiar will not document other, more routine matters, including, but not limited to: (1) a decision not to vote or otherwise process proxies that were not received in good order or in a timely fashion, or otherwise not processed for reasons beyond Cambiar’s control; or (2) when it determines to abstain or take no action in the following circumstances: (i) when foreign issuers impose burdensome, unreasonable, or expensive requirements on voting proxies; (ii) when the foreign jurisdiction does not allow vote splitting; (iii) when Cambiar has sold or determined to sell a security; (iv) when Cambiar did not select the securities for the client portfolio (such as securities that were selected by the client or a previous adviser, unsupervised securities held in a client account, money market securities); and (v) when the client account has closed.

 

10.Information: Copies of these policies and procedures can be obtained free of charge by:

 

>calling Cambiar toll-free at 888-673-9950
>writing to Cambiar at: 200 Columbine Street #800, Denver, CO 80206
>visiting the Cambiar website at http://www.cambiar.com

 

Cambiar clients may obtain proxy voting records for their accounts free of charge by:

 

>calling Cambiar toll-free at 888-673-9950
>writing to Cambiar at: 200 Columbine Street #800, Denver, CO 80206
>for Cambiar Fund shareholders, by visiting our website at http://www.cambiar.com (typically the Cambiar Funds’ proxy voting records are available by August 31 each year for the previous 12 month period ended June 30)

 

* * * 

 

Cambiar’s Chief Compliance Officer will review the adequacy of these policies and procedures at least annually to determine whether they have been implemented effectively, including whether the policies and procedures continue to be reasonably designed to vote proxies in the best interests of clients. Any amendments to this policy require the written approval of the Chief Compliance Officer.

 

B-7

 

 

Approved by: Christine Simon  
     
Title: Chief Compliance Officer  
     
Effective Date: March 31, 2015  
     
Approved by: Christine Simon  
     
Title: Chief Compliance Officer  
     
Effective Date: February 10, 2020  

 

B-8

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

 

Prospectus

 

March 1, 2024

 

CIBC ATLAS DISCIPLINED
EQUITY FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: AWEIX)
(Investor Class Shares: AWEVX)

CIBC ATLAS ALL CAP
GROWTH FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: AWGIX)
(Investor Class Shares: AWGVX)

CIBC ATLAS MID CAP
EQUITY FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: AWMIX)
(Investor Class Shares: AWMVX)

CIBC ATLAS EQUITY
INCOME FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: AWYIX)
(Investor Class Shares: AWYVX)

CIBC ATLAS INCOME
OPPORTUNITIES FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: AWIIX)
(Investor Class Shares: AWIVX)

CIBC ATLAS INTERNATIONAL
GROWTH FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: AWWIX)
(Investor Class Shares: AWWVX)

 

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER:
CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISORS, INC.

 

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

 

 

About This Prospectus

 

This Prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this important information. For detailed information about the Funds, please see:

 

   

Page

CIBC ATLAS DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND

1

Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategies

2

Principal Risks

3

Performance Information

4

Investment Adviser

6

Portfolio Managers

6

CIBC ATLAS MID CAP EQUITY FUND

7

Investment Objective

7

Fund Fees and Expenses

7

Principal Investment Strategies

8

Principal Risks

9

Performance Information

11

Investment Adviser

12

Portfolio Managers

12

CIBC ATLAS INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND

13

Investment Objective

13

Fund Fees and Expenses

13

Principal Investment Strategies

14

Principal Risks

15

Performance Information

19

Investment Adviser

20

Portfolio Managers

20

CIBC ATLAS ALL CAP GROWTH FUND

21

Investment Objective

21

Fund Fees and Expenses

21

Principal Investment Strategies

22

Principal Risks

23

Performance Information

26

Investment Adviser

28

Portfolio Managers

28

 

 

   

Page

CIBC ATLAS EQUITY INCOME FUND

29

Investment Objective

29

Fund Fees and Expenses

29

Principal Investment Strategies

30

Principal Risks

31

Performance Information

35

Investment Adviser

37

Portfolio Managers

37

CIBC ATLAS INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

38

Investment Objective

38

Fund Fees and Expenses

38

Principal Investment Strategies

39

Principal Risks

40

Performance Information

43

Investment Adviser

45

Portfolio Managers

45

Summary Information about the Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares, Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation

46

More Information about Risk

47

More Information about Fund Investments

54

Information about Portfolio Holdings

55

Investment Adviser

55

Portfolio Managers

58

Related Performance Data of the Adviser

60

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

64

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

75

Other Policies

77

Dividends and Distributions

82

Taxes

82

Additional Information

88

Financial Highlights

88

How to Obtain More Information about the Funds

Back Cover

 

Investor Class Shares of the Funds are currently not available for purchase.

 

 

 

AWEIX Institutional Class Shares

AWEVX Investor Class Shares

S&P 500® Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

CIBC ATLAS DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND

 

Investment Objective

 

 

The investment objective of the CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund (the “Fund”) is to seek long-term capital appreciation and, secondarily, current income.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor
Class Shares

Management Fees

0.65%

0.65%

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

None

0.25%

Other Expenses

0.07%

0.22%

Shareholder Servicing Fees

None

0.15%

Other Operating Expenses

0.07%

0.07%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses1

0.72%

1.12%

 

1

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding 12b-1 Fees, Shareholder Servicing Fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 0.80% of the Fund’s average daily net assets until February 28, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee reductions or expense reimbursements made during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee reduction and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those

 

1

 

 

 

periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$74

$230

$401

$894

Investor Class Shares

$114

$356

$617

$1,363

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 10% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities and other instruments that have economic characteristics similar to equity securities. The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of U.S. and foreign issuers, and it may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign securities. The principal type of equity securities in which the Fund invests is common stock.

 

The Fund may invest in the securities of issuers of all capitalization sizes; however, a substantial number of the issuers in which the Fund invests are large-capitalization issuers. The Fund considers an issuer to be a large-capitalization issuer if it has a market capitalization, at the time of purchase, within the range of the largest and smallest capitalized companies included in the Russell 1000® Index during the most recent 11-month period (based on month-end data) plus the most recent date during the current month. As of December 31, 2023, the market capitalization range for the Russell 1000® Index was approximately $644 million to $3.0 trillion.

 

The Fund normally invests in securities that generate strong cash flow and are available at attractive valuations. The Fund’s portfolio managers will be opportunistic with regard to the prices the Fund will pay for new investments and at which it will terminate positions.

 

2

 

 

 

In choosing securities, the Fund’s portfolio managers emphasize a bottom-up, fundamental stock selection investment strategy that focuses on issuers that can consistently deliver strong cash flow growth and return on invested capital. The portfolio managers also look to invest in securities of issuers with a proven track record of solid business execution because they believe that such a history is an indication of the value of the underlying franchise or market position. These issuers typically have a proprietary product or business approach that allows them to be leaders within their respective industries. In addition, the portfolio managers emphasize diversification in terms of sector exposure.

 

The Fund’s portfolio managers consider selling a stock when its fundamental business prospects deteriorate, its ability to generate cash deteriorates, or when they think the stock is too expensive based on cash flow valuation metrics. In response to market, economic, political or other conditions, the Fund’s portfolio managers may temporarily use a different investment strategy for defensive purposes. If the Fund’s portfolio managers do so, different factors could affect the Fund’s performance and the Fund may not achieve its investment objective.

 

The Fund’s investments in the types of securities described in this Prospectus vary from time to time, and, at any time, the Fund may not be invested in all of the types of securities described in this Prospectus. The Fund may also invest in securities and other investments not described in this Prospectus. Such investments will not constitute principal investment strategies of the Fund.

 

Principal Risks

 

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Market Risk – The prices of and the income generated by the Fund’s securities may decline in response to, among other things, investor sentiment, general economic and market conditions, regional or global instability, and currency and interest rate fluctuations. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests,

 

3

 

 

 

which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

Equity Risk – Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day to day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

Large-Capitalization Company Risk – The large capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may lag the performance of smaller capitalization companies because large capitalization companies may experience slower rates of growth than smaller capitalization companies and may not respond as quickly to market changes and opportunities.

 

Management Risk – The investment techniques and risk analysis used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may not produce the desired results.

 

Foreign Securities Risk – The Fund’s foreign investments may be affected by changes in a foreign country’s exchange rates, political and social instability, changes in economic or taxation policies, difficulties when enforcing obligations, decreased liquidity, and increased volatility. Foreign companies may be subject to less regulation resulting in less publicly available information about the companies. In addition, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may require the Fund to sell such investments at inopportune times, which could result in losses to the Fund.

 

Performance Information

 

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ performance from year to year for the past 10 years and by showing how the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average annual total returns for 1, 5 and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

The Fund acquired the assets and liabilities and assumed the historical performance of the Invesco Disciplined Equity Fund (the “Invesco Predecessor Fund”), a series of AIM Equity Funds (“Invesco Equity Funds”), on January 2, 2014 (the “Disciplined Equity Reorganization”).

 

4

 

 

 

Accordingly, the performance shown for the periods prior to the Disciplined Equity Reorganization represents the performance of Class Y shares of the Invesco Predecessor Fund, which was the only class of shares of the Invesco Predecessor Fund outstanding at the time of the Disciplined Equity Reorganization. The Invesco Predecessor Fund’s returns in the bar chart and table have not been adjusted to reflect the Fund’s expenses. If the Invesco Predecessor Fund’s performance information had been adjusted to reflect the Fund’s expenses, the performance may have been higher or lower for a given period depending on the expenses incurred by Invesco Predecessor Fund for that period.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, Investor Class Shares of the Fund have not commenced operations and therefore have no performance information to report. Investor Class Shares of the Fund would have substantially similar performance as Institutional Class Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the returns would generally differ only to the extent that expenses of Investor Class Shares are higher than the expenses of Institutional Class Shares, in which case the returns for Investor Class Shares would be lower than those of Institutional Class Shares.

 

Updated performance information is available by calling 1-855-328-3863.

 

Annual Total Returns

 

 

 

Best Quarter

Worst Quarter

19.93%

(17.79)%

(6/30/2020)

(3/31/2020)

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

5

 

 

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”).

 

CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since
Inception
(12/1/05)

Return Before Taxes

20.70%

13.87%

11.62%

10.00%

Return After Taxes on Distributions

19.39%

12.80%

10.51%

9.02%

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

13.18%

11.07%

9.38%

8.24%

S&P 500® Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

26.29%

15.69%

12.03%

9.78%

 

Investment Adviser

 

 

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

 

Patricia Bannan, CFA, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2014 and managed the Invesco Predecessor Fund since 2010.

 

Brant Houston, CFA, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2014 and managed the Invesco Predecessor Fund since 2013.

 

James L. Farrell, CFA, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since 2022.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund shares, taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about the Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares, Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page 46 of the Prospectus.

 

6

 

 

 

AWMIX Institutional Class

AWMVX Investor Class

Russell Mid-Cap Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

CIBC ATLAS MID CAP EQUITY FUND

 

Investment Objective

 

 

The CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund (the “Fund”) seeks long-term capital appreciation.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor
Class Shares

Management Fees

0.75%

0.75%

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

None

0.25%

Other Expenses

0.08%

0.23%

Shareholder Servicing Fees

None

0.15%

Other Operating Expenses

0.08%

0.08%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses1

0.83%

1.23%

 

1

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding 12b-1 Fees, Shareholder Servicing Fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets until February 28, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee reductions or expense reimbursements made during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee reduction and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return

 

7

 

 

 

each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$85

$265

$460

$1,025

Investor Class Shares

$125

$390

$676

$1,489

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 32% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of mid-capitalization companies. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. For purposes of this policy, a mid-capitalization company is a company with a market capitalization of between $4 billion and $40 billion at the time of initial purchase. While the Fund expects to invest primarily in common stock, it may also invest in other equity securities, including preferred stock, convertible securities and American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign securities, including ADRs.

 

In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser utilizes a bottom-up, fundamental selection process that focuses on identifying companies across various sectors that can deliver consistently strong earnings growth, free cash flow growth and above average return on equity. The Adviser looks for a proven history of growth in the companies in which the Fund invests, because the Adviser believes that it is indicative of the value of the company’s underlying franchise or market position, and companies with such a history typically have a proprietary product or business approach that allows them to be leaders within their respective industries.

 

The Fund intends to buy and hold securities of companies for the long-term, and seeks to limit portfolio turnover. The Fund may sell a security, however, when a company’s fundamental business prospects or ability to generate cash

 

8

 

 

 

deteriorates, its capitalization exceeds the upper range of capitalizations of companies in the Fund’s benchmark index, its management becomes less stable or it becomes overvalued, or when more attractive alternatives exist.

 

Principal Risks

 

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Mid-Capitalization Company Risk – The mid-capitalization companies the Fund invests in may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in these medium-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies may have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, the mid-capitalization stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. These securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

Equity Risk – Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day to day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

Investment Style Risk – The Fund pursues a “growth style” of investing, meaning that the Fund invests in equity securities of companies that the Adviser believes will increase their earnings at a certain rate that is generally higher than the rate expected for non-growth companies. If a growth company does not meet these expectations, the price of its stock may decline significantly, even if it has increased earnings. Many growth

 

9

 

 

 

companies do not pay dividends. Companies that do not pay dividends often have greater stock price declines during market downturns. Over time, a growth investing style may go in and out of favor, and when out of favor, may cause the Fund to underperform other equity funds that use differing investing styles.

 

Foreign Currency Risk – As a result of the Fund’s investments in securities or other investments denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies, the Fund will be subject to currency risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, in which case, the dollar value of an investment in the Fund would be adversely affected.

 

Preferred Stock Risk – Preferred stocks are sensitive to interest rate changes, and are also subject to equity risk, which is the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. The rights of preferred stocks on the distribution of a company’s assets in the event of a liquidation are generally subordinate to the rights associated with a company’s debt securities.

 

Convertible Securities Risk – The value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates (with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline) and the credit standing of the issuer. The price of a convertible security will also normally vary in some proportion to changes in the price of the underlying common stock because of the conversion or exercise feature.

 

Foreign Company Risk – Investing in foreign companies, including direct investments and through ADRs, which are traded on U.S. exchanges and represent an ownership in a foreign security, poses additional risks since political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. These risks will not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or similar issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign companies generally are denominated in a foreign currency. Changes in the value of a currency compared to the U.S. dollar may affect (positively or negatively) the value of the Fund’s investments. These currency movements may occur separately from, and in response to, events that do not otherwise affect the value of the security in the issuer’s home country. Securities of foreign companies may not be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and foreign companies are generally not subject to the regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign securities than is available about domestic securities. Income from foreign securities owned by the Fund may be reduced by a withholding tax at the source, which would reduce income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Foreign securities may also be more difficult to

 

10

 

 

 

value than securities of U.S. issuers. In addition, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may require the Fund to sell such investments at inopportune times, which could result in losses to the Fund. While ADRs provide an alternative to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their respective national markets and currencies, investments in ADRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.

 

Performance Information

 

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average annual total returns for 1 and 5 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, Investor Class Shares of the Fund have not commenced operations and therefore have no performance information to report. Investor Class Shares of the Fund would have substantially similar performance as Institutional Class Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the returns would generally differ only to the extent that expenses of Investor Class Shares are higher than the expenses of Institutional Class Shares, in which case the returns for Investor Class Shares would be lower than those of Institutional Class Shares.

 

Updated performance information is available by calling 1-855-328-3863.

 

Annual Total Returns

 

 

 

11

 

 

 

Best Quarter

Worst Quarter

21.59%

(22.71)%

(6/30/2020)

(3/31/2020)

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”).

 

CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund

1 Year

5 Years

Since
Inception
(6/27/14)

Return Before Taxes

19.55%

11.72%

9.14%

Return After Taxes on Distributions

18.35%

10.77%

8.60%

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

12.41%

9.37%

7.48%

Russell Mid-Cap Growth Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

25.87%

13.81%

10.43%

 

Investment Adviser

 

 

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

 

Bryan G. Reilly, Portfolio Manager and Analyst, has managed the Fund since 2022.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund shares, taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about the Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares, Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page 46 of the Prospectus.

 

12

 

 

 

AWIIX Institutional Class

AWIVX Investor Class

S&P 500 Index (“S&P Index”) (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

Bloomberg U.S. Government/Credit Index (“Bloomberg Index”) (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

Blended 60/40 S&P Index/Bloomberg Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

CIBC ATLAS INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND

 

Investment Objective

 

 

The CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund (the “Fund”) seeks current income and long-term capital appreciation.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor
Class Shares

Management Fees

0.60%

0.60%

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

None

0.25%

Other Expenses

0.09%

0.24%

Shareholder Servicing Fees

None

0.15%

Other Operating Expenses

0.09%

0.09%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses1

0.69%

1.09%

 

1

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding 12b-1 Fees, Shareholder Servicing Fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 0.85% of the Fund’s average daily net assets until February 28, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee reductions or expense reimbursements made during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee reduction and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although

 

13

 

 

 

your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$70

$221

$384

$859

Investor Class Shares

$111

$347

$601

$1,329

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 28% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in income producing securities. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The Fund invests in a combination of common stock, preferred stock, convertible securities, fixed income securities (including corporate bonds, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, U.S. government securities, and money market instruments), and other investment companies (including exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and closed-end investment companies (“closed-end funds”)). The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in foreign securities, including American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). The Fund focuses on companies with market capitalizations within the range of the Russell 1000® Index during the prior year, but may invest in companies not included in the Index. As of December 31, 2023, the market capitalization range for the Russell 1000® Index was approximately $644 million to $3.0 trillion. The Fund may invest without limit in securities of any credit quality, including securities that are rated below investment grade (“high yield” or “junk” bonds) and those in default. The Fund may also invest up to 25% of its assets in the sale (writing) of covered call or put options on common stocks to generate additional income and reduce volatility.

 

In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser utilizes a bottom-up, fundamental selection process that focuses on identifying companies across various sectors that are attractively valued and can deliver consistently strong free cash flow growth and above average return on equity. The Adviser

 

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looks for a proven history of solid business execution in the companies in which the Fund invests, because the Adviser believes that it is indicative of the value of the company’s underlying franchise or market position, and companies with such a history typically have a proprietary product or business approach that allows them to be leaders within their respective industries. Based on an assessment of relative and absolute attractiveness, an investment may be made in a company’s common stock, preferred stock, and/or debt.

 

The Fund intends to buy and hold securities of companies for the long-term, and seeks to limit portfolio turnover. The Fund may sell a security, however, when a company’s fundamental business prospects or ability to generate cash deteriorates, its management becomes less stable or it becomes overvalued, or when more attractive alternatives exist.

 

Principal Risks

 

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Equity Risk – Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day to day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

High Yield Bond Risk – High yield, or “junk,” bonds are highly speculative securities that are usually issued by smaller, less creditworthy and/or highly leveraged (indebted) companies. Compared with investment-grade bonds, high yield bonds are considered to carry a greater degree of risk and are considered to be less likely to make payments of interest and principal. In

 

15

 

 

 

particular, lower-quality high yield bonds (rated CCC, CC, C, or unrated securities judged to be of comparable quality) are subject to a greater degree of credit risk than higher-quality high yield bonds and may be near default. High yield bonds rated D are in default. Market developments and the financial and business conditions of the corporation issuing these securities generally influence their price and liquidity more than changes in interest rates, when compared to investment-grade debt securities.

 

Convertible Securities Risk – The value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates (with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline) and the credit standing of the issuer. The price of a convertible security will also normally vary in some proportion to changes in the price of the underlying common stock because of the conversion or exercise feature.

 

Risks of Investing in Other Investment Companies – To the extent the Fund invests in other investment companies, such as ETFs and closed-end funds, the Fund will be subject to substantially the same risks as those associated with the direct ownership of the securities held by such other investment companies. As a shareholder of another investment company, the Fund relies on that investment company to achieve its investment objective. If the investment company fails to achieve its objective, the value of the Fund’s investment could decline, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. By investing in another investment company, Fund shareholders indirectly bear the Fund’s proportionate share of the fees and expenses of the other investment company, in addition to the fees and expenses that Fund shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund’s own operations.

 

Because closed-end funds and ETFs are listed on national stock exchanges and are traded like stocks listed on an exchange, their shares potentially may trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value. Investments in closed-end funds and ETFs are also subject to brokerage and other trading costs, which could result in greater expenses to the Fund. In addition, because the value of closed-end funds and ETF shares depends on the demand in the market, the Adviser may not be able to liquidate the Fund’s holdings at the most optimal time, which could adversely affect Fund performance.

 

Derivatives Risk – The Fund’s use of put and call options is subject to market risk, leverage risk, correlation risk, liquidity risk, credit risk and valuation risk. Credit risk is described above. Leverage risk and liquidity risk are described below. Market risk is the risk that the market value of an investment may move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Correlation risk is the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may

 

16

 

 

 

not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. Valuation risk is the risk that the derivative may be difficult to value. Each of these risks could cause the Fund to lose more than the principal amount invested in a derivative instrument.

 

Preferred Stock Risk – Preferred stocks are sensitive to interest rate changes, and are also subject to equity risk, which is the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. The rights of preferred stocks on the distribution of a company’s assets in the event of a liquidation are generally subordinate to the rights associated with a company’s debt securities.

 

Leverage Risk – The use of leverage can amplify the effects of market volatility on the Fund’s share price and may also cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations.

 

Credit Risk – The risk that the issuer of a security or the counterparty to a contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation.

 

Corporate Fixed Income Securities Risk – The prices of the Fund’s corporate fixed income securities respond to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to perceptions about the creditworthiness and business prospects of individual issuers.

 

Fixed Income Market Risk – The prices of the Fund’s fixed income securities respond to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to perceptions about the creditworthiness of individual issuers, including governments and their agencies. In the case of foreign securities, price fluctuations will reflect international economic and political events, as well as changes in currency valuations relative to the U.S. dollar.

 

Interest Rate Risk – The risk that the value of fixed income securities will fall due to rising interest rates.

 

Liquidity Risk – The risk that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the Fund would like. The Fund may have to accept a lower price to sell a security, sell other securities to raise cash, or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance.

 

Asset-Backed Securities Risk – Payment of principal and interest on asset-backed securities is dependent largely on the cash flows generated by the assets backing the securities, and asset-backed securities may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk – Mortgage-backed securities are affected by, among other things, interest rate changes and the possibility of

 

17

 

 

 

prepayment of the underlying mortgage loans. Mortgage-backed securities are also subject to the risk that underlying borrowers will be unable to meet their obligations.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk – The Fund’s investment in U.S. government obligations may include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government, or its agencies or instrumentalities. Payment of principal and interest on U.S. government obligations may be backed by the full faith and credit of the United States or may be backed solely by the issuing or guaranteeing agency or instrumentality itself. There can be no assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored enterprises) where it is not obligated to do so. In addition, U.S. government securities are not guaranteed against price movements due to changing interest rates.

 

Foreign Company Risk – Investing in foreign companies, including direct investments and through ADRs, which are traded on U.S. exchanges and represent an ownership in a foreign security, poses additional risks since political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. These risks will not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or similar issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign companies generally are denominated in a foreign currency. Changes in the value of a currency compared to the U.S. dollar may affect (positively or negatively) the value of the Fund’s investments. These currency movements may occur separately from, and in response to, events that do not otherwise affect the value of the security in the issuer’s home country. Securities of foreign companies may not be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and foreign companies are generally not subject to the regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign securities than is available about domestic securities. Income from foreign securities owned by the Fund may be reduced by a withholding tax at the source, which would reduce income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Foreign securities may also be more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers. In addition, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may require the Fund to sell such investments at inopportune times, which could result in losses to the Fund. While ADRs provide an alternative to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their respective national markets and currencies, investments in ADRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.

 

Foreign Currency Risk – As a result of the Fund’s investments in securities or other investments denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign

 

18

 

 

 

currencies, the Fund will be subject to currency risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, in which case, the dollar value of an investment in the Fund would be adversely affected.

 

Performance Information

 

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average annual total returns for 1 and 5 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, Investor Class Shares of the Fund have not commenced operations and therefore have no performance information to report. Investor Class Shares of the Fund would have substantially similar performance as Institutional Class Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the returns would generally differ only to the extent that expenses of Investor Class Shares are higher than the expenses of Institutional Class Shares, in which case the returns for Investor Class Shares would be lower than those of Institutional Class Shares.

 

Updated performance information is available by calling 1-855-328-3863.

 

Annual Total Returns

 

 

 

Best Quarter

Worst Quarter

13.73%

(15.34)%

(6/30/2020)

(3/31/2020)

 

19

 

 

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of appropriate broad based indices.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”).

 

CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund

1 Year

5 Years

Since
Inception
(6/27/14)

Return Before Taxes

15.06%

9.92%

7.28%

Return After Taxes on Distributions

14.22%

9.13%

6.45%

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

9.14%

7.68%

5.59%

S&P 500 Index (“S&P Index”) (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

26.29%

15.69%

11.86%

Bloomberg U.S. Government/Credit Index (“Bloomberg Index”) (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

5.72%

1.41%

1.67%

Blended 60/40 S&P Index/Bloomberg Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

17.76%

10.12%

7.94%

 

Investment Adviser

 

 

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

 

Gary Pzegeo, CFA, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2014.

 

Brant Houston, CFA, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2014.

 

Sean D. Usechek, Portfolio Manager and Senior Investment Research Analyst, has managed the Fund since 2023.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund shares, taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about the Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares, Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page 46 of the Prospectus.

 

20

 

 

 

AWGIX Institutional Class Shares

AWGVX Investor Class Shares

Russell 3000 Growth Total Return Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

CIBC ATLAS ALL CAP GROWTH FUND

 

Investment Objective

 

 

The investment objective of the CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund (the “Fund”) is long-term capital appreciation.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor
Class Shares

Management Fees

0.82%

0.82%

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

None

0.25%

Other Expenses

0.10%

0.20%

Shareholder Servicing Fees

None

0.10%

Other Operating Expenses

0.10%

0.10%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses1

0.92%

1.27%

 

1

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding 12b-1 Fees, Shareholder Servicing Fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 1.10% of the Fund’s average daily net assets until February 28, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee reductions or expense reimbursements made during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return

 

21

 

 

 

each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$94

$293

$509

$1,131

Investor Class Shares

$129

$403

$697

$1,534

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 44% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

 

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in common stocks of U.S. companies without regard to market capitalizations. Under normal conditions, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its net assets in common stocks, and may also invest in preferred stocks, of U.S. companies. Additionally, the Fund may invest up to 30% of its net assets in securities of “foreign issuers.” “Foreign issuers” include non-U.S. companies: (a) whose securities are not traded on a U.S. exchange; (b) whose securities are traded on a U.S. exchange, and denominated in U.S. dollars, in the form of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”); or (c) who are organized and headquartered outside the United States but whose securities are publicly traded on a U.S. exchange. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in securities of “foreign issuers” located in emerging markets. “Emerging markets” are less developed countries as defined by the investment community and included in the Morgan Stanley Capital International Emerging Markets Index (“MSCI EM”) or that are publicly announced to be added to the MSCI EM.

 

Under normal market conditions, the Adviser uses a bottom-up, fundamental investment approach that focuses on identifying quality growth companies. This approach begins with the Adviser identifying an initial universe of securities based on the Adviser’s proprietary analysis. In assessing whether a company is a quality growth company, the Adviser may consider, among other things, whether such company has sustainable competitive advantages and highly visible future growth potential, including

 

22

 

 

 

internal revenue growth, large market opportunities and simple business models, and shows strong cash flow generation and high return on invested capital. The Adviser utilizes proprietary research and a rigorous qualitative and quantitative investment process.

 

The Fund’s investment strategy focuses on identifying stocks within multiple industry groups. Using quantitative and qualitative measures established by the Adviser, the Fund seeks to purchase common stocks that have stronger performance relative to other common stocks. The Adviser may sell the Fund’s investments for a variety of reasons, including to secure gains, limit losses or reinvest in more promising investment opportunities.

 

Principal Risks

 

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Market Risk – The prices of and the income generated by the Fund’s securities may decline in response to, among other things, investor sentiment, general economic and market conditions, regional or global instability, and currency and interest rate fluctuations. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

Equity Risk – Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day to day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

Investment Style Risk – The Fund pursues a “growth style” of investing, meaning that the Fund invests in equity securities of companies that the Adviser believes will increase their earnings at a certain rate that is

 

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generally higher than the rate expected for non-growth companies. If a growth company does not meet these expectations, the price of its stock may decline significantly, even if it has increased earnings. Many growth companies do not pay dividends. Companies that do not pay dividends often have greater stock price declines during market downturns. Over time, a growth investing style may go in and out of favor, and when out of favor, may cause the Fund to underperform other equity funds that use differing investing styles.

 

Small- and Mid-Capitalization Company Risk – The small- and mid-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in these small- and mid-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, small- and mid-cap stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. These securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

Management Risk – The Fund is actively managed, and the investment techniques and risk analysis used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may not produce the desired results.

 

Large-Capitalization Company Risk – The large capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may lag the performance of smaller capitalization companies because large capitalization companies may experience slower rates of growth than smaller capitalization companies and may not respond as quickly to market changes and opportunities.

 

Depositary Receipts Risk – Depositary receipts, including ADRs, are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer that are issued by depositary banks and generally trade on an established market. ADRs are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities, including, among other things, political, social and economic developments abroad, currency movements, and different legal, regulatory and tax environments.

 

The Fund may invest in unsponsored ADRs, which are issued by one or more depositaries without a formal agreement with the company that issues the underlying securities. Holders of unsponsored ADRs generally bear all the costs thereof, and the depositaries of unsponsored ADRs frequently are under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuers of the underlying securities or to pass through voting rights with respect to the underlying securities. In addition, the issuers of the securities underlying unsponsored ADRs are not obligated to disclose

 

24

 

 

 

material information in the United States and, therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the ADRs.

 

Micro-Capitalization Company Risk – Micro-capitalization companies may be newly formed or in the early stages of development with limited product lines, markets or financial resources. Therefore, micro-capitalization companies may be less financially secure than large-, mid- and small-capitalization companies and may be more vulnerable to key personnel losses due to reliance on a smaller number of management personnel. In addition, there may be less public information available about these companies. Micro-cap stock prices may be more volatile than large-, mid- and small-capitalization companies and such stocks may be more thinly traded and thus difficult for the Fund to buy and sell in the market.

 

Preferred Stock Risk – Preferred stocks are sensitive to interest rate changes, and are also subject to equity risk, which is the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. The rights of preferred stocks on the distribution of a company’s assets in the event of a liquidation are generally subordinate to the rights associated with a company’s debt securities.

 

Emerging Markets Securities Risk – The Fund’s investments in emerging markets securities are considered speculative and subject to heightened risks in addition to the general risks of investing in foreign securities. Unlike more established markets, emerging markets may have governments that are less stable, markets that are less liquid and economies that are less developed. In addition, the securities markets of emerging market countries may consist of companies with smaller market capitalizations and may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; and possible restrictions on repatriation of investment income and capital. Furthermore, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales, and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies. In addition, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may require the Fund to sell such investments at inopportune times, which could result in losses to the Fund.

 

Foreign Currency Risk – As a result of the Fund’s investments in securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies, the Fund will be subject to currency risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, in which case, dollar value of an investment in the Fund would be adversely affected.

 

Foreign Issuer Risk – Investing in foreign issuers, including direct investments and investments through ADRs, poses additional risks since

 

25

 

 

 

political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. These risks will not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or similar issuers located in the U.S. Securities of foreign companies may not be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and foreign issuers are generally not subject to the regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign securities than is available about domestic securities. Income from foreign securities owned by the Fund may be reduced by a withholding tax at the source, which would reduce income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Foreign securities may also be more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers.

 

Performance Information

 

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

Before the Fund commenced operations, the Fund acquired the assets and liabilities of the Geneva Advisors All Cap Growth Fund (the “All Cap Growth Predecessor Fund”) in a reorganization (the “All Cap Growth Reorganization”). After being approved by shareholders of the All Cap Growth Predecessor Fund, the All Cap Growth Reorganization occurred on February 12, 2018. As a result of the All Cap Growth Reorganization, shareholders of the All Cap Growth Predecessor Fund’s Class I and Class R shares received Institutional Class Shares of the Fund, and the Fund assumed the performance and accounting history of the All Cap Growth Predecessor Fund’s Class I shares prior to the date of the All Cap Growth Reorganization. Accordingly, the performance shown for periods prior to the All Cap Growth Reorganization represents the performance of Class I shares of the All Cap Growth Predecessor Fund. The All Cap Growth Predecessor Fund’s returns in the bar chart and table have not been adjusted to reflect Fund expenses. If the All Cap Growth Predecessor Fund’s performance information had been adjusted to reflect Fund expenses, the performance may have been higher or lower for a given period depending on the expenses incurred by the All Cap Growth Predecessor Fund for that period.

 

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As of the date of this Prospectus, Investor Class Shares of the Fund have not commenced operations and therefore have no performance information to report. Investor Class Shares of the Fund would have substantially similar performance as Institutional Class Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would generally differ only to the extent that the expenses of Investor Class Shares are higher. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-855-328-3863.

 

Annual Total Returns

 

 

 

Best Quarter

Worst Quarter

26.55%

(19.94)%

(6/30/2020)

(6/30/2022)

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

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

 

27

 

 

 

CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since
Inception
(9/26/07)

Return Before Taxes

35.45%

16.04%

11.26%

9.49%

Return After Taxes on Distributions

35.07%

14.14%

8.93%

8.08%

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

21.25%

12.71%

8.53%

7.59%

Russell 3000 Growth Total Return Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

41.21%

18.85%

14.33%

11.58%

 

Investment Adviser

 

 

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

 

Robert C. Bridges, Portfolio Manager, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2018 and managed the All Cap Growth Predecessor Fund since its inception in 2007.

 

John P. Huber, Portfolio Manager, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2018 and managed the All Cap Growth Predecessor Fund since its inception in 2007.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund shares, taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about the Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares, Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page 46 of the Prospectus.

 

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AWYIX Institutional Class Shares

AWYVX Investor Class Shares

Russell 1000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

CIBC ATLAS EQUITY INCOME FUND

 

Investment Objective

 

 

The CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund (the “Fund”) seeks current income and long-term capital appreciation.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor
Class Shares

Management Fees

0.80%

0.80%

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

None

0.25%

Other Expenses

0.10%

0.20%

Shareholder Servicing Fees

None

0.10%

Other Operating Expenses

0.10%

0.10%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses1

0.90%

1.25%

 

1

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding 12b-1 Fees, Shareholder Servicing Fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 1.10% of the Fund’s average daily net assets until February 28, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee reductions or expense reimbursements made during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return

 

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each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$92

$287

$498

$1,108

Investor Class Shares

$127

$397

$686

$1,511

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 27% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

 

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing in publicly traded securities without regard to market capitalizations. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The equity securities in which the Fund may invest include common stocks, preferred stocks, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), master limited partnerships (“MLPs”) and convertible securities. The Fund may invest in securities of companies of any market capitalization, including micro-capitalization. A REIT is a security of a company that invests in real estate, either through real estate property, mortgages and similar real estate investments, or all of the foregoing. MLPs are businesses organized as limited partnerships that trade their proportionate shares of the partnership (units) on a public exchange.

 

The Fund may also invest up to 30% of its net assets in securities of “foreign issuers.” “Foreign issuers” include non-U.S. companies: (a) whose securities are not traded on a U.S. exchange; (b) whose securities are traded on a U.S. exchange, and denominated in U.S. dollars, in the form of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”); or (c) who are organized and headquartered outside the United States but whose securities are publicly traded on a U.S. exchange. The Fund may invest up to 25% of its net assets in securities of “foreign issuers” located in emerging markets. “Emerging markets” are less developed countries as defined by the investment community and included

 

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in the Morgan Stanley Capital International Emerging Markets Index (“MSCI EM”) or that are publicly announced to be added to the MSCI EM. From time to time, the Fund may focus its investments in a particular sector, such as the information technology or financials sector.

 

The Fund pursues a “growth style” of investing, meaning that the Fund invests in equity securities of companies that the Adviser believes will increase their earnings at a certain rate that is generally higher than the rate expected for non-growth companies. The Fund’s investment strategy focuses on identifying stocks within multiple industry groups. The Fund seeks to generate current income while also providing capital appreciation. The Fund has wide flexibility in the types of securities used to generate a current income yield. Using quantitative and qualitative measures established by the Adviser, the Fund seeks to purchase dividend-paying and non-dividend-paying common stocks that have stronger performance relative to other dividend-paying and non-dividend-paying common stocks. The Adviser may sell the Fund’s investments for a variety of reasons, including to secure gains, limit losses or reinvest in more promising investment opportunities.

 

Principal Risks

 

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Market Risk – The prices of and the income generated by the Fund’s securities may decline in response to, among other things, investor sentiment, general economic and market conditions, regional or global instability, and currency and interest rate fluctuations. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

Equity Risk – Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day to day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry

 

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and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

Large-Capitalization Company Risk – The large capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may lag the performance of smaller capitalization companies because large capitalization companies may experience slower rates of growth than smaller capitalization companies and may not respond as quickly to market changes and opportunities.

 

REIT Risk – REITs are susceptible to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, such as the following: declines in property values; increases in property taxes, operating expenses, interest rates or competition; overbuilding; zoning changes; and losses from casualty or condemnation.

 

MLPs Risk – To the extent that an MLP’s interests are all in a particular industry, such as the energy industry, the MLP will be negatively impacted by economic events adversely impacting that industry. Additional risks of investing in a MLP also include those involved in investing in a partnership as opposed to a corporation, such as limited control of management, limited voting rights and tax risks. MLPs may be subject to state taxation in certain jurisdictions, which will have the effect of reducing the amount of income paid by the MLP to its investors.

 

Energy companies are affected by worldwide energy prices and costs related to energy production. These companies may have significant operations in areas at risk for natural disasters, social unrest and environmental damage. These companies may also be at risk for increased government regulation and intervention, energy conservation efforts, litigation and negative publicity and perception.

 

Investment Style Risk – The Fund pursues a “growth style” of investing, meaning that the Fund invests in equity securities of companies that the Adviser believes will increase their earnings at a certain rate that is generally higher than the rate expected for non-growth companies. If a growth company does not meet these expectations, the price of its stock may decline significantly, even if it has increased earnings. Many growth companies do not pay dividends. Companies that do not pay dividends often have greater stock price declines during market downturns. Over time, a growth investing style may go in and out of favor, and when out of favor, may cause the Fund to underperform other equity funds that use differing investing styles.

 

Management Risk – The Fund is actively managed, and the investment techniques and risk analysis used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may not produce the desired results.

 

Sector Focus Risk - Because the Fund may, from time to time, be more heavily invested in particular sectors, the value of its shares may be especially sensitive to factors and economic risks that specifically affect those sectors. As a result, the Fund’s share price may fluctuate more widely than the value of shares of a mutual fund that invests in a broader range of sectors.

 

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Foreign Currency Risk – As a result of the Fund’s investments in securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies, the Fund will be subject to currency risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, in which case, the dollar value of an investment in the Fund would be adversely affected.

 

Depositary Receipts Risk – Depositary receipts, including ADRs, are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer that are issued by depositary banks and generally trade on an established market. ADRs are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities, including, among other things, political, social and economic developments abroad, currency movements, and different legal, regulatory and tax environments.

 

The Fund may invest in unsponsored ADRs, which are issued by one or more depositaries without a formal agreement with the company that issues the underlying securities. Holders of unsponsored ADRs generally bear all the costs thereof, and the depositaries of unsponsored ADRs frequently are under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuers of the underlying securities or to pass through voting rights with respect to the underlying securities. In addition, the issuers of the securities underlying unsponsored ADRs are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States and, therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the ADRs.

 

Foreign Issuer Risk – Investing in foreign issuers, including direct investments and investments through ADRs, poses additional risks since political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. These risks will not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or similar issuers located in the U.S. Securities of foreign companies may not be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and foreign issuers are generally not subject to the regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign securities than is available about domestic securities. Income from foreign securities owned by the Fund may be reduced by a withholding tax at the source, which would reduce income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Foreign securities may also be more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers.

 

Small- and Mid-Capitalization Company Risk – The small- and mid-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in these small- and mid-

 

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sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, small- and mid-cap stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. These securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

Emerging Markets Securities Risk – The Fund’s investments in emerging markets securities are considered speculative and subject to heightened risks in addition to the general risks of investing in foreign securities. Unlike more established markets, emerging markets may have governments that are less stable, markets that are less liquid and economies that are less developed. In addition, the securities markets of emerging market countries may consist of companies with smaller market capitalizations and may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; and possible restrictions on repatriation of investment income and capital. Furthermore, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales, and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies. In addition, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may require the Fund to sell such investments at inopportune times, which could result in losses to the Fund.

 

Micro-Capitalization Company Risk – Micro-capitalization companies may be newly formed or in the early stages of development with limited product lines, markets or financial resources. Therefore, micro-capitalization companies may be less financially secure than large-, mid- and small-capitalization companies and may be more vulnerable to key personnel losses due to reliance on a smaller number of management personnel. In addition, there may be less public information available about these companies. Micro-cap stock prices may be more volatile than large-, mid- and small-capitalization companies and such stocks may be more thinly traded and thus difficult for the Fund to buy and sell in the market.

 

Preferred Stock Risk – Preferred stocks are sensitive to interest rate changes, and are also subject to equity risk, which is the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. The rights of preferred stocks on the distribution of a company’s assets in the event of a liquidation are generally subordinate to the rights associated with a company’s debt securities.

 

Convertible Securities Risk – The value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates (with investment value declining as interest rates increase and increasing as interest rates decline) and the credit standing of the issuer. The price of a convertible security will also normally

 

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vary in some proportion to changes in the price of the underlying common stock because of the conversion or exercise feature.

 

Information Technology Sector Risk – Information technology companies face intense competition, both domestically and internationally, which may have an adverse effect on profit margins. Like other technology companies, information technology companies may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. The products of information technology companies may face obsolescence due to rapid technological developments, frequent new product introduction, unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. Companies in the information technology sector are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights. The loss or impairment of these rights may adversely affect the profitability of these companies.

 

Financials Sector Risk - Performance of companies in the financials sector may be adversely impacted by many factors, including, among others, government regulations, economic conditions, credit rating downgrades, changes in interest rates, and decreased liquidity in credit markets. The impact of more stringent capital requirements, recent or future regulation of any individual financial company, or recent or future regulation of the financials sector as a whole cannot be predicted. In recent years, cyber attacks and technology malfunctions have become increasingly frequent in this sector and have caused significant losses to companies in this sector, which may negatively impact the Fund.

 

Performance Information

 

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

Before the Fund commenced operations, the Fund acquired the assets and liabilities of the Geneva Advisors Equity Income Fund (the “Equity Income Predecessor Fund”) in a reorganization (the “Equity Income Reorganization”).

 

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After being approved by shareholders of the Equity Income Predecessor Fund, the Equity Income Reorganization occurred on February 12, 2018. As a result of the Equity Income Reorganization, shareholders of the Equity Income Predecessor Fund’s Class I and Class R shares received Institutional Class Shares of the Fund, and the Fund assumed the performance and accounting history of the Equity Income Predecessor Fund’s Class I shares prior to the date of the Equity Income Reorganization. Accordingly, the performance shown for periods prior to the Equity Income Reorganization represents the performance of Class I shares of the Equity Income Predecessor Fund. The Equity Income Predecessor Fund’s returns in the bar chart and table have not been adjusted to reflect Fund expenses. If the Equity Income Predecessor Fund’s performance information had been adjusted to reflect Fund expenses, the performance may have been higher or lower for a given period depending on the expenses incurred by the Equity Income Predecessor Fund for that period.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, Investor Class Shares of the Fund have not commenced operations and therefore have no performance information to report. Investor Class Shares of the Fund would have substantially similar performance as Institutional Class Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would generally differ only to the extent that the expenses of Investor Class Shares are higher. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-855-328-3863.

 

Annual Total Returns

 

 

 

Best Quarter

Worst Quarter

18.08%

(19.67)%

(6/30/2020)

(3/31/2020)

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

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After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”).

 

CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since
Inception
(4/30/10)

Return Before Taxes

16.38%

14.12%

9.70%

11.31%

Return After Taxes on Distributions

15.91%

12.95%

8.57%

10.23%

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

9.97%

11.20%

7.61%

9.20%

Russell 1000 Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

26.53%

15.52%

11.80%

12.77%

 

Investment Adviser

 

 

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

 

Robert C. Bridges, Portfolio Manager, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2018 and managed the Equity Income Predecessor Fund since its inception in 2010.

 

John P. Huber, Portfolio Manager, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2018 and managed the Equity Income Predecessor Fund since its inception in 2010.

 

Gordon C. Scott, CFA, Managing Director, Portfolio Manager, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2018 and managed the Equity Income Predecessor Fund since 2014.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund shares, taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about the Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares, Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page 46 of the Prospectus.

 

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AWWIX Institutional Class Shares

AWWVX Investor Class Shares

MSCI ACWI ex-US Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

CIBC ATLAS INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

 

Investment Objective

 

 

The CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund (the “Fund”) seeks to provide long-term capital appreciation.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

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

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

   

Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if shares redeemed have been held for less than 30 days)

1.00%

1.00%
   

 

1(as a percentage of amount redeemed, if shares redeemed have been held for less than 30 days)

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor
Class Shares

Management Fees

0.82%

0.82%

Distribution (12b-1) Fees

None

0.25%

Other Expenses

0.12%

0.22%

Shareholder Servicing Fees

None

0.10%

Other Operating Expenses

0.12%

0.12%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses1

0.94%

1.29%

 

1

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding 12b-1 Fees, Shareholder Servicing Fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 1.21% of the Fund’s average daily net assets until February 28, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee reductions or expense reimbursements made during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee reduction and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

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

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$96

$300

$520

$1,155

Investor Class Shares

$131

$409

$708

$1,556

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 13% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

 

The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in common stocks of U.S. issuers and common stocks and American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), including unsponsored ADRs, of foreign issuers without regard to market capitalizations. “Foreign issuers” means non-U.S. companies: (a) whose securities are not traded on a U.S. exchange; (b) whose securities are traded on a U.S. exchange, and denominated in U.S. dollars, in the form of ADRs; or (c) who are organized and headquartered outside the United States but whose securities are publicly traded on a U.S. exchange. The Fund typically invests in securities of issuers domiciled in at least three non-U.S. countries, with at least 40% of the Fund’s net assets invested in securities of foreign issuers. The Fund’s investments in securities of foreign issuers may include securities of issuers located in emerging markets. Emerging markets are less developed countries as defined by the investment community and represented in the Morgan Stanley Capital International Emerging Markets Index. The Fund may also invest in real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), with a focus on office, industrial and residential REITs.

 

The Fund will generally hold between 40-70 stocks of companies that the Adviser identifies as having superior quality and growth characteristics. The Adviser’s investment approach categorizes each stock into one of

 

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three groups, “Quality Compounders,” “Emerging Growers” and “Risk Mitigators.” Quality Compounders include companies that, based on the Adviser’s evaluation, have long track records, low volatility in their revenue and earnings streams, an advantageous market position over competition, and high returns on capital. Emerging Growers include growth companies the Adviser considers to have unique business models with large unaddressed target markets or novel products or services that can rapidly take market share. Risk Mitigators include companies that the Adviser believes investors traditionally do not consider to be growth companies but that still demonstrate superior quality and growth characteristics relative to their peer group.

 

In selecting investments to buy for the Fund, the Adviser utilizes a quality growth style that incorporates elements of quantitative and fundamental investing. The Adviser’s quantitative investment model is first used as a tool to identify potential investment opportunities for further analysis and review. The Adviser’s fundamental analysis is then used to select from the pool of identified investment opportunities and construct a portfolio with the objective of generating alpha (i.e., outperformance) and reducing the Fund’s risk of loss. The Adviser’s fundamental analysis, along with an evaluation of the positive return potential versus the negative return potential of each of the Fund’s holdings, is also used to monitor the Fund’s portfolio and find what the Adviser considers to be the most attractive equity holdings in each major country or region in international markets, as defined by the benchmark.

 

In evaluating the potential sale of a security, the Adviser’s portfolio management team will review corporate progress relative to the team’s fundamental investment case, in addition to monitoring the price movement and valuation of the security. Portfolio holdings are also reviewed for upside or downside relative to the Adviser’s target prices for a given company. The portfolio management team may then sell a holding when it determines that such company’s fundamental business prospects have deteriorated.

 

Principal Risks

 

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Market Risk – The prices of and the income generated by the Fund’s securities may decline in response to, among other things, investor sentiment, general economic and market conditions, regional or global

 

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instability, and currency and interest rate fluctuations. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

Equity Risk – Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day to day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

Emerging Markets Securities Risk - The Fund’s investments in emerging markets securities are considered speculative and subject to heightened risks in addition to the general risks of investing in foreign securities. Unlike more established markets, emerging markets may have governments that are less stable, markets that are less liquid and economies that are less developed. In addition, the securities markets of emerging market countries may consist of companies with smaller market capitalizations and may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; and possible restrictions on repatriation of investment income and capital. Furthermore, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales, and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies. In addition, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may require the Fund to sell such investments at inopportune times, which could result in losses to the Fund.

 

Investment Style Risk – The Fund pursues a “growth style” of investing, meaning that the Fund invests in equity securities of companies that the Adviser believes will increase their earnings at a certain rate that is generally higher than the rate expected for non-growth companies. If a growth company does not meet these expectations, the price of its stock may decline significantly, even if it has increased earnings. Many growth companies do not pay dividends. Companies that do not pay dividends often have greater stock price declines during market downturns. Over time, a growth investing style may go in and out of favor, and when out

 

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of favor, may cause the Fund to underperform other equity funds that use differing investing styles.

 

Foreign Issuer Risk – Investing in foreign issuers, including direct investments and investments through ADRs, poses additional risks since political, social, regulatory, currency and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. These risks will not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or similar issuers located in the U.S. Securities of foreign companies may not be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and foreign issuers are generally not subject to the regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign securities than is available about domestic securities. Income from foreign securities owned by the Fund may be reduced by a withholding tax at the source, which would reduce income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Foreign securities may also be more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers.

 

Foreign Currency Risk – As a result of the Fund’s investments in securities or other investments denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies, the Fund will be subject to currency risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar or, in the case of hedging positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline in value relative to the currency hedged. In either event, the dollar value of an investment in the Fund would be adversely affected. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate in response to, among other things, changes in interest rates, intervention (or failure to intervene) by U.S. or foreign governments, central banks or supranational entities, or by the imposition of currency controls or other political developments in the United States or abroad.

 

Management Risk – The Fund is actively managed, and the investment techniques and risk analysis used by the Fund’s portfolio managers may not produce the desired results.

 

Large-Capitalization Company Risk – The large capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may lag the performance of smaller capitalization companies because large capitalization companies may experience slower rates of growth than smaller capitalization companies and may not respond as quickly to market changes and opportunities.

 

Small- and Mid-Capitalization Company Risk – The small- and mid-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in these small- and mid-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have limited product lines, markets and financial

 

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resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, small- and mid-cap stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. These securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

American Depositary Receipts Risk – Depositary receipts, including ADRs, are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer that are issued by depositary banks and generally trade on an established market. ADRs are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities, including, among other things, political, social and economic developments abroad, currency movements, and different legal, regulatory and tax environments.

 

The Fund may invest in unsponsored ADRs, which are issued by one or more depositaries without a formal agreement with the company that issues the underlying securities. Holders of unsponsored ADRs generally bear all the costs thereof, and the depositaries of unsponsored ADRs frequently are under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuers of the underlying securities or to pass through voting rights with respect to the underlying securities. In addition, the issuers of the securities underlying unsponsored ADRs are not obligated to disclose material information in the United States and, therefore, there may be less information available regarding such issuers and there may not be a correlation between such information and the market value of the ADRs.

 

REIT Risk – REITs may concentrate their investments in specific geographic areas or in specific property types, and are susceptible to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, such as the following: declines in property values; increases in property taxes, operating expenses, interest rates or competition; overbuilding; zoning changes and losses from casualty or condemnation; and other factors outside the control of the issuer of the security.

 

Performance Information

 

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing the Fund’s Institutional Shares’ performance from year to year by showing how the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average annual returns for 1 year and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

 

As of the date of this Prospectus, Investor Class Shares of the Fund have not commenced operations and therefore have no performance information to

 

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report. Investor Class Shares of the Fund would have substantially similar performance as Institutional Class Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would generally differ only to the extent that the expenses of Investor Class Shares are higher. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-855-328-3863.

 

Annual Total Returns

 

 

 

Best Quarter

Worst Quarter

19.75%

(22.09)%

(12/31/2020)

(3/31/2020)

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

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

 

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CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund

1 Year

Since
Inception
(5/31/19)

Return Before Taxes

15.31%

5.91%

Return After Taxes on Distributions

15.09%

5.68%

Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

9.37%

4.65%

MSCI ACWI ex-US Index (reflects no deductions for fees, expenses or taxes)

16.21%

6.62%

 

Investment Adviser

 

 

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

 

Daniel Delany, CFA, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2019.

 

Matthew Scherer, CFA, Managing Director, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2019.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund shares, taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about the Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares, Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page 46 of the Prospectus.

 

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Summary Information about the Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares, Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of a Fund for the first time, including an initial purchase through an IRA, you must invest at least $250,000. To purchase Investor Class Shares of a Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $3,000 ($2,000 for an IRA). There are no minimums for subsequent investments. A Fund may accept initial investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion. Investor Class Shares of the Funds are currently not available for purchase.

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business by contacting the Funds directly by mail at: CIBC Atlas Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail Address: CIBC Atlas Funds, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105) or by telephone at 1-855-328-3863.

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other financial intermediary, contact that broker or intermediary to redeem your shares. Your broker or financial intermediary may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by a Fund.

 

Tax Information

 

Each Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as qualified dividend income, ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distributions will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

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

 

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More Information about Risk

 

Investing in the Funds involves risk and there is no guarantee that the Funds will achieve their investment objectives. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good of a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Funds, just as you could with other investments.

 

The value of your investment in a Fund is based on the value of the securities and other investments the Fund holds. Generally, these prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities a Fund owns and the markets in which it trades. The effect on a Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings.

 

Convertible Securities Risk – Convertible securities are securities that are convertible into or exercisable for common stock of the issuer (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at either a stated price or a stated rate. The market values of convertible securities may decline as interest rates increase and, conversely, increase as interest rates decline. A convertible security’s market value, however, tends to reflect the market price of the common stock of the issuing company when that stock price approaches or is greater than the convertible security’s “conversion price.” The conversion price is defined as the predetermined price at which the convertible security could be exchanged for the associated stock. As the market price of the underlying common stock declines, the price of the convertible security tends to be influenced more by the yield of the convertible security. Thus, it may not decline in price to the same extent as the underlying common stock. In the event of a liquidation of the issuing company, holders of convertible securities may be paid before the company’s common stockholders but after holders of any senior debt obligations of the company. Consequently, the issuer’s convertible securities generally entail less risk than its common stock but more risk than its debt obligations.

 

Equity Risk – Because the Funds purchase equity securities, they are subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of a Fund’s securities may fluctuate drastically from day to day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. In the case of foreign stocks, these fluctuations will reflect international economic and political

 

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events, as well as changes in currency valuations relative to the U.S. dollar. These factors contribute to price volatility.

 

Equity securities in which certain Funds may invest include common stock, preferred stock, convertible debt and shares of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), as well as shares of exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) that attempt to track the price movement of equity indices. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stock provides a fixed dividend that is paid before any dividends are paid to common stockholders, and which takes precedence over common stock in the event of a liquidation. Like common stock, preferred stocks represent partial ownership in a company, although preferred stock shareholders do not enjoy all of the voting rights of common stockholders. Also, unlike common stock, a preferred stock pays a fixed dividend that does not fluctuate, although the company does not have to pay this dividend if it lacks the financial ability to do so. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) to fluctuate. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

 

Fixed Income Risk – The market values of fixed income investments change in response to interest rate changes and other factors. During periods of rising interest rates, the values of outstanding fixed income securities generally decrease. Moreover, while securities with longer maturities tend to produce higher yields, the prices of longer maturity securities are also subject to greater market value fluctuations as a result of changes in interest rates. During periods of falling interest rates, certain debt obligations with high interest rates may be prepaid (or “called”) by the issuer prior to maturity, and during periods of rising interest rates, certain debt obligations with low interest rates may be extended beyond maturity. A rise in interest rates may also increase volatility and reduce liquidity in the fixed income markets, and result in a decline in the value of the fixed income investments held by the Funds. In addition, reductions in dealer market-making capacity as a result of structural or regulatory changes could further decrease liquidity and/or increase volatility in the fixed income markets. As a result of these market conditions, a Fund’s value may fluctuate and/or a Fund may experience increased redemptions from shareholders, which may impact a Fund’s liquidity or force a Fund to sell securities into a declining or illiquid market.

 

In addition to these risks, fixed income securities may be subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that an issuer will be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of either principal or interest.

 

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Emerging Markets Securities Risk – Investments in emerging markets securities are considered speculative and subject to heightened risks in addition to the general risks of investing in non-U.S. securities. Unlike more established markets, emerging markets may have governments that are less stable, markets that are less liquid and economies that are less developed. In addition, the securities markets of emerging market countries may consist of companies with smaller market capitalizations and may suffer periods of relative illiquidity, significant price volatility, restrictions on foreign investment, and possible restrictions on repatriation of investment income and capital. Furthermore, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales, and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies.

 

Foreign Securities Risk – Investments in securities of foreign issuers (including direct investments as well as investments through ADRs) can be more volatile than investments in U.S. companies. Diplomatic, political, or economic developments, including nationalization or appropriation, could affect investments in foreign companies. Foreign securities markets generally have less trading volume and less liquidity than U.S. markets. In addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies, and of dividends from such securities, can change significantly when foreign currencies strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. dollar. Financial statements of foreign issuers are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards than the financial statements of U.S. issuers and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Thus, there may be less information publicly available about foreign issuers than about most U.S. issuers. Transaction costs are generally higher than those in the United States and expenses for custodial arrangements of foreign securities may be somewhat greater than typical expenses for custodial arrangements of similar U.S. securities. Some foreign governments levy withholding taxes against dividend and interest income. Although in some countries a portion of these taxes are recoverable, the non-recovered portion will reduce the income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Additionally, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in a Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. Government designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses.

 

Derivatives Risk – The CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund’s use of options is subject to derivatives risk. Derivatives are often more volatile than other investments and may magnify the Fund’s gains or losses. There

 

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are various factors that affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its objective with derivatives. Successful use of a derivative depends upon the degree to which prices of the underlying assets correlate with price movements in the derivatives the Fund buys or sells. The Fund could be negatively affected if the change in market value of its securities fails to correlate perfectly with the values of the derivatives it purchased or sold. The lack of a liquid secondary market for a derivative may prevent the Fund from closing its derivative positions and could adversely impact its ability to achieve its objective and to realize profits or limit losses. Since derivatives may be purchased for a fraction of their value, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss or gain to the Fund. Derivatives are often more volatile than other investments and the Fund may lose more in a derivative than it originally invested in it. There can be no assurance that the Adviser’s use of derivatives will be successful in achieving its intended goals. Additionally, regulation relating to the Fund’s use of derivatives and related instruments, including Rule 18f-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), could potentially limit or impact the Fund’s ability to invest in derivatives, limit the Fund’s ability to employ certain strategies that use derivatives and/or adversely affect the value of derivatives and the Fund’s performance.

 

The Fund may purchase or sell options, which involve the payment or receipt of a premium by the investor and the corresponding right or obligation, as the case may be, to either purchase or sell the underlying security for a specific price at a certain time or during a certain period. Purchasing options involves the risk that the underlying instrument will not change price in the manner expected, so that the investor loses its premium. Selling options involves potentially greater risk because the investor is exposed to the extent of the actual price movement in the underlying security rather than only the premium payment received (which could result in a potentially unlimited loss).

 

Foreign Currency Risk – Because non-U.S. securities are usually denominated in currencies other than the dollar, the value of a Fund’s portfolio may be influenced by currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. The currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by a Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries.

 

Management Risk – The investment performance of a Fund depends largely on the skill of key personnel and investment professionals of the Adviser. A Fund’s investment strategy permits investments to be made in a

 

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range of issuers, securities, financial instruments and transactions. Within these parameters, the Adviser will make investment decisions for a Fund as it deems appropriate. No assurance can be given that a Fund will be successful in obtaining suitable investments, or that if such investments are made, the investment objective of the Fund will be achieved. If key personnel, including key investment or key technical staff, were to leave the Adviser or be unable to perform their duties, the Adviser might not be able to find equally desirable replacements in a timely fashion and the performance of a Fund could, as a result, be adversely affected.

 

Market Risk – The market price of securities and other investments owned by a Fund may go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. Securities may decline in value due to factors affecting securities markets generally or particular industries represented in the securities markets. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Funds invest, which in turn could negatively impact a Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in a Fund. Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations, and by businesses, including changes to operations and reducing staff. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. During a general downturn in the securities markets, multiple asset classes may decline in value simultaneously.

 

Micro-, Small- and Medium-Capitalization Company Risk – Investing in equity securities of micro-, small- and medium-capitalization companies often involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investments in larger capitalization companies. This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of smaller size companies, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines and the frequent lack of depth of management. Stock prices of smaller companies may be based in substantial part on future expectations rather than current achievements. The securities

 

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of smaller companies are often traded over-the-counter and, even if listed on a national securities exchange, may not be traded in volumes typical for that exchange. Consequently, the securities of smaller companies may be less liquid, may have limited market stability and may be subject to more severe, abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established companies or the market averages in general. Further, smaller companies may have less publicly available information and, when available, it may be inaccurate or incomplete.

 

MLPs Risk – MLPs are limited partnerships in which the ownership units are publicly traded. MLPs often own several properties or businesses (or own interests) that are related to oil and gas industries or other natural resources, but they also may finance other projects. To the extent that an MLP’s interests are all in a particular industry, such as the energy industry, the MLP will be negatively impacted by economic events adversely impacting that industry. Additional risks of investing in an MLP also include those involved in investing in a partnership as opposed to a corporation. For example, state law governing partnerships is often less restrictive than state law governing corporations. Accordingly, there may be fewer protections afforded to investors in a MLP than investors in a corporation. For example, investors in MLPs may have limited voting rights or be liable under certain circumstances for amounts greater than the amount of their investment. In addition, MLPs may be subject to state taxation in certain jurisdictions which will have the effect of reducing the amount of income paid by the MLP to its investors.

 

Energy Industries Risk - The profitability of companies in the energy industries is related to worldwide energy prices and costs related to energy production. The energy industries are cyclical and highly dependent on commodity prices. Energy-related companies can be significantly affected by the supply of, and demand for, particular energy products (such as oil and natural gas). Companies in the energy industries may be adversely affected by natural disasters or other catastrophes. The companies may be at risk for environmental damage claims and other types of litigation. Companies in the energy industries also may be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates, interest rates, economic conditions, tax treatment, government regulation and intervention, negative perception, efforts at energy conservation and world events in the regions in which the companies operate (e.g., expropriation, nationalization, confiscation of assets and property or the imposition of restrictions on foreign investments and repatriation of capital, military coups, social unrest, violence or labor unrest). Companies in the energy industries may have significant capital investments in, or engage in transactions involving, emerging market countries, which may heighten these risks.

 

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REIT Risk – REITs are pooled investment vehicles that own, and usually operate, income-producing real estate. REITs are susceptible to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, such as the following: declines in property values; increases in property taxes, operating expenses, interest rates or competition; overbuilding; zoning changes; and losses from casualty or condemnation. REITs typically incur fees that are separate from those of the Fund. Accordingly, the Fund’s investments in REITs will result in the layering of expenses such that shareholders will indirectly bear a proportionate share of the REITs’ operating expenses, in addition to paying Fund expenses. REIT operating expenses are not reflected in the fee tables and examples in this Prospectus.

 

Sector Focus Risk - To the extent that a Fund is, from time to time, more heavily invested in particular sectors, the value of its shares may be especially sensitive to factors and economic risks that specifically affect those sectors. As a result, the Fund’s share price may fluctuate more widely than the value of shares of a mutual fund that invests in a broader range of sectors.

 

Information Technology Sector Risk - Information technology companies face intense competition, both domestically and internationally, which may have an adverse effect on profit margins. Like other technology companies, information technology companies may have limited product lines, markets, financial resources or personnel. The products of information technology companies may face product obsolescence due to rapid technological developments and frequent new product introduction, unpredictable changes in growth rates and competition for the services of qualified personnel. Technology companies and companies that rely heavily on technology, especially those of smaller, less-seasoned companies, tend to be more volatile than the overall market. Companies in the information technology sector are heavily dependent on patent and intellectual property rights. The loss or impairment of these rights may adversely affect the profitability of these companies. Finally, while all companies may be susceptible to network security breaches, certain companies in the information technology sector may be particular targets of hacking and potential theft of proprietary or consumer information or disruptions in service, which could have a material adverse effect on their businesses. These risks are heightened for information technology companies in foreign markets.

 

Financials Sector Risk - Companies in the financials sector of an economy are subject to extensive governmental regulation and intervention, which may adversely affect the scope of their activities, the prices they can charge, the amount of capital they must maintain and, potentially, their size. Governmental regulation may change frequently and may have significant adverse consequences for companies in the financials sector, including

 

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effects not intended by such regulation. The impact of more stringent capital requirements, or recent or future regulation in various countries of any individual financial company or of the financials sector as a whole cannot be predicted. Certain risks may impact the value of investments in the financials sector more severely than those of investments outside this sector, including the risks associated with companies that operate with substantial financial leverage. Companies in the financials sector may also be adversely affected by increases in interest rates and loan losses, decreases in the availability of money or asset valuations, credit rating downgrades and adverse conditions in other related markets. Insurance companies, in particular, may be subject to severe price competition and/or rate regulation, which may have an adverse impact on their profitability. The financials sector is particularly sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates. The financials sector is also a target for cyber attacks, and may experience technology malfunctions and disruptions. In recent years, cyber attacks and technology failures have become increasingly frequent in this sector and have reportedly caused losses to companies in this sector, which may negatively impact a Fund.

 

Large-Capitalization Company Risk - The risk that larger, more established companies may be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges such as changes in technology and consumer tastes. Large companies also may not be able to attain the high growth rates of successful smaller companies.

 

More Information about Fund Investments

 

The investment objective of the CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund is long-term capital appreciation and, secondarily, current income. The investment objective of the CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund is long-term capital appreciation. The investment objective of the CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund is current income and long-term capital appreciation. The investment objective of the CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund is long-term capital appreciation. The investment objective of the CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund is current income and long-term capital appreciation. The investment objective of the CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund is long-term capital appreciation. The investment objective of each Fund may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.

 

The investments and strategies described in this Prospectus are those that the Funds use under normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive or liquidity purposes, each Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in cash, money market instruments or other cash equivalents that would not ordinarily be consistent with its investment objective. If a Fund invests in this manner, it may not achieve its

 

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investment objective. A Fund will do so only if the Adviser believes that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity to pursue its investment objective.

 

This Prospectus describes each Fund’s principal investment strategies and risks, and each Fund will normally invest in the types of securities and other investments described in this Prospectus. In addition to the securities and other investments and strategies described in this Prospectus, each Fund also may invest in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices. These investments and strategies, as well as those described in this Prospectus, are described in the Funds’ Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”). For information on how to obtain a copy of the SAI see the back cover of this Prospectus. Of course, there is no guarantee that a Fund will achieve its investment goal.

 

Information about Portfolio Holdings

 

A description of the Funds’ policies and procedures with respect to the circumstances under which the Funds disclose their portfolio holdings is available in the SAI.

 

Investment Adviser

 

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc., a Delaware corporation, has been providing investment advisory services since 1932, and serves as the investment adviser to the Funds. The Adviser is an investment management firm with a principal place of business located at 181 West Madison Street, 36th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60602. The Adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (“CIBC”), a Canadian multinational banking and financial services corporation. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $52.6 billion in assets under management.

 

The Adviser makes investment decisions for the Funds and continuously reviews, supervises and administers each Fund’s investment program. The Board oversees the Adviser and establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its management activities.

 

For its services to the CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at the following rates based on the average daily net assets of the Fund:

 

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Fund Assets

Fee

First $250 million

0.695%

Next $250 million

0.670%

Next $500 million

0.645%

Next $1.5 billion

0.620%

Next $2.5 billion

0.595%

Next $2.5 billion

0.570%

Next $2.5 billion

0.545%

Over $10 billion

0.520%

 

For its services to the CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund, CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund, CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund, CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund and CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at the following rates based on the average daily net assets of each Fund:

 

Fund

Fee

CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund

0.75%

CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund

0.60%

CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund

0.82%

CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund

0.80%

CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund

0.82%

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to keep total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 fees, shareholder servicing fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding the amounts listed in the table below, as a percentage of the average daily net assets of each Fund, until February 28, 2025:

 

Fund

Fee

CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund

0.80%

CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund

1.00%

CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund

0.85%

CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund

1.10%

CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund

1.10%

CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund

1.21%

 

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In addition, the Adviser may receive from a Fund the difference between the total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee reductions or expense reimbursements made during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment if at any point total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025; or (ii) by the Board, for any reason at any time. The Board has no current intention to terminate the Agreement prior to February 28, 2025.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Adviser received advisory fees as a percentage of the average daily net assets of each Fund as follows:

 

Fund

Advisory Fees Paid

CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund

0.65%

CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund

0.75%

CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund

0.60%

CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund

0.82%

CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund

0.80%

CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund

0.82%

 

If a separately managed account client of the Adviser invests in the CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund or CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund, the Adviser may be compensated for both managing the Funds and for managing the client’s assets (which include the client’s investments in the Funds). Specifically, because the Adviser bills its separately managed account clients quarterly in advance, the funds that are deployed from a client account during the quarter to be invested in the Funds may be assessed the Adviser’s separately managed account fee, which is separate from the management fees of the Funds. The separately managed account client will also incur its proportionate share of fees of the Funds as a shareholder of the Funds. The separately managed account client will be reimbursed for the separately managed account fees it pays to the Adviser with respect to the portion of the client’s assets that are invested in the Funds for the period of time during the quarter when those assets were invested in the Funds.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the investment advisory agreement for the Funds is available in the Funds’ Annual Report to Shareholders dated October 31, 2023, which covers the period from November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2023.

 

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Portfolio Managers

 

The Adviser employs a team approach with specific individual members of the team having final authority and ultimate accountability for specific phases of the process. Portfolio managers and analysts are responsible for research in the sectors they cover. All members of the team conduct fundamental research to identify investment candidates and participate in the portfolio construction process. The following individuals are jointly and primarily responsible for making the day-to-day investment decisions for the Funds:

 

Patricia Bannan, CFA, Managing Director, is a co-manager of the CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund. Ms. Bannan has been associated with the Adviser and/or its affiliates since 2007. From 1999 to 2005, she was a portfolio manager and ultimately the head of the large cap growth team at Evergreen Investments. Prior to that, Ms. Bannan held investment and leadership roles at CGU Insurance, Prudential Investments and Phoenix Investment Counsel and has been in the financial services industry for over 40 years.

 

Brant Houston, CFA, Managing Director, is a co-manager of the CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund and CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund. Mr. Houston has been associated with the Adviser and/or its affiliates since 2007. Prior to 2007, he worked in various investment and analytic roles at Geronimo Financial, Nicholas Applegate Capital Management and Wilshire Associates. Mr. Houston has been in the financial services industry for 26 years.

 

James L. Farrell, CFA, Managing Director, is a co-manager of the CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund. Mr. Farrell has been associated with the Adviser and/or its affiliates since 2012. Prior to joining the advisor, Jim was an analyst at Grosvenor Capital Management. Previous to that, Jim had been an analyst at Citadel Investment Group and an analyst at Geneva Advisors. Mr. Farrell has been in the financial services industry for more than 18 years.

 

Bryan G. Reilly, Managing Director, is a co-manager of the CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund. Mr. Reilly has been associated with the Adviser and/or its affiliates since 2003 and during such time has held positions of Portfolio Manager, Senior Investment Analyst and serves on the Firm’s Asset Allocation Committee. Prior to joining the firm, Bryan was a principal and research analyst at State Street Global Advisors. Mr. Reilly has been in the financial services industry for more than 26 years.

 

Gary Pzegeo, CFA, Managing Director, is a co-manager of the CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund. Mr. Pzegeo has been associated with the Adviser and/or its affiliates since 2007. Prior to 2007, he served as

 

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senior portfolio specialist and senior portfolio manager of high yield bonds at Evergreen Investments. Previously, he was a vice president, portfolio manager and head of taxable bonds at Gannet, Welsh & Kotler. Mr. Pzegeo has been in the financial services industry for more than 33 years.

 

Sean D. Usechek, Portfolio Manager and Senior Investment Research Analyst, is a co-manager of the CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund. Mr. Usechek has been associated with the Adviser and/or its affiliates since 2007. Prior to 2007, Mr. Usechek was a financial analyst with Lockheed Martin. Mr. Usechek has been in the financial services industry for more than 16 years.

 

Robert C. Bridges is a co-manager of the CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund and CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund. Mr. Bridges has been associated with the Adviser and/or its affiliates since 2017 and joined the Predecessor Adviser in 2003. Prior to 2003, he was a Principal at William Blair & Company for more than 10 years. Mr. Bridges has over 30 years of experience in managing investment portfolios.

 

John P. Huber is a co-manager of the CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund and CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund. Mr. Huber has been associated with the Adviser and/or its affiliates since 2017 and joined the Predecessor Adviser in 2003. Prior to 2003, Mr. Huber was a Principal at William Blair & Company, having been admitted to that firm’s partnership in 1998. Mr. Huber has been in the financial services industry for more than 29 years.

 

Gordon C. Scott, CFA, Managing Director, is a co-manager of the CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund. Mr. Scott has been associated with the Adviser and/or its affiliates since 2017 and joined the Predecessor Adviser in 2014. Prior to 2014, Mr. Scott worked for nine years at Rail-Splitter Capital Management, most recently as a Principal overseeing the firm’s investments in services, industrials and financials. Mr. Scott has been in the financial services industry for more than 23 years.

 

Daniel Delany, CFA, Managing Director, is a co-manager of the CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund. Mr. Delany has been associated with the Adviser and/or its affiliates since 2012 and during such time has held positions of Managing Director and Portfolio Manager. Prior to 2012, he was a portfolio manager and investment analyst at Oak Ridge Investments. Mr. Delany began his investment career at Kemper Funds in 1993 and later worked for UBS AG in Europe and William Blair & Company in Chicago. Mr. Delany has been in the financial services industry for more than 31 years.

 

Matthew Scherer, CFA, Managing Director, is a co-manager of the CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund. Mr. Scherer has been associated with

 

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the Adviser and/or its affiliates since 2010 and during such time has held positions of Managing Director and Portfolio Manager. Prior to 2010, he was a research analyst at Aragon Global, LLC, where he worked as a Global Consumer and Business Services Analyst. Prior to that, Mr. Scherer was a research analyst for Carlson Capital UK covering European equities. Mr. Scherer began his career as an associate analyst at RBC Capital Markets. Mr. Scherer has been in the financial services industry for more than 26 years.

 

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

 

Related Performance Data of the Adviser

 

The following tables give the related performance of actual separate accounts (each, an “Account”), referred to as “Composites,” managed by the Adviser that have investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those of the CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity and CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Funds. The data does not represent the performance of the Funds. Performance is historical and does not represent the future performance of the Funds or of the Adviser.

 

The manner in which the performance was calculated for the Composites differs from that of registered mutual funds such as the Funds. If the performance was calculated in accordance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) standardized performance methodology, the performance results may have been different. The Adviser has prepared and presented the following in compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (“GIPS®”). The Adviser’s policies on valuation, calculating performance and preparing GIPS® compliant performance presentations are available upon request.

 

All returns presented were calculated on a total return basis and include all dividends and interest, accrued income, and realized and unrealized gains and losses. Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. All returns reflect the payment of brokerage commissions, execution costs, sales loads and account fees, if any, paid by the Accounts included in the Composites, without taking into account federal or state income taxes. “Net of fees” returns also reflect the payment of actual investment management fees or the Adviser’s highest fees for the respective strategy. All fees and expenses, except custodial fees, if any, were included in the calculations. Because of variation in fee levels, the “net of fees” Composite returns may not be reflective of performance in any one particular Account. Therefore, the performance information shown below is not necessarily representative

 

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of the performance information that typically would be shown for a registered mutual fund.

 

In order to improve accuracy and maintain compliance with evolving GIPS standards, the Adviser has at times modified its performance calculation methodology. None of these changes, however, have had a material impact on the performance presentation. Beginning December 1, 2009, all Account returns are calculated daily using the current day ending market value excluding cash flows but including income, and prior day ending market value including cash flows, and geometrically linked to create monthly returns. Prior to December 1, 2009, Account returns were calculated monthly using the Modified Dietz method to account for cash flows. Monthly Composite returns were calculated by weighting individual Account returns by their beginning of month market value as a percentage of a Composite’s beginning of month market value. Prior to January 1, 2006, Composite returns were calculated quarterly using the monthly return methodology. At all times, annual Composite returns were calculated by geometrically linking the monthly or quarterly Account returns. Geometrical linking is a method of compounding separately calculated periodic returns. Accounts are included in a Composite beginning with the first full month of performance to the last full month prior to the termination of the Account. Composite performance results are presented in U.S. dollars.

 

The Accounts that are included in the Composites are not subject to the same type of expenses to which the Funds are subject and are not subject to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions, and investment limitations imposed by the federal securities and tax laws. Consequently, the performance results for the Composites could have been adversely affected if the Accounts in the Composites were subject to the same fees and expenses or federal securities and tax laws as the Funds.

 

The investment results for the Composites presented below are not intended to predict or suggest the future returns of the Funds. The performance data shown below should not be considered a substitute for the Funds’ own performance information. Investors should be aware that the use of a methodology different than that used below to calculate performance could result in different performance data.

 

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THE FOLLOWING DATA DOES NOT REPRESENT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUNDS

 

Performance Information for the Adviser’s Mid Cap Equity Strategy Composite1
(January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2023)

 

Year

Total
Pre-Tax
Return
(Net of
Fees)

Total
Pre-Tax
Return
(Gross of
Fees)

Russell
Mid Cap
Growth
Index
2

Number of
Accounts

Dispersion3

Total
Assets at
End of
Period ($
millions)

2023

19.45%

20.43%

21.22%

808

0.03%

2,262.0

2022

-22.95%

-23.59%

-26.72%

664

0.19%

1,735.4

2021

19.61%

20.59%

12.73%

765

0.25%

2,676.0

2020

18.13%

19.11%

35.59%

730

0.80%

2,456.2

2019

34.50%

35.62%

35.47%

726

0.20%

2,263.1

2018

-6.75%

-5.97%

-4.75%

643

0.12%

1,667.9

2017

20.91%

21.92%

25.27%

600

0.15%

1,661.8

2016

4.07%

5.08%

7.33%

433

0.15%

1,242.8

2015

3.39%

4.42%

-0.20%

367

0.14%

1,024.8

2014

14.68%

15.77%

11.90%

288

0.20%

737.1

2013

33.98%

35.15%

35.74%

371

0.31%

583.0

2012

14.02%

14.95%

15.81%

253

0.27%

393.3

2011

5.42%

6.26%

-1.65%

178

0.14%

330.1

2010

26.72%

27.75%

26.39%

146

0.25%

254.4

2009

33.93%

35.03%

46.30%

148

0.55%

224.8

2008

-43.30%

-42.79%

-44.33%

33

0.77%

97.2

2007

15.93%

16.93%

11.43%

91

0.23%

730.3

2006

7.33%

8.39%

10.67%

64

0.62%

760.2

2005

6.85%

7.86%

12.08%

27

0.15%

907.8

2004

15.83%

16.90%

15.48%

17

0.24%

850.9

2003

26.93%

28.10%

42.71%

17

0.65%

788.7

 

 

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Average Annual Total Pre-Tax Returns (as of 12/31/23)

 

Adviser’s Composite Returns

 

Time Period

Net of Fees

Gross of Fees

Russell Mid Cap
Growth Index
2

1 Year

19.45%

20.43%

21.22%

3 Years

2.97%

3.81%

0.53%

5 Years

11.65%

12.57%

12.32%

10 Years

9.21%

10.16%

8.80%

Since Inception4

11.71%

12.71%

9.46%

 

1

The Composite includes only discretionary Accounts with a market value in excess of $250,000. Prior to September 1, 2017, the minimum Account size was $500,000, prior to July 1, 2014, the minimum Account size was $250,000, prior to January 1, 2009, the minimum Account size was $1 million and prior to January 1, 2006, the minimum Account size was $3 million. The minimum market values represent the level of assets required to fully implement the Composite’s strategy.

 

2

The Russell Mid Cap Growth Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index of medium and medium/small companies in the Russell 1000 Index chosen for their growth orientation. The Russell 1000 Index is an unmanaged price-only index of the 1,000 largest capitalized companies that are domiciled in the US and whose common stocks are traded.

 

3

Dispersion is measured using the asset-weighted standard deviation of Accounts managed for the entire year beginning in January 2005 and the equal-weighted standard deviation of Accounts managed for the entire year prior to January 2005. If the individual Account returns are normally distributed around the mean return, then approximately 68%, 95% and 99.7% of the Accounts will have returns falling between the mean plus or minus one, two, and three standard deviations, respectively. Greater standard deviation means greater risk to the investor.

 

4

Inception date of the Composite is July 31, 1992.

 

Performance Information for the Adviser’s Income Opportunities Strategy Composite1
(January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2023)

 

Year

Total
Pre-Tax
Return
(Net of
Fees)

Total
Pre-Tax
Return
(Gross of
Fees)

60% S&P 500
Index/40%
Barclays U.S.
Government/
Credit Bond
Index
2

Number of
Accounts

Dispersion3

Total
Assets at
End of
Period ($
millions)

2023

14.88%

15.64%

17.76%

791

N/A

791

2022

-13.94%

-14.51%

-16.00%

74

0.12%

744.8

2021

18.59%

19.37%

15.76%

77

0.11%

824.7

2020

11.70%

12.43%

15.30%

53

0.68%

648.4

2019

23.38%

24.19%

22.64%

43

0.10%

586.0

2018

-2.89%

-3.53%

-2.52%

20

0.15%

373.7

2017

13.82%

14.56%

14.41%

12

0.13%

379.2

2016

13.92%

14.69%

8.48%

10

N/A

297.6

2015

-4.94%

-4.31%

1.13%

3

N/A

217.2

 

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Year

Total
Pre-Tax
Return
(Net of
Fees)

Total
Pre-Tax
Return
(Gross of
Fees)

60% S&P 500
Index/40%
Barclays U.S.
Government/
Credit Bond
Index
2

Number of
Accounts

Dispersion3

Total
Assets at
End of
Period ($
millions)

2014

10.26%

11.41%

10.63%

2

N/A

142.4

2013

11.16%

12.49%

17.40%

84

0.16%

73.8

 

Average Annual Total Pre-Tax Returns (as of 12/31/23)

 

Adviser’s Composite Returns

 

Time Period

Net of Fees

Gross of Fees

60% S&P 500
Index/40%
Barclays U.S.
Government/
Credit Bond Index
2

1 Year

14.88%

15.64%

17.76%

3 Years

5.21%

5.91%

4.62%

5 Years

9.93%

10.65%

10.12%

10 Years

7.72%

8.48%

8.16%

Since Inception4

8.16%

9.00%

8.81%

 

1

The Composite includes only discretionary Accounts with a market value in excess of $250,000. Prior to May 1, 2018, the minimum Account size was $2,000,000, prior to July 1, 2016, the minimum Account size was $10,000,000 and prior to July 1, 2014, the minimum Account size was $100,000. The minimum market value represents the level of assets required to fully implement the Composite’s strategy.

 

2

The blended index is composed with the following weightings: 60% S&P 500 Index and 40% Barclays U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index. The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted index designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks representing all major industries. The Barclays U.S. Government/Credit Bond Index is an unmanaged index that includes government and investment-grade corporate bonds with at least one year until maturity.

 

3

Dispersion is measured using the asset-weighted standard deviation of Accounts managed for the entire year. If the individual Account returns are normally distributed around the mean return, then approximately 68%, 95% and 99.7% of the Accounts will have returns falling between the mean plus or minus one, two, and three standard deviations, respectively. Greater standard deviation means greater risk to the investor.

 

4

Inception date of the Composite is March 1, 2012.

 

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

 

This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called “redeem”) and exchange Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Funds.

 

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For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Funds, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Taxes.”

 

How to Choose a Share Class

 

Each Fund offers two classes of shares to investors, Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Each share class has its own investment minimums, cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Contact your financial intermediary or the Funds for more information about the Funds’ share classes and how to choose between them. Investor Class Shares of the Funds are currently not available for purchase.

 

Class Name

Investment Minimums

Fees

Institutional Class Shares

Initial – $250,000
Subsequent – None

12b-1 Fee – None
Shareholder Servicing Fee – None

Investor Class Shares

Initial – $3,000 ($2,000 for IRAs)
Subsequent – None

12b-1 Fee – 0.25%
Shareholder Servicing Fee – 0.15% (CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund, CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund and CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund)

 

Shareholder Servicing Fee – 0.10% (CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund, CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund and CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund)

 

Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares are offered to investors who purchase shares directly from a Fund or through certain financial intermediaries such as financial planners, investment advisors, broker-dealers or other financial institutions. An investor may be eligible to purchase more than one share class. However, if you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, you may only purchase that class of shares which your financial intermediary sells or services. Your financial intermediary can tell you which class of shares is available through the intermediary.

 

Subject to any conditions or limitations imposed on the servicing of Institutional Class Shares of the Funds by your financial intermediary, if you received Institutional Class Shares of a Fund as a result of its reorganization, you will be permitted to make additional Institutional Class Share purchases of the Fund.

 

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The Funds reserve the right to change the criteria for eligible investors and accept initial investments of smaller amounts in their sole discretion.

 

How to Purchase Fund Shares

 

To purchase shares directly from the Funds through their transfer agent, complete and send in the application. If you need an application or have questions, please call 1-855-328-3863.

 

All investments must be made by check, wire or Automated Clearing House (“ACH”). All checks must be made payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Funds do not accept purchases made by third-party checks, credit cards, credit card checks, cash, traveler’s checks, money orders or cashier’s checks.

 

The Funds reserve the right to suspend all sales of new shares or to reject any specific purchase order, including exchange purchases, for any reason. The Funds are not intended for excessive trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For more information about the Funds’ policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

The Funds do not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Funds subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Funds for more information.

 

By Mail

 

You can open an account with the Funds by sending a check and your account application to the address below. You can add to an existing account by sending the Funds a check and, if possible, the “Invest by Mail” stub that accompanies your confirmation statement. Be sure your check identifies clearly your name, your account number, the Fund name and the share class.

 

Regular Mail Address

 

CIBC Atlas Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

 

CIBC Atlas Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

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The Funds do not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be their agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of purchase orders does not constitute receipt by the Funds’ transfer agent. The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by a Fund after the Funds’ transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Wire

 

To open an account by wire, call 1-855-328-3863 for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the wiring instructions set forth below (be sure to include the Fund name, the share class and your account number). The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Funds after the Funds’ Transfer Agent receives and accepts the wire in good order.

 

Wiring Instructions

 

UMB Bank, N.A.
Routing Number: 101000695
DDA: 9870523965
REF: CIBC Atlas Funds - Fund #/share class/Acct #

 

By Systematic Purchase Plan (via ACH) (Investor Class Shares Only)

 

You may not open an account via ACH. However, once you have established an account, you can set up an automatic investment plan via ACH by mailing a completed application to the Funds. These purchases can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually in amounts of at least $50 per month for IRAs, and at least $100 per month for all other types of accounts. To cancel or change a plan, contact the Funds by mail at: CIBC Atlas Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 or by telephone at 1-855-328-3863. Please allow up to 15 days to create the plan and 3 days to cancel or change it.

 

Purchases In-Kind

 

Subject to the approval of the Funds, an investor may purchase shares of a Fund with liquid securities and other assets that are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an appropriate investment for the Fund. Assets purchased by a Fund in such a transaction will be valued

 

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in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. The Funds reserve the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

 

General Information

 

You may purchase shares on any day that the NYSE is open for business (a “Business Day”). Shares cannot be purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days that either the NYSE or the Federal Reserve is closed. Each Fund’s price per share will be the next determined NAV after the Fund or an authorized institution (as defined below) receives and accepts your purchase order in good order. “Good order” means that the Funds were provided a complete and signed account application, including the investor’s social security number or tax identification number, and other identification required by law or regulation, as well as sufficient purchase proceeds. Purchase orders that are not in good order cannot be accepted and processed even if money to purchase shares has been submitted by wire, check or ACH.

 

Each Fund calculates its NAV once each Business Day as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day’s NAV, a Fund or an authorized institution must receive and accept your purchase order in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE. If your purchase order is not received and accepted in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV calculated on the subsequent Business Day on which your order is received and accepted in good order. If the NYSE closes early, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading, the Funds reserve the right to calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. The Funds will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or any other special conditions. Shares will only be priced on Business Days. Since securities that are traded on foreign exchanges may trade on days that are not Business Days, the value of a Fund’s assets may change on days when you are unable to purchase or redeem shares.

 

Buying or Selling Shares through a Financial Intermediary

 

In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from a Fund through its transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of the Fund through accounts with financial intermediaries such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. When you purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary (rather than directly from a Fund), you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to the financial intermediary at an earlier time for your transaction to become effective that day. This allows the financial intermediary time to process your requests and transmit them to the Funds

 

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prior to the time each Fund calculates its NAV that day. Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Funds on time. If your financial intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses. Unless your financial intermediary is an authorized institution, orders transmitted by the financial intermediary and received by the Funds after the time NAV is calculated for a particular day will receive the following day’s NAV.

 

Certain financial intermediaries, including certain broker-dealers and shareholder organizations, are authorized to act as agent on behalf of the Funds with respect to the receipt of purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares (“authorized institutions”). Authorized institutions are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on a Fund’s behalf. A Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized institution or, if applicable, an authorized institution’s designee, receives the order. Orders will be priced at a Fund’s next computed NAV after they are received by an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee. To determine whether your financial intermediary is an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee such that it may act as agent on behalf of a Fund with respect to purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

If you deal directly with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with the Funds. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for your purchase and/or redemption transactions. For more information about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

How the Funds Calculate NAV

 

The NAV of a class of a Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets attributable to the class, less any liabilities attributable to the class, by the total number of shares outstanding of the class.

 

In calculating NAV, each Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price. If market prices are not readily available or they are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Funds’ valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Funds’ portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when

 

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making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that is assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

With respect to non-U.S. securities held by the Funds, the Adviser may take factors influencing specific markets or issuers into consideration in determining the fair value of a non-U.S. security. International securities markets may be open on days when the U.S. markets are closed. In such cases, the value of any international securities owned by the Funds may be significantly affected on days when investors cannot buy or sell shares. In addition, due to the difference in times between the close of the international markets and the time as of which the Funds price their shares, the value the Adviser assigns to securities may not be the same as the quoted or published prices of those securities on their primary markets or exchanges. In determining fair value prices, the Adviser may consider the performance of securities on their primary exchanges, foreign currency appreciation/depreciation, securities market movements in the United States, or other relevant information related to the securities.

 

There may be limited circumstances in which the Adviser would price securities at fair value for stocks of U.S. companies that are traded on U.S. exchanges – for example, if the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closed early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time the Fund calculated its NAV.

 

When valuing fixed income securities with remaining maturities of more than 60 days, each Fund uses the value of the security provided by pricing services. The values provided by a pricing service may be based upon market quotations for the same security if a quotation is readily available, or may be based upon the values of securities expected to trade in a similar manner or a pricing matrix. When valuing fixed income securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less, each Fund may use the security’s amortized cost. Amortized cost and the use of a pricing matrix in valuing fixed income securities are forms of fair value pricing.

 

Other assets for which market quotations are not readily available will be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board.

 

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Minimum Purchases

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of a Fund for the first time, including an initial purchase through an IRA, you must invest at least $250,000. To purchase Investor Class Shares of a Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $3,000 ($2,000 for an IRA). There are no minimums for subsequent investments. A Fund may accept initial investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

Fund Codes

 

The reference information listed below will be helpful to you when you contact the Funds to purchase or exchange Institutional Class Shares or Investor Class Shares of the Funds, check daily NAV or obtain additional information.

 

Fund Name

Ticker Symbol

CUSIP

Fund Code

CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund

     

Institutional Class Shares

AWEIX

00769G493

4342

Investor Class Shares

AWEVX

00769G485

4343

CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund

     

Institutional Class Shares

AWMIX

00769G477

4344

Investor Class Shares

AWMVX

00769G469

4345

CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund

   

Institutional Class Shares

AWIIX

00769G451

4346

Investor Class Shares

AWIVX

00769G444

4347

CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund

     

Institutional Class Shares

AWGIX

00769G170

4348

Investor Class Shares

AWGVX

00769G162

4349

CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund

     

Institutional Class Shares

AWYIX

00769G154

4350

Investor Class Shares

AWYVX

00769G147

4351

CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund

   

Institutional Class Shares

AWWIX

00769G139

4352

Investor Class Shares

AWWVX

00769G121

4353

 

How to Sell Your Fund Shares

 

If you own your shares directly, you may sell your shares on any Business Day by contacting the Funds directly by mail or telephone at 1-855-328-3863.

 

If you own your shares through an account with a financial intermediary, contact that financial intermediary to sell your shares. Your financial

 

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intermediary may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Funds.

 

If you would like to have your redemption proceeds, including proceeds generated as a result of closing your account, sent to a third party or an address other than your own, please notify the Funds in writing.

 

Certain redemption requests will require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor institution. Eligible guarantors include commercial banks, savings and loans, savings banks, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any other member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. For example, signature guarantees may be required if your address of record has changed in the last 30 days, if you want the proceeds sent to a bank other than the bank of record on your account, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Please note that a notary public is not an acceptable provider of a signature guarantee and that the Funds must be provided with the original guarantee. Signature guarantees are for the protection of Fund shareholders. Before they grant a redemption request, the Funds may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to ensure proper authorization.

 

Accounts held by a corporation, trust, fiduciary or partnership, may require additional documentation along with a signature guaranteed letter of instruction. The Funds participate in the Paperless Legal Program (the “Program”), which eliminates the need for accompanying paper documentation on legal securities transfers. Requests received with a Medallion Signature Guarantee will be reviewed for the proper criteria to meet the guidelines of the Program and may not require additional documentation. Please contact Shareholder Services at 1-855-328-3863 for more information.

 

The sale price will be the NAV next determined after the Funds receive your request in good order.

 

By Mail

 

To redeem shares by mail, please send a letter to the Funds signed by all registered parties on the account specifying:

 

 

The Fund name;

 

 

The share class;

 

 

The account number;

 

 

The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;

 

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The account name(s); and

 

 

The address to which redemption (sale) proceeds should be sent.

 

All registered shareholders must sign the letter in the exact name(s) in which their account is registered and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.

 

Regular Mail Address

 

CIBC Atlas Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

 

CIBC Atlas Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Funds do not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be their agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of sell orders does not constitute receipt by the Funds’ transfer agent. The share price used to fill the sell order is the next price calculated by a Fund after the Funds’ transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Telephone

 

To redeem shares by telephone, you must first establish the telephone redemption privilege (and, if desired, the wire or ACH redemption privileges) by completing the appropriate sections of the account application. Call 1-855-328-3863 to redeem your shares. Based on your instructions, the Funds will mail your proceeds to you or send them to your bank via wire or ACH.

 

By Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH) (Investor Class Shares Only)

 

If your account balance is at least $5,000, you may transfer as little as $50 per month from your account to another financial institution through a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH). To participate in this service, you must complete the appropriate sections of the account application and mail it to the Funds.

 

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Receiving Your Money

 

Normally, the Funds will send your sale proceeds within one Business Day after they receive your redemption request. The Funds, however, may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account (may be subject to a $10 fee), sent to you by check or sent via ACH to your bank account if you have established banking instructions with the Funds. If you are selling shares that were recently purchased by check or through ACH, redemption proceeds may not be available until your check has cleared or the ACH transaction has been completed (which may take up to 15 days from your date of purchase).

 

The Funds typically expect to sell portfolio assets and/or hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. On a less regular basis, the Funds may also meet redemption requests by drawing on a line of credit, using short-term borrowings from its custodian and/or redeeming shares in-kind (as described below). These methods may be used during both normal and stressed market conditions.

 

Redemptions In-Kind

 

The Funds generally pay sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Funds’ remaining shareholders, the Funds might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in-kind). It is highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in-kind, but if they were you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption. In addition, you would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in-kind until they are sold.

 

Involuntary Redemptions of Your Shares

 

If your account balance drops below $50,000 with respect to Institutional Class Shares and $3,000 with respect to Investor Class Shares ($2,000 for IRAs) because of redemptions, you may be required to sell your shares. The Funds generally will provide you at least 60 days’ written notice to give you time to add to your account and avoid the involuntary redemption of your shares. The Funds reserve the right to waive the minimum account value requirement in their sole discretion. If you received Institutional Class Shares of a Fund as a result of its reorganization, you will not be subject to the $50,000 minimum account balance with respect to Institutional Class Shares.

 

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Suspension of Your Right to Sell Your Shares

 

The Funds may suspend your right to sell your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC. More information about this is in the SAI.

 

How to Exchange Fund Shares

 

At no charge, you may exchange Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of one CIBC Atlas Fund for Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares, respectively, of another CIBC Atlas Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Funds. You may only exchange shares between accounts with identical registrations (i.e., the same names and addresses).

 

The exchange privilege is not intended as a vehicle for short-term or excessive trading. A Fund may suspend or terminate your exchange privilege if you engage in a pattern of exchanges that is excessive, as determined in the sole discretion of the Funds. For more information about the Funds’ policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

Telephone Transactions

 

Purchasing, selling and exchanging Fund shares over the telephone is extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Funds have certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the authenticity of instructions, the Funds are not responsible for any losses or costs incurred by following telephone instructions they reasonably believe to be genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Funds over the telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.

 

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

 

The Funds and/or the Adviser may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to the Funds and/or their shareholders. Financial intermediaries include affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Funds, their service providers or their respective affiliates. This section briefly describes how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing these services. For more information please see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

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Distribution Plan

 

The Funds have adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, for Investor Class Shares that allows the Funds to pay distribution and/or service fees for the sale and distribution of Fund shares, and for services provided to shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of a Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The maximum annual Rule 12b-1 fee for Investor Class Shares of a Fund is 0.25%.

 

Shareholder Servicing Plan

 

The Funds have adopted a shareholder servicing plan that provides that the Funds may pay financial intermediaries for shareholder services in an annual amount not to exceed 0.15% based on the average daily net assets of Investor Class Shares of the CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund, CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund and CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund or 0.10% based on the average daily net assets of Investor Class Shares of the CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund, CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund and CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund. The services for which financial intermediaries are compensated may include record-keeping, transaction processing for shareholders’ accounts and other shareholder services.

 

Payments by the Adviser

 

From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support for the Funds. These payments are sometimes characterized as “revenue sharing” payments and are made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own legitimate profits or other resources, and may be in addition to any payments made to financial intermediaries by the Funds. A financial intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments for making shares of the Funds available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Funds with “shelf space,” placing them on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Funds in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and other applicable laws

 

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and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries.

 

The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary or the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV or price of a Fund’s shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders.

 

In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, commissions or transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Funds, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.

 

Other Policies

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Funds are intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourage shareholders from engaging in “market timing” or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of a Fund may present risks to the Fund’s long-term shareholders and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of a Fund’s investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests and experiencing increased transaction costs.

 

Because the Funds may invest in foreign securities traded primarily on markets that close prior to the time a Fund determines its NAV, the risks posed by frequent trading may have a greater potential to dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders than funds investing exclusively in U.S. securities. In instances where a significant event that affects the value of one or more foreign securities held by a Fund takes place after the close of the primary foreign market, but before the time that the Fund determines its NAV, certain investors may seek to take advantage of the fact that there will be a delay in the adjustment of the market price for

 

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a security caused by this event until the foreign market reopens (sometimes referred to as “price” or “time zone” arbitrage). Shareholders who attempt this type of arbitrage may dilute the value of a Fund’s shares if the prices of the Fund’s foreign securities do not reflect their fair values. Although the Adviser has procedures designed to determine the fair value of foreign securities for purposes of calculating each Fund’s NAV when such an event has occurred, fair value pricing, because it involves judgments which are inherently subjective, may not always eliminate the risk of price arbitrage.

 

In addition, because the CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund invests in mid-cap securities, the CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund and CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund invest in micro-, small- and mid-cap securities and the CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund invests in small- and mid-cap securities, which often trade in lower volumes and may be less liquid, the Funds may be more susceptible to the risks posed by frequent trading because frequent transactions in the Funds’ shares may have a greater impact on the market prices of these types of securities.

 

The Funds’ service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Funds’ policies and procedures described in this Prospectus and approved by the Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Funds’ service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control. The Funds’ policies and procedures include:

 

 

Shareholders are restricted from making more than four (4) “round trips,” including exchanges, into or out of a Fund within any one-year period. If a shareholder exceeds this amount, the Funds and/or their service providers may, at their discretion, reject any additional purchase or exchange orders. The Funds define a “round trip” as a purchase or exchange into a Fund by a shareholder, followed by a subsequent redemption out of the Fund, of an amount the Adviser reasonably believes would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

 

A redemption fee of 1.00% of the value of shares sold will be imposed on shares redeemed of the CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund within 30 days or less after their date of purchase (subject to certain exceptions as discussed below in “Redemption Fee”).

 

 

Each Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase or exchange request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

The Funds and/or their service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent

 

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with the interests of the Funds’ long-term shareholders. The Funds do not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders. Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in the Funds will occur. Systematic purchases and redemptions are exempt from these policies.

 

Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Funds for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Funds have entered into “information sharing agreements” with these financial intermediaries, which permit the Funds to obtain, upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary’s customers that invest in the Funds. If the Funds or their service providers identify omnibus account level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Funds, the Funds or their service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Funds or their service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Funds, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Funds by that customer. If the Funds are not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Funds may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Funds’ shares is requested by the Funds and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Funds have an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Funds, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Funds on behalf of other persons.

 

The Funds and their service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Funds. However, there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Funds to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary’s customers. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

Redemption Fee (CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund)

 

In an effort to discourage short-term trading and defray costs incurred by shareholders as a result of short-term trading, the CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund charges a 1.00% redemption fee on redemptions (including

 

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exchanges) of shares that have been held for less than 30 days. The redemption fee is deducted from the Fund’s sale proceeds and cannot be paid separately, and any proceeds of the fee are credited to the assets of the Fund from which the redemption was made. The fee does not apply to shares purchased with reinvested dividends or distributions. In determining how long shares of the Fund have been held, the Fund assumes that shares held by the investor the longest period of time will be sold first.

 

The redemption fee is applicable to Fund shares purchased either directly from the Fund or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the Fund on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. The Fund requests that financial intermediaries assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and collect and remit the proceeds to the Fund. However, the Fund recognizes that due to operational and systems limitations, intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the Fund’s. Therefore, to the extent that financial intermediaries are unable to collect the redemption fee, the Fund may not be able to defray the expenses associated with those short-term trades made by that financial intermediary’s customers.

 

The Fund reserves the right to waive its redemption fee at its discretion when it believes such waiver is in the best interests of the Fund, including with respect to certain categories of redemptions that the Fund reasonably believes may not raise frequent trading or market timing concerns. These categories currently include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) participants in certain group retirement plans whose processing systems are incapable of properly applying the redemption fee to underlying shareholders; (ii) redemptions resulting from certain transfers upon the death of a shareholder; (iii) redemptions by certain pension plans as required by law or by regulatory authorities; (iv) systematic withdrawals; and (v) retirement loans and withdrawals.

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

What this means to you: When you open an account, the Funds will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Funds to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.

 

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The Funds are required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

 

In certain instances, the Funds are required to collect documents to fulfill their legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.

 

Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker or financial intermediary. If this information cannot be obtained within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Funds, your application will be rejected.

 

Subject to the Funds’ right to reject purchase as described in this Prospectus, upon receipt of your application in good order (or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application), your investment will be accepted and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV.

 

The Funds reserve the right to close or liquidate your account at the next-determined NAV and remit proceeds to you via check if they are unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Funds. Further, the Funds reserve the right to hold your proceeds until your original check clears the bank, which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

Customer identification and verification is part of the Funds’ overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Funds have adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program designed to prevent the Funds from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Funds reserve the right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Funds or in cases when the Funds are requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Funds are required to withhold such proceeds.

 

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Unclaimed Property

 

Each state has unclaimed property rules that generally provide for escheatment (or transfer) to the state of unclaimed property under various circumstances. Such circumstances include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or “RPO,” as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once it flags property as unclaimed, the applicable Fund will attempt to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state.

 

Shareholders that reside in the state of Texas may designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that can be found on the website of the Texas Comptroller. While the designated representative does not have any rights to claim or access the shareholder’s account or assets, the escheatment period will cease if the representative communicates knowledge of the shareholder’s location and confirms that the shareholder has not abandoned his or her property. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Funds (if shares are held directly with the Funds) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if shares are not held directly with the Funds).

 

More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-855-328-3863.

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

Normally, each Fund distributes its net investment income and makes distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Fund shares on a Fund’s record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.

 

A Fund will automatically reinvest dividends and distributions in additional Fund shares unless you elect on your account application to receive them in cash. To elect cash payment, you must notify the Funds in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Funds receive your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Funds written notice.

 

Taxes

 

You should always consult your tax advisor for specific guidance regarding the federal, state and local tax effects of your investment in the Funds. The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing in the Funds. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are

 

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generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future. This summary is based on current tax law, which may change.

 

Each Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) within the meaning of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, a Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

Each Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from each Fund may be taxable whether you receive them in cash or you reinvest them in additional shares of the applicable Fund. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Funds as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains and currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Certain of the Funds’ investment strategies may limit their ability to distribute dividends eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income. Once a year the Funds (or their administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year.

 

A RIC that receives business interest income may pass through its net business interest income for purposes of the tax rules applicable to the interest expense limitations under Section 163(j) of the Code. A RIC’s total “Section 163(j) Interest Dividend” for a tax year is limited to the excess of the RIC’s business interest income over the sum of its business interest expense and its other deductions properly allocable to its business interest income. A RIC may, in its discretion, designate all or a portion of ordinary dividends as Section 163(j) Interest Dividends, which would allow the recipient shareholder to treat the designated portion of such dividends as interest income for purposes of determining such shareholder’s interest expense deduction limitation under Section 163(j). This can potentially increase the amount of a shareholder’s interest expense deductible under Section 163(j). In general, to be eligible to treat a Section 163(j) Interest Dividend as interest income, you must have held your shares in a Fund for

 

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more than 180 days during the 361-day period beginning on the date that is 180 days before the date on which the share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend. Section 163(j) Interest Dividends, if so designated by a Fund, will be reported to your financial intermediary or otherwise in accordance with the requirements specified by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

Each sale of Fund shares may be a taxable event. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different fund is the same as a sale. Assuming a shareholder holds Funds shares as a capital asset, any gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares 12 months or less or as long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of a Fund).

 

The Funds (or their administrative agent) must report to the IRS and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information for Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or their administrative agent) are also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Funds will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Funds will use the average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by a Fund shareholders (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of

 

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Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review any cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

To the extent a Fund invests in foreign securities, it may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund receives from sources in foreign countries. If more than 50% of the total assets of a Fund consists of foreign securities, such Fund will be eligible to elect to treat some of those taxes as a distribution to shareholders, which would allow shareholders to offset some of their U.S. federal income tax. The Fund (or their administrative agent) will notify you if it makes such an election and provide you with the information necessary to reflect foreign taxes paid on your income tax return.

 

The CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund may invest in MLPs, which may be treated as qualified publicly traded partnerships (“QPTPs”). In order to qualify as a RIC, the Fund must, among other requirements described in the SAI, meet certain requirements with respect to the diversification of its assets. The Fund’s investment in one or more of such QPTPs is limited under such diversification requirement to no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s assets. The CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund will monitor its investments in such qualified publicly traded partnerships in order to ensure compliance with the qualifying income and asset diversification tests for qualification as a RIC (as described in detail in the “Taxes” section of the SAI). Due to a variety of factors, including significant non-cash deductions such as depreciation and depletion, MLPs have historically made cash distributions to limited partners that exceed the amount of taxable income allocable to such limited partners or members. These excess cash distributions would not be treated as income to the Fund but rather would be treated as a return of capital to the extent of the Fund’s basis in the MLP. As a consequence, the Fund may make distributions that exceed its earnings and profits, which would be characterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholder’s cost basis in Fund shares and result in a higher capital gain or lower capital loss when the Fund shares are sold. After a shareholder’s basis in Fund shares has been reduced to zero, distributions in excess of earnings and profits in respect of those Fund shares will be treated as gain from the sale of the Fund shares.

 

MLPs and other partnerships that the CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund may invest in will deliver Schedules K-1 to the Fund to report its share

 

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of income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the MLP or other partnership. These Schedules K-1 may be delayed and may not be received until after the time that the Fund issues its tax reporting statements. As a result, the Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues you your Form 1099 tax reporting statement and, accordingly, send you a corrected Form 1099.

 

“Qualified publicly traded partnership income” within the meaning of Section 199A(e)(5) of the Code is eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. Qualified publicly traded partnership income is generally income of a “publicly traded partnership” that is not treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is effectively connected with such entity’s trade or business, but does not include certain investment income. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). The Code does not contain a provision permitting a RIC, such as the CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund, to pass the special character of this income through to its shareholders. Currently, direct investors in entities that generate “qualified publicly traded partnership income” will enjoy the lower rate, but investors in a RIC that invests in such entities will not. Unless later extended or made permanent, this 20% deduction will no longer be available for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

 

A Fund may invest in U.S. REITs. “Qualified REIT dividends” (i.e., ordinary REIT dividends other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income eligible for capital gain tax rates) are eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). Distributions by a Fund to its shareholders that are attributable to qualified REIT dividends received by the Fund and which the Fund properly reports as “section 199A dividends,” are treated as “qualified REIT dividends” in the hands of non-corporate shareholders. A section 199A dividend is treated as a qualified REIT dividend only if the shareholder receiving such dividend holds the dividend-paying RIC shares for at least 46 days of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. A Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as section 199A dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so. Unless later extended or made permanent, this 20% deduction will no longer be available for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

 

REITs in which a Fund invests often do not provide complete and final tax information to the Fund until after the time that a Fund issues a tax

 

86

 

 

 

reporting statement. As a result, the Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues your tax reporting statement. When such reclassification is necessary, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a corrected, final Form 1099-DIV to reflect the reclassified information. If you receive a corrected Form 1099-DIV, use the information on this corrected form, and not the information on the previously issued tax reporting statement, in completing your tax returns.

 

Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Funds.

 

More information about taxes is included in the SAI.

 

87

 

 

 

Additional Information

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Funds’ investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Funds. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Funds that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Funds. The Funds may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this Prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Funds and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

Financial Highlights

 

The tables that follow present performance information about the Funds. This information is intended to help you understand each Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years or, if shorter, the period of the Fund’s operations. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in a Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information provided below has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of the Funds. The financial statements and the unqualified opinion of Ernst & Young LLP are included in the 2023 Annual Report of the Funds, which is available upon request by calling the Funds at 1-855-328-3863.

 

Because Investor Class Shares of the Funds had not commenced operations as of the date of this Prospectus, financial highlights are not available.

 

88

 

 

 

CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund – Institutional Class Shares

 

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

   

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 25.18     $ 32.36     $ 23.69     $ 21.81     $ 20.76  

Income from Investment Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income*

    0.24       0.20       0.15       0.17       0.34  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    1.13       (5.18 )     9.19       2.18       2.29  

Total from Investment Operations

    1.37       (4.98 )     9.34       2.35       2.63  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (0.22 )     (0.15 )     (0.16 )     (0.18 )     (0.32 )

Net Realized Gains

    (0.77 )     (2.05 )     (0.51 )     (0.29 )     (1.26 )

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (0.99 )     (2.20 )     (0.67 )     (0.47 )     (1.58 )

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 25.56     $ 25.18     $ 32.36     $ 23.69     $ 21.81  

Total Return

    5.73 %     (16.61 )%     40.11 %     10.89 %     14.55 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 1,415,319     $ 1,449,826     $ 1,811,974     $ 1,319,591     $ 1,190,278  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Including Waivers, Reimbursements and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    0.72 %     0.72 %     0.72 %     0.74 %     0.75 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers, Reimbursements and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    0.72 %     0.72 %     0.72 %     0.74 %     0.75 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    0.91 %     0.72 %     0.54 %     0.74 %     1.68 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    10 %     13 %     19 %     19 %     13 %

 

*

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the period.

 

Total return is for the period indicated and has not been annualized. Return shown does not reflect the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived its fee and/or reimbursed other expenses.

 

89

 

 

 

CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund – Institutional Class Shares

 

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

   

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 16.78     $ 23.66     $ 17.34     $ 16.27     $ 13.85  

Income from Investment Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Loss*

          (0.05 )     (0.09 )     (0.02 )     (0.01 )

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    (0.19 )     (4.55 )     6.91       1.09       2.43  

Total from Investment Operations

    (0.19 )     (4.60 )     6.82       1.07       2.42  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Realized Gains

    (0.26 )     (2.28 )     (0.50 )            

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (0.26 )     (2.28 )     (0.50 )            

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 16.33     $ 16.78     $ 23.66     $ 17.34     $ 16.27  

Total Return

    (1.15 )%     (21.53 )%     39.86 %     6.58 %     17.47 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 674,460     $ 681,656     $ 950,136     $ 714,895     $ 727,278  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Including Waivers, Reimbursements and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    0.83 %     0.83 %     0.83 %     0.84 %     0.84 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers, Reimbursements and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    0.83 %     0.83 %     0.83 %     0.84 %     0.84 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    (0.03 )%     (0.27 )%     (0.41 )%     (0.14 )%     (0.09 )%

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    32 %     20 %     26 %     25 %     18 %

 

Amounts designated as “—” are either not applicable, $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

*

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the period.

 

Total return is for the period indicated and has not been annualized. Return shown does not reflect the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived its fee and/or reimbursed other expenses.

 

90

 

 

 

CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund – Institutional Class Shares

 

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

   

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 13.31     $ 15.81     $ 12.72     $ 12.38     $ 11.26  

Income from Investment Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income*

    0.34       0.29       0.26       0.26       0.29  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    0.29       (2.15 )     3.09       0.35       1.16  

Total from Investment Operations

    0.63       (1.86 )     3.35       0.61       1.45  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (0.33 )     (0.30 )     (0.26 )     (0.27 )     (0.28 )

Net Realized Gains

          (0.34 )                 (0.05 )

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (0.33 )     (0.64 )     (0.26 )     (0.27 )     (0.33 )

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 13.61     $ 13.31     $ 15.81     $ 12.72     $ 12.38  

Total Return

    4.69 %     (12.21 )%     26.51 %     5.07 %     13.14 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 603,776     $ 609,294     $ 672,173     $ 508,104     $ 471,877  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Including Waivers, Reimbursements and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    0.69 %     0.69 %     0.68 %     0.69 %     0.70 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers, Reimbursements and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    0.69 %     0.69 %     0.68 %     0.69 %     0.70 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    2.41 %     1.98 %     1.78 %     2.06 %     2.45 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    28 %     20 %     19 %     21 %     15 %

 

Amounts designated as “—” are either not applicable, $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

*

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the period.

 

Total return is for the period indicated and has not been annualized. Return shown does not reflect the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived its fee and/or reimbursed other expenses.

 

91

 

 

 

CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund – Institutional Class Shares

 

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

   

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 28.63     $ 43.08     $ 33.85     $ 30.40     $ 30.98  

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Loss*

    (0.03 )     (0.02 )     (0.14 )     (0.20 )     (0.21 )

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    2.05       (10.02 )     12.12       6.59       4.40  

Total from Investment Operations

    2.02       (10.04 )     11.98       6.39       4.19  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Realized Gains

    (1.78 )     (4.41 )     (2.75 )     (2.94 )     (4.77 )

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (1.78 )     (4.41 )     (2.75 )     (2.94 )     (4.77 )

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 28.87     $ 28.63     $ 43.08     $ 33.85     $ 30.40  

Total Return

    7.78 %     (26.01 )%     37.35 %     22.71 %     18.51 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 186,606     $ 203,007     $ 312,119     $ 210,258     $ 186,008  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Including Waivers, Reimbursements and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    0.92 %     0.92 %     0.96 %     1.10 %     1.10 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers, Reimbursements and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    0.92 %     0.92 %     0.92 %     0.94 %     0.95 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    (0.12 )%     (0.07 )%     (0.37 )%     (0.66 )%     (0.72 )%

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    44 %     57 %     66 %     49 %     56 %

 

Total return is for the period indicated and has not been annualized. Return shown does not reflect the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived its fee and/or reimbursed other expenses.

 

Ratio includes previously waived advisory fees recaptured. The net expense ratio would have been lower absent the impact of the recaptured fees.

 

*

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the period.

 

92

 

 

 

CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund – Institutional Class Shares

 

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

   

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 48.27     $ 58.99     $ 43.35     $ 43.60     $ 38.44  

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income*

    1.03       0.78       0.42       0.32       0.22  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    (1.51 )     (7.52 )     18.46       1.19       7.19  

Total from Investment Operations

    (0.48 )     (6.74 )     18.88       1.51       7.41  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (0.83 )     (0.89 )     (0.71 )     (0.48 )     (0.37 )

Net Realized Gains

    (0.68 )     (3.09 )     (2.53 )     (1.28 )     (1.88 )

Return of Capital

    (0.13 )                        

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (1.64 )     (3.98 )     (3.24 )     (1.76 )     (2.25 )

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 46.15     $ 48.27     $ 58.99     $ 43.35     $ 43.60  

Total Return

    (1.03 )%     (12.16 )%     45.57 %     3.45 %     20.94 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 278,996     $ 309,495     $ 220,298     $ 133,560     $ 136,194  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Including Waivers, Reimbursements and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    0.90 %     0.90 %     0.95 %     1.10 %     1.10 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers, Reimbursements and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    0.90 %     0.90 %     0.91 %     0.94 %     0.95 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    2.13 %     1.51 %     0.81 %     0.74 %     0.55 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    27 %     23 %     30 %     30 %     23 %

 

Total return is for the period indicated and has not been annualized. Return shown does not reflect the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived its fee and/or reimbursed other expenses.

 

Ratio includes previously waived advisory fees recaptured. The net expense ratio would have been lower absent the impact of the recaptured fees.

 

*

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the period.

 

93

 

 

 

CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund – Institutional Class Shares

 

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Period or Year

 

 

   

Year Ended October 31,

   

Period
Ended
October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019(1)

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year/Period

  $ 9.85     $ 13.34     $ 10.66     $ 10.38     $ 10.00  

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income*

    0.16       0.17       0.07       0.06       0.03  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    1.34       (3.41 )     2.64       0.24       0.35  

Total from Investment Operations

    1.50       (3.24 )     2.71       0.30       0.38  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (0.17 )     (0.04 )     (0.03 )     (0.01 )      

Net Realized Gains

          (0.21 )           (0.01 )      

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (0.17 )     (0.25 )     (0.03 )     (0.02 )      

Net Asset Value, End of Year/Period

  $ 11.18     $ 9.85     $ 13.34     $ 10.66     $ 10.38  

Total Return

    15.22 %     (24.69 )%     25.46 %     2.81 %     3.80 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year/Period (Thousands)

  $ 492,839     $ 333,970     $ 415,395     $ 197,524     $ 53,911  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Including Waivers, Reimbursements and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    0.94 %     0.94 %     0.94 %     1.12 %     1.21 %**

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers, Reimbursements and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    0.94 %     0.94 %     0.94 %     1.07 %     1.74 %**

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.38 %     1.44 %     0.53 %     0.60 %     0.65 %**

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    13 %     14 %     13 %     10 %     6 %***

 

Amounts designated as “—” are either not applicable, $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

(1)

The Fund commenced operations on May 31, 2019.

 

Total return is for the period indicated and has not been annualized. Return shown does not reflect the deductions of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived its fee and/or reimbursed other expenses.

 

Ratio includes previously waived advisory fees recaptured. The net expense ratio would have been lower absent the impact of the recaptured fees.

 

*

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the period.

 

**

Annualized.

 

***

Not Annualized.

 

94

 

 

 

THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND

 

CIBC ATLAS FUNDS

 

Investment Adviser

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc.
181 West Madison Street
36th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60602

 

Distributor

SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

 

Legal Counsel

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
2222 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

 

More information about the Funds is available, without charge, through the following:

 

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI, dated March 1, 2023, as it may be amended from time to time, includes detailed information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund and the CIBC Atlas Funds. The SAI is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this Prospectus.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports: These reports list the Funds’ holdings and contain information from the Adviser about investment strategies, and recent market conditions and trends and their impact on Fund performance. The reports also contain detailed financial information about the Funds.

 

To Obtain an SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report, or More Information:

 

By Telephone:

1-855-328-3863

By Mail:

CIBC Atlas Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009

By Internet:

The Funds do not have a website, but you can obtain the SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report by mail or telephone.

 

From the SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports for the Funds, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act registration number is 811-06400.

ATF-PS-001-1200

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

CIBC ATLAS DISCIPLINED EQUITY FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: AWEIX)

(Investor Class Shares: AWEVX)

 

CIBC ATLAS MID CAP EQUITY FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: AWMIX)

(Investor Class Shares: AWMVX)

 

CIBC ATLAS INCOME OPPORTUNITIES FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: AWIIX)

(Investor Class Shares: AWIVX)

 

CIBC ATLAS ALL CAP GROWTH FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: AWGIX)

(Investor Class Shares: AWGVX)

 

CIBC ATLAS EQUITY INCOME FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: AWYIX)

(Investor Class Shares: AWYVX)

 

CIBC ATLAS INTERNATIONAL GROWTH FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: AWWIX)

(Investor Class Shares: AWWVX)

 

each, a series of THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND

 

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH ADVISORS, INC.

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”) and the CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund, the CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund, the CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund, the CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund, the CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund and the CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund (each, a “Fund” and together, the “Funds”). This SAI is incorporated by reference into and should be read in conjunction with the Funds’ prospectus dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Prospectus. The most recent Annual Report for the Funds, which includes the Funds’ audited financial statements dated October 31, 2023, is incorporated by reference into this SAI. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Prospectus or Annual Report free of charge by writing to the Funds at CIBC Atlas Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail Address: CIBC Atlas Funds, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105) or calling the Funds at 1-855-328-3863.

 

i

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

THE TRUST S-1
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS S-2
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS S-32
THE ADVISER S-35
THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS S-37
THE ADMINISTRATOR S-39
THE DISTRIBUTOR S-40
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES S-41
THE TRANSFER AGENT S-42
THE CUSTODIAN S-42
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM S-42
LEGAL COUNSEL S-43
SECURITIES LENDING S-43
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST S-43
PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES S-53
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE S-54
TAXES S-55
FUND TRANSACTIONS S-65
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS S-68
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES S-69
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY S-69
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY S-70
PROXY VOTING S-70
CODES OF ETHICS S-70
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS S-71
APPENDIX A – DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS A-1
APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES B-1

 

 

March 1, 2024 ATF-SX-001-1200

 

Investor Class Shares of the Funds are currently not available for purchase.

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THE TRUST

 

General. Each Fund is a separate series of the Trust. The Trust is an open-end investment management company established under Massachusetts law as a Massachusetts voluntary association (commonly known as a business trust) under a Declaration of Trust dated July 18, 1991, as amended and restated February 18, 1997 and amended May 15, 2012 and August 18, 2020 (the “Declaration of Trust”). The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series (“funds”) of shares of beneficial interest (“shares”). The Trust reserves the right to create and issue shares of additional funds. Each fund is a separate mutual fund or exchange traded fund ("ETF"), and each share of each fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund, and all assets of such fund, belong solely to that fund and would be subject to any liabilities related thereto. Each fund of the Trust pays its (i) operating expenses, including fees of its service providers, expenses of preparing prospectuses, proxy solicitation material and reports to shareholders, costs of custodial services and registering its shares under federal and state securities laws, pricing and insurance expenses, brokerage costs, interest charges, taxes and organization expenses and (ii) pro rata share of the fund’s other expenses, including audit and legal expenses. Expenses attributable to a specific fund shall be payable solely out of the assets of that fund. Expenses not attributable to a specific fund are allocated across all of the funds on the basis of relative net assets. The other funds of the Trust are described in one or more separate statements of additional information.

 

History of Certain Funds.

 

CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund. The CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund is the successor to the Invesco Disciplined Equity Fund (the “Invesco Predecessor Fund”) and the Atlantic Whitehall Equity Income Fund (the “Atlantic Whitehall Predecessor Fund”). The Invesco Predecessor Fund was managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc. (“Invesco”) and the Atlantic Whitehall Predecessor Fund was managed by CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. (the “Adviser”) under the Adviser’s previous name, Stein Roe Investment Counsel, Inc. The Invesco Predecessor Fund and the Atlantic Whitehall Predecessor Fund had substantially similar investment objectives, investment strategies, policies and restrictions as those of the CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund. The CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund acquired the assets and liabilities and assumed the historical performance of the Invesco Predecessor Fund on January 2, 2014.

 

CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund. The CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund is the successor to the Geneva Advisors All Cap Growth Fund (the “All Cap Growth Predecessor Fund”). The All Cap Growth Predecessor Fund was managed by Geneva Advisors, LLC (“Geneva”), the All Cap Growth Predecessor Fund’s investment adviser, prior to Geneva’s acquisition by the Adviser and the subsequent reorganization of the All Cap Growth Predecessor Fund into the CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund on February 12, 2018 (the “All Cap Growth Reorganization"). The All Cap Growth Predecessor Fund had substantially similar investment objectives, investment strategies, policies and restrictions as those of the CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund.

 

CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund. The CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund is the successor to the Geneva Advisors Equity Income Fund (the “Equity Income Predecessor Fund”). The Equity Income Predecessor Fund was managed by Geneva, the Equity Income Predecessor Fund's investment adviser, prior to Geneva’s acquisition by the Adviser and the subsequent reorganization of the Equity Income Predecessor Fund into the CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund on February 12, 2018 (the "Equity Income Reorganization"). The Equity Income Predecessor Fund had substantially similar investment objectives, investment strategies, policies and restrictions as those of the CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund.

 

Description of Multiple Classes of Shares. The Trust is authorized to offer shares of the Funds in Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. The different classes provide for variations in certain distribution and shareholder servicing expenses and minimum initial investment requirements. Minimum investment requirements are described in the Prospectus. For more information on distribution and shareholder servicing expenses, see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in this SAI. The Trust reserves the right to create and issue additional classes of shares.

 

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Voting Rights. Each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote for each share held on the record date for the meeting. Each Fund will vote separately on matters relating solely to it. As a Massachusetts voluntary association, the Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Approval of shareholders will be sought, however, for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of members of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (each, a “Trustee” and collectively, the “Trustees” or the “Board”) under certain circumstances. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to liquidate one or more Funds without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they may do so if a Fund fails to reach a viable size within a reasonable amount of time or for such other reasons as may be determined by the Board.

 

In addition, a Trustee may be removed by the remaining Trustees or by shareholders at a special meeting called upon written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.

 

Any series of the Trust created on or after November 11, 1996 may reorganize or merge with one or more other series of the Trust or of another investment company. Any such reorganization or merger shall be pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization authorized and approved by the Trustees and entered into by the relevant series in connection therewith. In addition, such reorganization or merger may be authorized by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office and, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the Declaration of Trust, without the approval of shareholders of any series.

 

DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS

 

Each Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies are described in the Prospectus. The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus. The following are descriptions of the permitted investments and investment practices of the Funds and the associated risk factors. A Fund may invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices unless such investment or activity is inconsistent with or is not permitted by the Fund’s stated investment policies, including those stated below.

 

Each Fund is classified as a “diversified” investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). This means that with respect to 75% of its total assets, a Fund may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer’s voting securities would be held by the Fund. Under applicable federal securities laws, the diversification of a mutual fund’s holdings is measured at the time a fund purchases a security. If a Fund holds securities that perform well on a relative basis, the value of those securities could appreciate such that the value of the Fund’s securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, in the aggregate, might exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets. In these circumstances, the Adviser might determine that it is in the best interests of a Fund’s shareholders not to reduce one or more of the Fund’s holdings in securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. If the Adviser makes such a determination, a Fund’s holdings in such securities would continue to exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets, and the Fund would not purchase any additional shares of securities that constituted more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. The Fund would continue to qualify as a diversified fund under applicable federal securities laws. If more than 25% of a Fund’s assets were invested, in the aggregate, in securities of issuers that individually represented more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, the Fund would be subject to the risk that its performance could be disproportionately affected by the performance of such securities.

 

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In addition to the mutual fund diversification rules there are other investment restrictions derived from the 1940 Act where a fund’s compliance with such restrictions is measured at the time a fund purchases a security. For example, Rule 12d3-1 under the 1940 Act, prohibits a fund from acquiring equity securities of an issuer that engages in securities-related activities if such acquisition causes the fund to have more than 5% of its assets in equity securities of such issuer. It is the intention of the Funds to invest from time to time in equity securities of issuers that engage in securities-related activities. If a Fund does and these securities perform well on a relative basis, the value of the Fund’s holdings of one or more equity securities of such issuers could appreciate to a level that constitutes more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. In these circumstances, the Adviser might determine that it is in the best interests of a Fund’s shareholders not to reduce one or more of the Fund’s holdings in these securities. If the Adviser makes such a determination, a Fund’s holdings in such securities would continue to exceed 5% of the Fund’s total assets. Under these circumstances, a Fund would be subject to the risk that its performance could be disproportionately affected by the performance of such securities and the risks of issuers engaged in the investment adviser, broker dealer and underwriting businesses specifically and the risks of issuers engaged in securities-related activities generally.

 

American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). ADRs, as well as other “hybrid” forms of ADRs, including European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. Depositary receipts are securities that evidence ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities that have been deposited with a “depository” and may be sponsored or unsponsored. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. The underlying shares are held in trust by a custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer’s home country. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. However, ADRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.

 

For ADRs, the depository is typically a U.S. financial institution and the underlying securities are issued by a foreign issuer. For other depositary receipts, the depository may be a foreign or a U.S. entity, and the underlying securities may have a foreign or a U.S. issuer. Depositary receipts will not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities. Generally, ADRs are issued in registered form, denominated in U.S. dollars, and designed for use in the U.S. securities markets. Other depositary receipts, such as GDRs and EDRs, may be issued in bearer form and denominated in other currencies, and are generally designed for use in securities markets outside the U.S. While the two types of depositary receipt facilities (unsponsored or sponsored) are similar, there are differences regarding a holder’s rights and obligations and the practices of market participants. A depository may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or acquiescence of) the underlying issuer; typically, however, the depository requests a letter of non-objection from the underlying issuer prior to establishing the facility. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all of the costs of the facility. The depository usually charges fees upon deposit and withdrawal of the underlying securities, the conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars or other currency, the disposition of non-cash distributions, and the performance of other services.

 

Sponsored depositary receipt facilities are created in generally the same manner as unsponsored facilities, except that sponsored depositary receipts are established jointly by a depository and the underlying issuer through a deposit agreement. The deposit agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of the underlying issuer, the depository, and the depositary receipt holders. With sponsored facilities, the underlying issuer typically bears some of the costs of the depositary receipts (such as dividend payment fees of the depository), although most sponsored depositary receipts agree to distribute notices of shareholders meetings, voting instructions, and other shareholder communications and information to the depositary receipt holders at the underlying issuer’s request. The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

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For purposes of a Fund’s investment policies, investments in depositary receipts will be deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. Thus, a depositary receipt representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock. Depositary receipts do not eliminate all of the risks associated with directly investing in the securities of foreign issuers.

 

Equity Securities. Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company or partnership and consist of common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants and rights to acquire common stock, securities convertible into common stock, and investments in master limited partnerships (“MLPs”). Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a Fund invests will cause the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund to fluctuate. The Funds purchase equity securities traded on global securities exchanges or the over-the-counter market. Equity securities are described in more detail below:

 

Common Stock. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.

 

Preferred Stock. Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock.

 

Alternative Entity Securities. Alternative entity securities are the securities of entities that are formed as limited partnerships, limited liability companies, business trusts or other non-corporate entities that are similar to common or preferred stock of corporations.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”). An ETF is a fund whose shares are bought and sold on a securities exchange as if it were a single security. An ETF holds a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index. Some examples of ETFs are SPDRs®, DIAMONDSSM, NASDAQ 100 Index Tracking StockSM (“QQQsSM”), and iShares®. A Fund could purchase an ETF to temporarily gain exposure to a portion of the U.S. or foreign market while awaiting an opportunity to purchase securities directly. Similarly, a Fund may establish a short position in an ETF to gain inverse exposure to a portion of the U.S. or foreign markets. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the securities comprising the index which an index ETF is designed to track or the other holdings of an active or index ETF, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in it being more volatile than the tracked index or underlying holdings, and ETFs have management fees that increase their costs versus the costs of owning the underlying holdings directly. See also “Securities of Other Investment Companies” below.

 

Rights and Warrants. A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life, usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price. Warrants are freely transferable and are traded on major exchanges. Unlike rights, warrants normally have a life that is measured in years and entitles the holder to buy common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. Corporations often issue warrants to make the accompanying debt security more attractive.

 

An investment in warrants and rights may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. Investing in rights and warrants increases the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities.

 

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Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio. A convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue. If a convertible security held by a Fund is called for redemption or conversion, the Fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.

 

Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Because of this higher yield, convertible securities generally sell at a price above their “conversion value,” which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion. The difference between this conversion value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline in value, convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities. However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder. When the underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible securities may also be expected to increase. At the same time, however, the difference between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks. Because convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk, and are often lower-quality securities.

 

Contingent convertible bonds are typically issued by non-U.S. banks and may be convertible into equity or may be written down if pre-determined triggering events occur, such as a decline in capital thresholds below a specified level occurs. Contingent convertible bonds typically are subordinated to other debt instruments of the issuer and generally rank junior to the claims of all holders of unsubordinated obligations of the issuer. Coupon payments on contingent convertible securities may be discretionary and may be cancelled by the issuer. Contingent convertible bonds are a new form of instrument, and the market and regulatory environment for contingent convertible bonds is evolving. Therefore, it is uncertain how the overall market for contingent convertible bonds would react to a triggering event or coupon suspension applicable to one issuer. A Fund may lose money on its investment in a contingent convertible bond when holders of the issuer's equity securities do not.

 

General Risks of Investing in Stocks. While investing in stocks allows investors to participate in the benefits of owning a company, such investors must accept the risks of ownership. Unlike bondholders, who have preference to a company’s earnings and cash flow, preferred stockholders, followed by common stockholders in order of priority, are entitled only to the residual amount after a company meets its other obligations. For this reason, the value of a company’s stock will usually react more strongly to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects than its debt obligations. Stockholders of a company that fares poorly can lose money.

 

Stock markets tend to move in cycles with short or extended periods of rising and falling stock prices. The value of a company’s stock may fall because of:

 

Factors that directly relate to that company, such as decisions made by its management or lower demand for the company’s products or services;

 

Factors affecting an entire industry, such as increases in production costs; and

 

 Changes in general financial market conditions that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates or inflation rates.

 

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Because preferred stock is generally junior to debt securities and other obligations of the issuer, deterioration in the credit quality of the issuer will cause greater changes in the value of a preferred stock than in a more senior debt security with similar stated yield characteristics.

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”). A Fund may invest a portion of its assets in REITs. A U.S. REIT is a corporation or business trust (that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation) which meets the definitional requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct from taxable income the dividends paid, thereby effectively eliminating corporate level federal income tax. To meet the definitional requirements of the Code, a U.S. REIT must, among other things: invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate (including mortgages and other REITs), cash and government securities; derive most of its income from rents from real property or interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property; and distribute annually 90% or more of its otherwise taxable income to shareholders.

 

REITs are sometimes informally characterized as Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs. An Equity REIT invests primarily in the fee ownership or leasehold ownership of land and buildings; a Mortgage REIT invests primarily in mortgages on real property, which may secure construction, development or long-term loans.

 

REITs may be affected by changes in underlying real estate values, which may have an exaggerated effect to the extent that REITs in which the Funds invest may concentrate investments in particular geographic regions or property types. Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalization, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of securities issued by such REITs. Additionally, rising interest rates may cause investors in REITs to demand a higher annual yield from future distributions, which may in turn decrease market prices for equity securities issued by REITs. Rising interest rates also generally increase the costs of obtaining financing, which could cause the value of a Fund’s investments to decline. During periods of declining interest rates, certain Mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by such Mortgage REITs. Equity and Mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency defaults by borrowers and self-liquidation. In addition, Mortgage REITs may be affected by the ability of borrowers to repay when due the debt extended by the REIT and Equity REITs may be affected by the ability of tenants to pay rent. The above factors may adversely affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments.

 

Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. By investing in REITs indirectly through a Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders. In addition, U.S. REITs could possibly fail to qualify for tax free pass-through of income under the Code or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act.

 

Each of the CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund, CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund and CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund may invest up to 15% of its total assets in equity interests and/or debt obligations issued by REITs.

 

Real Estate Companies’ Securities. The Funds may be subject to the risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate. For example, real estate values may fluctuate as a result of general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, demographic trends and variations in rental income, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, regulatory limitations on rents, changes in neighborhood values, related party risks, changes in how appealing properties are to tenants, changes in interest rates and other real estate capital market influences.

 

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Micro, Small and Medium Capitalization Issuers. Investing in equity securities of micro, small and medium capitalization companies often involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investments in larger capitalization companies. This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of smaller size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines and frequent lack of depth of management. The securities of micro and smaller companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and even if listed on a national securities exchange may not be traded in volumes typical for that exchange. Consequently, the securities of micro and smaller companies are less likely to be liquid, may have limited market stability, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established growth companies or the market averages in general.

 

Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”). A Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities of companies offering shares in IPOs. IPOs may have a magnified performance impact on a Fund with a small asset base. A Fund may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time, which may increase the turnover of the Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses for the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling IPO shares, a Fund may realize taxable gains that it will subsequently distribute to shareholders. In addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or inactive for extended periods of time. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may make it more difficult for a Fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Holders of IPO shares can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders.

 

A Fund’s investment in IPO shares may include the securities of unseasoned companies (companies with less than three years of continuous operations), which presents risks considerably greater than common stocks of more established companies. These companies may have limited operating histories and their prospects for profitability may be uncertain. These companies may be involved in new and evolving businesses and, compared to their better-established, larger cap peers, may be more vulnerable to competition and changes in technology, markets and economic conditions. They may be more dependent on key managers and third parties and may have limited product lines.

 

Master Limited Partnerships. MLPs are limited partnerships or limited liability companies, whose partnership units or limited liability interests are listed and traded on a U.S. securities exchange, and are treated as publicly traded partnerships for federal income tax purposes. To qualify to be treated as a partnership for tax purposes, an MLP must receive at least 90% of its income from qualifying sources as set forth in Section 7704(d) of the Code. These qualifying sources include activities such as the exploration, development, mining, production, processing, refining, transportation, storage and marketing of mineral or natural resources. To the extent that an MLP’s interests are concentrated in a particular industry or sector, such as the energy sector, the MLP will be negatively impacted by economic events adversely impacting that industry or sector.

 

MLPs that are formed as limited partnerships generally have two classes of owners, the general partner and limited partners, while MLPs that are formed as limited liability companies generally have two analogous classes of owners, the managing member and the members. For purposes of this section, references to general partners also apply to managing members and references to limited partners also apply to members.

 

The general partner is typically owned by a major energy company, an investment fund, the direct management of the MLP or is an entity owned by one or more of such parties. The general partner may be structured as a private or publicly traded corporation or other entity. The general partner typically controls the operations and management of the MLP through an equity interest of as much as 2% in the MLP plus, in many cases, ownership of common units and subordinated units. A holder of general partner interests can be liable under certain circumstances for amounts greater than the amount of the holder’s investment in the general partner interest. General partner interests are not publicly traded and generally cannot be converted into common units. The general partner interest can be redeemed by the MLP if the MLP unitholders choose to remove the general partner, typically with a supermajority vote by limited partner unitholders.

 

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Limited partners own the remainder of the MLP through ownership of common units and have a limited role in the MLP’s operations and management. Common units are listed and traded on U.S. securities exchanges, with their value fluctuating predominantly based on prevailing market conditions and the success of the MLP. Unlike owners of common stock of a corporation, owners of common units have limited voting rights and have no ability annually to elect directors. In the event of liquidation, common units have preference over subordinated units, but not over debt or preferred units, to the remaining assets of the MLP.

 

MLPs are typically structured such that common units and general partner interests have first priority to receive quarterly cash distributions up to an established minimum amount (“minimum quarterly distributions” or “MQD”). Common and general partner interests also accrue arrearages in distributions to the extent the MQD is not paid. Once common and general partner interests have been paid, subordinated units receive distributions of up to the MQD; however, subordinated units do not accrue arrearages. Distributable cash in excess of the MQD paid to both common and subordinated units is distributed to both common and subordinated units generally on a pro rata basis. The general partner is also eligible to receive incentive distributions if the general partner operates the business in a manner which results in distributions paid per common unit surpassing specified target levels. As the general partner increases cash distributions to the limited partners, the general partner receives an increasingly higher percentage of the incremental cash distributions. A common arrangement provides that the general partner can reach a tier where it receives 50% of every incremental dollar paid to common and subordinated unit holders. These incentive distributions encourage the general partner to streamline costs, increase capital expenditures and acquire assets in order to increase the partnership’s cash flow and raise the quarterly cash distribution in order to reach higher tiers. Such results benefit all security holders of the MLP.

 

Foreign Securities. Foreign securities include equity securities of foreign entities, obligations of foreign branches of U.S. banks and of foreign banks, including, without limitation, European Certificates of Deposit, European Time Deposits, European Bankers’ Acceptances, Canadian Time Deposits, Europaper and Yankee Certificates of Deposit, and investments in Canadian Commercial Paper and foreign securities. These instruments have investment risks that differ in some respects from those related to investments in obligations of U.S. domestic issuers. Such risks include future adverse political and economic developments, the possible imposition of withholding taxes on interest or other income, possible seizure, nationalization, or expropriation of foreign deposits, the possible establishment of exchange controls or taxation at the source, greater fluctuations in value due to changes in exchange rates, or the adoption of other foreign governmental restrictions which might adversely affect the payment of principal and interest on such obligations. Such investments may also entail higher custodial fees and sales commissions than domestic investments. Foreign issuers of securities or obligations are often subject to accounting treatment and engage in business practices different from those respecting domestic issuers of similar securities or obligations. Foreign branches of U.S. banks and foreign banks may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks.

 

Emerging Markets. An “emerging market” country is generally a less developed country as defined by the investment community and represented by the Morgan Stanley Capital International Emerging Markets Index (the "MSCI EM") or that is publicly announced to be added to the MSCI EM. Typically, emerging markets are in countries that are in the process of industrialization, with lower gross national products (“GNPs”) than more developed countries. There are currently over 130 countries that the international financial community generally considers to be emerging or developing countries, approximately 40 of which currently have stock markets.

 

Investment Funds. Some emerging countries currently prohibit direct foreign investment in the securities of their companies. Certain emerging countries, however, permit indirect foreign investment in the securities of companies listed and traded on their stock exchanges through investment funds that they have specifically authorized. Investments in these investment funds are subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act. If a Fund invests in such investment funds, shareholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses (including operating expenses and the fees of the Adviser), but also will indirectly bear similar expenses of the underlying investment funds. In addition, these investment funds may trade at a premium over their NAV.

 

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Risks of Foreign Securities:

 

Foreign securities, foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.

 

Political and Economic Factors. Local political, economic, regulatory, or social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments may affect the value of foreign investments. Listed below are some of the more important political and economic factors that could negatively affect an investment in foreign securities:

 

The economies of foreign countries may differ from the economy of the United States in such areas as growth of GNP, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, budget deficits and national debt;

 

Foreign governments sometimes participate to a significant degree, through ownership interests or regulation, in their respective economies. Actions by these governments could significantly influence the market prices of securities and payment of dividends;

 

The economies of many foreign countries are dependent on international trade and their trading partners, and they could be severely affected if their trading partners were to enact protective trade barriers and economic conditions;

 

The internal policies of a particular foreign country may be less stable than in the United States. Other countries face significant external political risks, such as possible claims of sovereignty by other countries or tense and sometimes hostile border clashes;

 

A foreign government may act adversely to the interests of U.S. investors, including expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation and other restrictions on U.S. investment. A country may restrict or control foreign investments in its securities markets. These restrictions could limit a Fund’s ability to invest in a particular country or make it very expensive for the Fund to invest in that country. Some countries require prior governmental approval, limit the types or amount of securities or companies in which a foreigner can invest, or may restrict the ability of foreign investors to repatriate their investment income and capital gains; and

 

Periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in a Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. Government designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses.

 

Given the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, region or market might adversely affect financial conditions or issuers in other countries, regions or markets. For example, on January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) formally withdrew from the European Union (the “EU”) (commonly referred to as “Brexit”). Following a transition period, the UK and the EU signed a post-Brexit trade agreement governing their future economic relationship on December 30, 2020. This agreement became effective on a provisional basis on January 1, 2021 and formally entered into force on May 1, 2021. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets.

 

The effects of Brexit on the UK and EU economies and the broader global economy could be significant, resulting in negative impacts, such as business and trade disruptions, increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth of markets in the UK, EU and globally, which could negatively impact the value of a Fund's investments. Brexit could also lead to legal uncertainty and politically divergent national laws and regulations while the new relationship between the UK and EU is further defined and the UK determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Additionally, depreciation of the British pound sterling and/or the euro in relation to the U.S. dollar following Brexit could adversely affect Fund investments denominated in the British pound sterling and/or the euro, regardless of the performance of the investment.

 

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In addition, on February 24, 2022, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia, Ukraine, Europe, NATO, and the West. Following Russia’s actions, various countries, including the U.S., Canada, the UK, Germany, and France, as well as the EU, issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia. The sanctions consist of the prohibition of trading in certain Russian securities and engaging in certain private transactions, the prohibition of doing business with certain Russian corporate entities, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs, and the freezing of Russian assets.

 

The extent and duration of the war in Ukraine and the longevity and severity of sanctions remain unknown, but they could have a significant adverse impact on the European economy as well as the price and availability of certain commodities, including oil and natural gas, throughout the world. These sanctions, and the resulting disruption of the Russian economy, may cause volatility in other regional and global markets and may negatively impact the performance of various sectors and industries, as well as companies in other countries, which could have a negative effect on the performance of a Fund, even if the Fund does not have direct exposure to securities of Russian issuers.

 

Whether or not a Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments due to the interconnected nature of the global economy and capital markets.

 

Information and Supervision. There is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than companies based in the United States. For example, there are often no reports and ratings published about foreign companies comparable to the ones written about U.S. companies. Foreign companies are typically not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. The lack of comparable information makes investment decisions concerning foreign companies more difficult and less reliable than those concerning domestic companies.

 

Stock Exchange and Market Risk. The Adviser anticipates that in most cases an exchange or over-the-counter market located outside of the United States will be the best available market for foreign securities. Foreign stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as the markets in the United States. Foreign stock markets tend to differ from those in the United States in a number of ways.

 

Foreign stock markets:

 

Are generally more volatile than, and not as developed or efficient as, those in the United States;

 

Have substantially less volume;

 

Trade securities that tend to be less liquid and experience rapid and erratic price movements;

 

Have generally higher commissions and are subject to set minimum rates, as opposed to negotiated rates;

 

Employ trading, settlement and custodial practices less developed than those in U.S. markets; and

 

May have different settlement practices, which may cause delays and increase the potential for failed settlements.

 

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Foreign markets may offer less protection to shareholders than U.S. markets because:

 

Foreign accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements may render a foreign corporate balance sheet more difficult to understand and interpret than one subject to U.S. law and standards;

 

Adequate public information on foreign issuers may not be available, and it may be difficult to secure dividends and information regarding corporate actions on a timely basis;

 

In general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the United States;

 

Over-the-counter markets tend to be less regulated than stock exchange markets and, in certain countries, may be totally unregulated;

 

Economic or political concerns may influence regulatory enforcement and may make it difficult for shareholders to enforce their legal rights; and

 

Restrictions on transferring securities within the United States or to U.S. persons may make a particular security less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions.

 

Foreign Currency Risk. While each Fund denominates its NAV in U.S. dollars, the securities of foreign companies are frequently denominated in foreign currencies. Thus, a change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in value of securities denominated in that currency. Some of the factors that may impair the investments denominated in a foreign currency are:

 

It may be expensive to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa;

 

Complex political and economic factors may significantly affect the values of various currencies, including the U.S. dollar, and their exchange rates;

 

Government intervention may increase risks involved in purchasing or selling foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts, since exchange rates may not be free to fluctuate in response to other market forces;

 

There may be no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies or regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis;

 

Available quotation information is generally representative of very large round-lot transactions in the inter-bank market and thus may not reflect exchange rates for smaller odd-lot transactions (less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable; and

 

The inter-bank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that a market is closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, certain markets may not always reflect significant price and rate movements.

 

Taxes. Certain foreign governments levy withholding taxes on dividend and interest income. Although in some countries it is possible for a Fund to recover a portion of these taxes, the portion that cannot be recovered will reduce the income the Fund receives from its investments.

 

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Emerging Markets. Investing in emerging markets may magnify the risks of foreign investing. Security prices in emerging markets can be significantly more volatile than those in more developed markets, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, countries with emerging markets may:

 

Have relatively unstable governments;

 

Present greater risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets;

 

Offer less protection of property rights than more developed countries; and

 

Have economies that are based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates.

 

Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times.

 

Money Market Securities. Money market securities include short-term U.S. government securities; custodial receipts evidencing separately traded interest and principal components of securities issued by the U.S. Treasury; commercial paper rated in the highest short-term rating category by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organization (“NRSRO”), such as S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase; short-term bank obligations (certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances) of U.S. commercial banks with assets of at least $1 billion as of the end of their most recent fiscal year; and repurchase agreements involving such securities. Each of these money market securities are described below. For a description of ratings, see “Appendix A – Description of Ratings” to this SAI.

 

U.S. Government Securities. The Funds may invest in U.S. government securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years. U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi-annually and repay the principal at maturity. Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (“Farmer Mac”).

 

Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency. Additionally, some obligations are issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, which are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so, since the U.S. government is not so obligated by law. Guarantees of principal by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Funds’ shares.

 

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On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), placing the two federal instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the takeover, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and obtained warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality (the “Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement” or “Agreement”). Under the Agreement, the U.S. Treasury pledged to provide up to $200 billion per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. This was intended to ensure that the instrumentalities maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was amending the Agreement to allow the $200 billion cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in net worth through the end of 2012. The unlimited support the U.S. Treasury extended to the two companies expired at the beginning of 2013 – Fannie Mae’s support is now capped at $125 billion and Freddie Mac has a limit of $149 billion.

 

On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to terminate the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each pay a 10 percent annual dividend. Instead, the companies will transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceed a capital reserve amount. The capital reserve amount was $3 billion in 2013, and decreased by $600 million in each subsequent year through 2017. It is believed that this amendment puts Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a better position to service their debt because it eliminated the need for the companies to have to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to make fixed dividend payments. As part of the new terms, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also will be required to reduce their investment portfolios over time. On December 21, 2017, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to reinstate the $3 billion capital reserve amount. On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was further amending the Agreement, now permitting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to retain earnings beyond the $3 billion capital reserves previously allowed through the 2017 amendment. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now permitted to maintain capital reserves of $25 billion and $20 billion, respectively.

 

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the subject of several continuing class action lawsuits and investigations by federal regulators over certain accounting, disclosure or corporate governance matters, which (along with any resulting financial restatements) may adversely affect the guaranteeing entities. Importantly, the future of the entities is in serious question as the U.S. government reportedly is considering multiple options, ranging from nationalization, privatization, consolidation, or abolishment of the entities.

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations. U.S. Treasury obligations consist of direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, including Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations, including those transferable through the Federal book-entry system known as Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities (“STRIPS”). The STRIPS program lets investors hold and trade the individual interest and principal components of eligible Treasury notes and bonds as separate securities. Under the STRIPS program, the principal and interest components are separately issued by the U.S. Treasury at the request of depository financial institutions, which then trade the component parts separately.

 

Commercial Paper. Commercial paper is the term used to designate unsecured short-term promissory notes issued by corporations and other entities. Maturities on these issues vary from a few to 270 days.

 

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Investment Grade Fixed Income Securities. Fixed income securities are considered investment grade if they are rated in one of the four highest rating categories by an NRSRO, or, if not rated, are determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser. See “Appendix A - Description of Ratings” for a description of the bond rating categories of several NRSROs. Ratings of each NRSRO represent its opinion of the safety of principal and interest payments (and not the market risk) of bonds and other fixed income securities it undertakes to rate at the time of issuance. Ratings are not absolute standards of quality and may not reflect changes in an issuer’s creditworthiness. Fixed income securities rated BBB- or Baa3 lack outstanding investment characteristics, and have speculative characteristics as well. Securities rated Baa3 by Moody’s or BBB- by S&P or higher are considered by those rating agencies to be “investment grade” securities, although Moody’s considers securities rated in the Baa category to have speculative characteristics. While issuers of bonds rated BBB by S&P are considered to have adequate capacity to meet their financial commitments, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and principal for debt in this category than debt in higher rated categories. In the event a security owned by a Fund is downgraded below investment grade, the Adviser will review the situation and take appropriate action with regard to the security.

 

Debt Securities. Corporations and governments use debt securities to borrow money from investors. Most debt securities promise a variable or fixed rate of return and repayment of the amount borrowed at maturity. Some debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay current interest and are purchased at a discount from their face value.

 

Types of Debt Securities:

 

Corporate Bonds. Corporations issue bonds and notes to raise money for working capital or for capital expenditures such as plant construction, equipment purchases and expansion. In return for the money loaned to the corporation by investors, the corporation promises to pay investors interest, and repay the principal amount of the bond or note.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities. Mortgage-backed securities are interests in pools of mortgage loans that various governmental, government-related and private organizations assemble as securities for sale to investors. Unlike most debt securities, which pay interest periodically and repay principal at maturity or on specified call dates, mortgage-backed securities make monthly payments that consist of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Since homeowners usually have the option of paying either part or all of the loan balance before maturity, the effective maturity of a mortgage-backed security is often shorter than is stated.

 

Governmental entities, private insurers and mortgage poolers may insure or guarantee the timely payment of interest and principal of these pools through various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The Adviser will consider such insurance and guarantees and the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof in determining whether a mortgage-related security meets its investment quality standards. It is possible that the private insurers or guarantors will not meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements.

Although the market for such securities is becoming increasingly liquid, securities issued by certain private organizations may not be readily marketable.

 

Commercial Banks, Savings and Loan Institutions, Private Mortgage Insurance Companies, Mortgage Bankers and other Secondary Market Issuers. Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional mortgage loans. In addition to guaranteeing the mortgage-related security, such issuers may service and/or have originated the underlying mortgage loans. Pools created by these issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than pools created by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac because they are not guaranteed by a government agency.

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Risks of Mortgage-Backed Securities. Yield characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from those of traditional debt securities in a variety of ways. The most significant differences of mortgage-backed securities are: 1) payments of interest and principal are more frequent (usually monthly); and 2) falling interest rates generally cause individual borrowers to pay off their mortgage earlier than expected, which results in prepayments of principal on the securities, thus forcing a Fund to reinvest the money at a lower interest rate. In addition to risks associated with changes in interest rates, a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors, such as the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, can cause investors to repay the loans underlying a mortgage-backed security sooner than expected. When prepayment occurs, a Fund may have to reinvest its principal at a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on existing mortgage-backed securities.

 

Other Asset-Backed Securities. These securities are interests in pools of a broad range of assets other than mortgages, such as automobile loans, computer leases and credit card receivables. Like mortgage-backed securities, these securities are pass-through. In general, the collateral supporting these securities is of shorter maturity than mortgage loans and is less likely to experience substantial prepayments with interest rate fluctuations, but may still be subject to prepayment risk.

 

Asset-backed securities present certain risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. Primarily, these securities may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets, which raises the possibility that recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on these securities. For example, credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which allow debtors to reduce their balances by offsetting certain amounts owed on the credit cards. Most issuers of asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables permit the servicers of such receivables to retain possession of the underlying obligations. If the servicer were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the related asset-backed securities. Due to the quantity of vehicles involved and requirements under state laws, asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables may not have a proper security interest in all of the obligations backing such receivables.

 

To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments, the entity administering the pool of assets may agree to ensure the receipt of payments on the underlying pool occurs in a timely fashion (“liquidity protection”). In addition, asset-backed securities may obtain insurance, such as guarantees, policies or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties, for some or all of the assets in the pool (“credit support”). Delinquency or loss more than that anticipated or failure of the credit support could adversely affect the return on an investment in such a security.

 

The Funds may also invest in residual interests in asset-backed securities, which consist of the excess cash flow remaining after making required payments on the securities and paying related administrative expenses. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a particular issue of asset-backed securities depends in part on the characteristics of the underlying assets, the coupon rates on the securities, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the actual prepayment experience on the underlying assets.

 

Repurchase Agreements. The Funds may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which a fund acquires a fixed income security (generally a security issued by the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a banker’s acceptance, or a certificate of deposit) from a commercial bank, broker, or dealer, and simultaneously agrees to resell such security to the seller at an agreed upon price and date (normally, the next business day). Because the security purchased constitutes collateral for the repurchase obligation, a repurchase agreement may be considered a loan that is collateralized by the security purchased. The acquisition of a repurchase agreement may be deemed to be an acquisition of the underlying securities as long as the obligation of the seller to repurchase the securities is collateralized fully. The Funds follow certain procedures designed to minimize the risks inherent in such agreements. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with creditworthy financial institutions whose condition will be continually monitored by the Adviser. The repurchase agreements entered into by the Funds may provide that the underlying collateral at all times shall have a value at least equal to 102% of the resale price stated in the agreement and consist only of securities permissible under Section 101(47)(A)(i) of the Bankruptcy Code (the Adviser monitors compliance with this requirement). Under all repurchase agreements entered into by the Funds, the custodian or its agent must take possession of the underlying collateral. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Funds will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of a Fund’s right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. A Fund may enter into “tri-party” repurchase agreements. In “tri-party” repurchase agreements, an unaffiliated third party custodian maintains accounts to hold collateral for the Fund and its counterparties and, therefore, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of those custodians. The investments of the Funds in repurchase agreements, at times, may be substantial when, in the view of the Adviser, liquidity or other considerations so warrant.

 

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Reverse Repurchase Agreements. The Funds may enter into reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are transactions in which a Fund sells portfolio securities to financial institutions, such as banks and broker-dealers, and agrees to repurchase them at a mutually agreed-upon date and price that is higher than the original sale price. Reverse repurchase agreements are similar to a fully collateralized borrowing by a Fund.

 

Reverse repurchase agreements involve risks. Reverse repurchase agreements are a form of leverage, and the use of reverse repurchase agreements by a Fund may increase the Fund’s volatility. Reverse repurchase agreements are also subject to the risk that the other party to the reverse repurchase agreement will be unable or unwilling to complete the transaction as scheduled, which may result in losses to a Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by a Fund may decline below the price at which it is obligated to repurchase the securities. In addition, when a Fund invests the proceeds it receives in a reverse repurchase transaction, there is a risk that those investments may decline in value. In this circumstance, the Fund could be required to sell other investments in order to meet its obligations to repurchase the securities.

 

Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (the "Derivatives Rule"), as defined below, permits a Fund to enter into reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions, notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the 1940 Act. The Derivatives Rule permits a Fund to elect whether to treat a reverse repurchase agreement as a borrowing, subject to the asset coverage requirements of Section 18 of the 1940 Act, or as a derivatives transactions under the Derivatives Rule.

 

The CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund may invest up to 10% of its net assets in reverse repurchase agreements.

 

Securities of Other Investment Companies. The Funds may invest in shares of other investment companies, to the extent permitted by applicable law, subject to certain restrictions. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Funds. A Fund's purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying the Fund’s expenses.

 

Generally, the federal securities laws limit the extent to which a Fund can invest in securities of other investment companies, subject to certain exceptions. For example, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act prohibits a fund from (i) acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any one investment company, (ii) investing more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, and (iii) investing more than 10% of its total assets in all investment companies combined, including its ETF investments.

 

A Fund may rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, which provides an exemption from Section 12(d)(1) that allows the Fund to invest all of its assets in other registered funds, including ETFs, if, among other conditions, the Fund, together with its affiliates, acquires no more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any acquired fund. A Fund may also rely on Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 12d1-4, which became effective on January 19, 2021, permits a Fund to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions specified in the Rule including, among other conditions, that the Fund and its advisory group will not control (individually or in the aggregate) an acquired fund (e.g., hold more than 25% of the outstanding voting securities of an acquired fund that is a registered open-end management investment company). In addition, the Fund may be able to rely on certain other rules under the 1940 Act to invest in shares of money market funds or other investment companies beyond the statutory limits noted above, but subject to certain conditions.

 

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For hedging or other purposes, the Funds may invest in investment companies that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific indexes or portions of specific indexes. Certain of these investment companies, known as ETFs, are traded on a securities exchange. (See “Exchange-Traded Funds” above). The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with changes in the underlying portfolio securities of the investment company and also due to supply and demand of the investment company’s shares on the exchange upon which the shares are traded. Index-based investments may not replicate or otherwise match the composition or performance of their specified index due to transaction costs, among other things.

 

The Funds may invest in investment companies that are not registered with the SEC or in privately placed securities of investment companies (which may or may not be registered), such as hedge funds and offshore funds. Unregistered funds are largely exempt from the regulatory requirements that apply to registered investment companies. As a result, unregistered funds may have a greater ability to make investments, or use investment techniques, that offer a higher potential investment return (for example, leveraging), but which may carry high risk. Unregistered funds, while not regulated by the SEC like registered funds, may be indirectly supervised by the financial institutions (e.g., commercial and investment banks) that may provide them with loans or other sources of capital. Investments in unregistered funds may be difficult to sell, which could cause the Funds to lose money when selling an interest in an unregistered fund. For example, many hedge funds require their investors to hold their investments for at least one year.

 

Derivatives

 

Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is based on an underlying asset (such as a stock or a bond), an underlying economic factor (such as an interest rate) or a market benchmark. Unless otherwise stated in the Prospectus, the Funds may use derivatives for a number of purposes including managing risk, gaining exposure to various markets in a cost-efficient manner, reducing transaction costs, remaining fully invested and speculating. The Funds may also invest in derivatives with the goal of protecting themselves from broad fluctuations in market prices, interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates (a practice known as “hedging”). When hedging is successful, a Fund will have offset any depreciation in the value of its portfolio securities by the appreciation in the value of the derivative position. Although techniques other than the sale and purchase of derivatives could be used to control the exposure of the Funds to market fluctuations, the use of derivatives may be a more effective means of hedging this exposure. In the future, to the extent such use is consistent with the Funds’ investment objectives and is legally permissible, the Funds may use instruments and techniques that are not presently contemplated, but that may be subsequently developed.

 

There can be no assurance that a derivative strategy, if employed, will be successful. Because many derivatives have a leverage or borrowing component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself.

 

Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act. The Derivatives Rule provides a comprehensive framework for the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. The Derivatives Rule permits a registered investment company, subject to various conditions described below, to enter into derivatives transactions and certain other transactions notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior securities” under Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other things, prohibits open-end funds, including the Funds, from issuing or selling any “senior security,” other than borrowing from a bank (subject to a requirement to maintain 300% “asset coverage”).

 

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Registered investment companies that don’t qualify as “limited derivatives users” as defined below, are required by the Derivatives Rule to, among other things, (i) adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program (“DRMP”) and new testing requirements; (ii) comply with a relative or absolute limit on fund leverage risk calculated based on value-at-risk (“VaR”); and (iii) comply with new requirements related to Board and SEC reporting. The DRMP is administered by a “derivatives risk manager,” who is appointed by the Board and periodically reviews the DRMP and reports to the Board.

 

The Derivatives Rule provides an exception from the DRMP, VaR limit and certain other requirements for a registered investment company that limits its “derivatives exposure” to no more than 10% of its net assets (as calculated in accordance with the Derivatives Rule) (a “limited derivatives user”), provided that the registered investment company establishes appropriate policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage derivatives risks, including the risk of exceeding the 10% “derivatives exposure” threshold.

 

The requirements of the Derivatives Rule may limit a Fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may also increase the cost of a Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments and/or the performance of the Fund. The rule also may not be effective to limit a Fund’s risk of loss. In particular, measurements of VaR rely on historical data and may not accurately measure the degree of risk reflected in a Fund’s derivatives or other investments. There may be additional regulation of the use of derivatives transactions by registered investment companies, which could significantly affect their use. The ultimate impact of the regulations remains unclear. Additional regulation of derivatives transactions may make them more costly, limit their availability or utility, otherwise adversely affect their performance or disrupt markets.

 

CFTC Regulations. Pursuant to rules adopted under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), a Fund must either operate within certain guidelines and restrictions with respect to the Fund’s use of futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps, or the Adviser will be subject to registration with the CFTC as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”).

 

Consistent with the CFTC’s regulations, the Adviser, on behalf of the Funds, has filed a notice of exclusion from the definition of the term CPO under the CEA pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 with respect to the Funds' operation. Therefore, the Funds are not subject to regulation as commodity pools under the CEA and the Adviser is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA with respect to the Funds. As a result, the Funds will be limited in their ability to use futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps. Complying with the limitations may restrict the Adviser’s ability to implement the Funds' investment strategies and may adversely affect the Funds' performance.

 

Types of Derivatives:

 

Futures. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties whereby one party agrees to sell and the other party agrees to buy a specified amount of a financial instrument at an agreed upon price and time. The financial instrument underlying the contract may be a stock, stock index, bond, bond index, interest rate, foreign exchange rate or other similar instrument. Agreeing to buy the underlying financial instrument is called buying a futures contract or taking a long position in the contract. Likewise, agreeing to sell the underlying financial instrument is called selling a futures contract or taking a short position in the contract.

 

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Futures contracts are traded in the United States on commodity exchanges or boards of trade (known as “contract markets”) approved for such trading and regulated by the CFTC. These contract markets standardize the terms, including the maturity date and underlying financial instrument, of all futures contracts.

 

Unlike other securities, the parties to a futures contract do not have to pay for or deliver the underlying financial instrument until some future date (the “delivery date”). Contract markets require both the purchaser and seller to deposit “initial margin” with a futures broker, known as a “futures commission merchant” or “custodian bank,” when they enter into the contract. Initial margin deposits are typically equal to a percentage of the contract’s value. Initial margin is similar to a performance bond or good faith deposit on a contract and is returned to the depositing party upon termination of the futures contract if all contractual obligations have been satisfied. After they open a futures contract, the parties to the transaction must compare the purchase price of the contract to its daily market value. If the value of the futures contract changes in such a way that a party’s position declines, that party must make additional “variation margin” payments so that the margin payment is adequate. On the other hand, the value of the contract may change in such a way that there is excess margin on deposit, possibly entitling the party that has a gain to receive all or a portion of this amount. This process is known as “marking to the market.” Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by a party but is instead a settlement between the party and the futures broker of the amount one party would owe the other if the futures contract terminated. In computing daily NAV, each party marks to market its open futures positions.

 

Although the terms of a futures contract call for the actual delivery of and payment for the underlying security, in many cases the parties may close the contract early by taking an opposite position in an identical contract. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is less than the original purchase price, the party closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is more than the original purchase price, the party closing out the contract will realize a gain. Conversely, if the purchase price upon closing out the contract is more than the original sale price, the party closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the purchase price upon closing out the contract is less than the original sale price, the party closing out the contract will realize a gain.

 

A Fund may incur commission expenses when it opens or closes a futures position.

 

Options. An option is a contract between two parties for the purchase and sale of a financial instrument for a specified price (known as the “strike price” or “exercise price”) at any time during the option period. Unlike a futures contract, an option grants a right (not an obligation) to buy or sell a financial instrument. Generally, a seller of an option can grant a buyer two kinds of rights: a “call” (the right to buy the security) or a “put” (the right to sell the security). Options have various types of underlying instruments, including specific securities, indices of securities prices, foreign currencies, interest rates and futures contracts. Options may be traded on an exchange (exchange-traded options) or may be customized agreements between the parties (over-the-counter or “OTC” options). Like futures, a financial intermediary, known as a clearing corporation, financially backs exchange-traded options. However, OTC options have no such intermediary and are subject to the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligations under the contract. The principal factors affecting the market value of an option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market value of the underlying instrument relative to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until the option expires.

 

Purchasing Put and Call Options

 

When a Fund purchases a put option, it buys the right to sell the instrument underlying the option at a fixed strike price. In return for this right, the Fund pays the current market price for the option (known as the “option premium”). A Fund may purchase put options to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of its securities (“protective puts”) or to benefit from a decline in the price of securities that it does not own. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs. However, if the price of the underlying instrument does not fall enough to offset the cost of purchasing the option, a put buyer would lose the premium and related transaction costs.

 

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Call options are similar to put options, except that a Fund obtains the right to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the option’s strike price. A Fund would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase in the market value of securities it owns or wants to buy. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying instrument exceeded the exercise price plus the premium paid and related transaction costs. Otherwise, the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.

 

The purchaser of an option may terminate its position by:

 

Allowing it to expire and losing its entire premium;

 

Exercising the option and either selling (in the case of a put option) or buying (in the case of a call option) the underlying instrument at the strike price; or

 

Closing it out in the secondary market at its current price.

 

Selling (Writing) Put and Call Options

 

When a Fund writes a call option it assumes an obligation to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a fixed strike price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. Similarly, when a Fund writes a put option it assumes an obligation to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a fixed strike price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. The Fund may terminate its position in an exchange-traded put option before exercise by buying an option identical to the one it has written. Similarly, the Fund may cancel an OTC option by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparty to the option.

 

A Fund could try to hedge against an increase in the value of securities it would like to acquire by writing a put option on those securities. If security prices rise, the Fund would expect the put option to expire and the premium it received to offset the increase in the security’s value. If security prices remain the same over time, the Fund would hope to profit by closing out the put option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the Fund may lose an amount of money equal to the difference between the value of the security and the premium it received. Writing covered put options may deprive a Fund of the opportunity to profit from a decrease in the market price of the securities it would like to acquire.

 

The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, except that call writers expect to profit if prices remain the same or fall. A Fund could try to hedge against a decline in the value of securities it already owns by writing a call option. If the price of that security falls as expected, the Fund would expect the option to expire and the premium it received to offset the decline of the security’s value. However, the Fund must be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, which may deprive it of the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the securities it holds.

 

The Funds are permitted to write only “covered” options. At the time of selling a call option, a Fund may cover the option by owning, among other things:

 

The underlying security (or securities convertible into the underlying security without additional consideration), index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract;

 

A call option on the same security or index with the same or lesser exercise price;

 

Cash or liquid securities equal to at least the market value of the optioned securities, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract; or

 

In the case of an index, the portfolio of securities that corresponds to the index.

 

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At the time of selling a put option, a Fund may cover the option by, among other things:

 

Entering into a short position in the underlying security;

 

Purchasing a put option on the same security, index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract with the same or greater exercise price;

 

Maintaining the entire exercise price in liquid securities.

 

Options on Securities Indices

 

Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

Options on Credit Default Swaps

 

An option on a credit default swap (“CDS”) gives the holder the right to enter into a CDS at a specified future date and under specified terms in exchange for a purchase price or premium. The writer of the option bears the risk of any unfavorable move in the value of the CDS relative to the market value on the exercise date, while the purchaser may allow the option to expire unexercised.

 

Options on Futures

 

An option on a futures contract provides the holder with the right to buy a futures contract (in the case of a call option) or sell a futures contract (in the case of a put option) at a fixed time and price. Upon exercise of the option by the holder, the contract market clearing house establishes a corresponding short position for the writer of the option (in the case of a call option) or a corresponding long position (in the case of a put option). If the option is exercised, the parties will be subject to the futures contracts. In addition, the writer of an option on a futures contract is subject to initial and variation margin requirements on the option position. Options on futures contracts are traded on the same contract market as the underlying futures contract.

 

The buyer or seller of an option on a futures contract may terminate the option early by purchasing or selling an option of the same series (i.e., the same exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously purchased or sold. The difference between the premiums paid and received represents the trader’s profit or loss on the transaction.

 

A Fund may purchase put and call options on futures contracts instead of selling or buying futures contracts. The Fund may buy a put option on a futures contract for the same reasons it would sell a futures contract. It also may purchase such a put option in order to hedge a long position in the underlying futures contract. A Fund may buy a call option on a futures contract for the same purpose as the actual purchase of a futures contract, such as in anticipation of favorable market conditions.

 

A Fund may write a call option on a futures contract to hedge against a decline in the prices of the instrument underlying the futures contracts. If the price of the futures contract at expiration were below the exercise price, the Fund would retain the option premium, which would offset, in part, any decline in the value of its portfolio securities.

 

The writing of a put option on a futures contract is similar to the purchase of the futures contracts, except that, if the market price declines, a Fund would pay more than the market price for the underlying instrument. The premium received on the sale of the put option, less any transaction costs, would reduce the net cost to the Fund.

 

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Options on Foreign Currencies

 

A put option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell a foreign currency at the exercise price until the option expires. A call option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to purchase the currency at the exercise price until the option expires. The Funds may purchase or write put and call options on foreign currencies for the purpose of hedging against changes in future currency exchange rates.

 

The Funds may use foreign currency options given the same circumstances under which they could use forward foreign currency exchange contracts. For example, a decline in the U.S. dollar value of a foreign currency in which a Fund’s securities are denominated would reduce the U.S. dollar value of the securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remained constant. In order to hedge against such a risk, the Fund may purchase a put option on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency then declined, the Fund could sell the currency for a fixed amount in U.S. dollars and thereby offset, at least partially, the negative effect on its securities that otherwise would have resulted. Conversely, if a Fund anticipates a rise in the U.S. dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated, the Fund may purchase call options on the currency in order to offset, at least partially, the effects of negative movements in exchange rates. If currency exchange rates do not move in the direction or to the extent anticipated, the Funds could sustain losses on transactions in foreign currency options.

 

Combined Positions

 

The Funds may purchase and write options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward contracts or swap agreements, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall position. For example, a Fund could construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract by purchasing a put option and writing a call option on the same underlying instrument. Alternatively, a Fund could write a call option at one strike price and buy a call option at a lower price to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.

 

Straddles and Spreads. A Fund, for hedging purposes, may enter into straddles and spreads. In “spread” transactions, the Fund buys and writes a put or buys and writes a call on the same underlying instrument with the options having different exercise prices, expiration dates, or both. In “straddles,” the Fund purchases a put option and a call option or writes a put option and a call option on the same instrument with the same expiration date and typically the same exercise price. When a Fund engages in spread and straddle transactions, it seeks to profit from differences in the option premiums paid and received and in the market prices of the related options positions when they are closed out or sold. Because these transactions require a Fund to buy and/or write more than one option simultaneously, the Fund’s ability to enter into such transactions and to liquidate its positions when necessary or deemed advisable may be more limited than if the Fund were to buy or sell a single option. Similarly, costs incurred by a Fund in connection with these transactions will in many cases be greater than if the Fund were to buy or sell a single option.

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts. A forward foreign currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific amount of currency at a future date or date range at a specific price. In the case of a cancelable forward contract, the holder has the unilateral right to cancel the contract at maturity by paying a specified fee. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts differ from foreign currency futures contracts in certain respects. Unlike futures contracts, forward contracts:

 

Do not have standard maturity dates or amounts (i.e., the parties to the contract may fix the maturity date and the amount);

 

Are typically traded directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers in the inter-bank markets, as opposed to on exchanges regulated by the CFTC (note, however, that under definitions adopted by the CFTC and SEC, many non-deliverable foreign currency forwards will be considered swaps for certain purposes, including the determination of whether such instruments must be traded on exchanges and centrally cleared);

 

Do not require an initial margin deposit; and

 

May be closed by entering into a closing transaction with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract, as opposed to with a commodities exchange.

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Foreign Currency Hedging Strategies

 

A “settlement hedge” or “transaction hedge” is designed to protect a Fund against an adverse change in foreign currency values between the date a security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received. Entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in an underlying security transaction for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars “locks in” the U.S. dollar price of the security. A Fund may also use forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency when it anticipates purchasing or selling securities denominated in foreign currency, even if it has not yet selected the specific investments.

 

A Fund may use forward contracts to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. Such a hedge, sometimes referred to as a “position hedge,” would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations, but would not offset changes in security values caused by other factors. The Fund could also hedge the position by selling another currency expected to perform similarly to the currency in which the Fund’s investment is denominated. This type of hedge, sometimes referred to as a “proxy hedge,” could offer advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but generally would not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a direct hedge into U.S. dollars. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.

 

Transaction and position hedging do not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities that a Fund owns or intends to purchase or sell. They simply establish a rate of exchange that one can achieve at some future point in time. Additionally, these techniques tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency and to limit any potential gain that might result from the increase in value of such currency.

 

A Fund may enter into forward contracts to shift its investment exposure from one currency into another. Such transactions may call for the delivery of one foreign currency in exchange for another foreign currency, including currencies in which its securities are not then denominated. This may include shifting exposure from U.S. dollars to a foreign currency, or from one foreign currency to another foreign currency. This type of strategy, sometimes known as a “cross-hedge,” will tend to reduce or eliminate exposure to the currency that is sold, and increase exposure to the currency that is purchased. Cross-hedges may protect against losses resulting from a decline in the hedged currency but will cause the Fund to assume the risk of fluctuations in the value of the currency it purchases. Cross-hedging transactions also involve the risk of imperfect correlation between changes in the values of the currencies involved.

 

It is difficult to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration or maturity of a forward or futures contract. Accordingly, a Fund may have to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot (cash) market if the market value of a security it is hedging is less than the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver. Conversely, the Fund may have to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency it received upon the sale of a security if the market value of such security exceeds the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver.

 

Equity-Linked Securities. The Funds may invest in privately issued securities whose investment results are designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified stock index or “basket” of securities, or sometimes a single stock (referred to as “equity-linked securities”). These securities are used for many of the same purposes as derivative instruments and share many of the same risks. Equity-linked securities may be considered illiquid and thus subject to the Funds’ restrictions on investments in illiquid investments.

 

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Swap Agreements. A swap agreement is a financial instrument that typically involves the exchange of cash flows between two parties on specified dates (settlement dates), where the cash flows are based on agreed-upon prices, rates, indices, etc. The nominal amount on which the cash flows are calculated is called the notional amount. Swap agreements are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, such as interest rates, foreign currency rates, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, security prices or inflation rates.

 

Swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of a Fund and its share price. The performance of swap agreements may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterparty’s creditworthiness declined, the value of a swap agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses.

 

Generally, swap agreements have a fixed maturity date that will be agreed upon by the parties. The agreement can be terminated before the maturity date under certain circumstances, such as default by one of the parties or insolvency, among others, and can be transferred by a party only with the prior written consent of the other party. A Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or by other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. If the counterparty is unable to meet its obligations under the contract, declares bankruptcy, defaults or becomes insolvent, a Fund may not be able to recover the money it expected to receive under the swap agreement. The Funds will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Adviser believes that the counterparty to the transaction is creditworthy.

 

A swap agreement can be a form of leverage, which can magnify the Funds’ gains or losses.

 

Equity Swaps

 

In a typical equity swap, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, stock index or basket of stocks in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Equity index swaps involve not only the risk associated with investment in the securities represented in the index, but also the risk that the performance of such securities, including dividends, will not exceed the return on the interest rate that a Fund will be committed to pay.

 

Total Return Swaps

 

Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from a reference instrument—which may be a single asset, a pool of assets or an index of assets—during a specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from another underlying reference instrument. The total return includes appreciation or depreciation on the underlying asset, plus any interest or dividend payments. Payments under the swap are based upon an agreed upon principal amount but, since the principal amount is not exchanged, it represents neither an asset nor a liability to either counterparty, and is referred to as notional. Total return swaps are marked to market daily using different sources, including quotations from counterparties, pricing services, brokers or market makers. The unrealized appreciation or depreciation related to the change in the valuation of the notional amount of the swap is combined with the amount due to a Fund at termination or settlement. The primary risks associated with total return swaps are credit risks (if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations) and market risk (if there is no liquid market for the swap or unfavorable changes occur to the underlying reference instrument).

 

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Interest Rate Swaps

 

Interest rate swaps are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. Some of the different types of interest rate swaps are “fixed-for-floating rate swaps,” “termed basis swaps” and “index amortizing swaps.” Fixed-for-floating rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed interest rate cash flows for floating rate cash flows. Termed basis swaps entail cash flows to both parties based on floating interest rates, where the interest rate indices are different. Index amortizing swaps are typically fixed-for-floating rate swaps where the notional amount changes if certain conditions are met.

 

As with a traditional investment in a debt security, a Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely. For example, if a Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest, the Fund may have to pay more money than it receives. Similarly, if a Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a fixed rate of interest for a floating rate of interest, the Fund may receive less money than it has agreed to pay.

 

Currency Swaps

 

A currency swap is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make interest rate payments in one currency and the other promises to make interest rate payments in another currency. A Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has one currency and desires a different currency. Typically, the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the agreement and returned at the end of the agreement. Changes in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above, may negatively affect currency swaps.

 

Inflation Swaps

 

Inflation swaps are fixed-maturity, over-the-counter derivatives where one party pays a fixed rate in exchange for payments tied to an inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index. The fixed rate, which is set by the parties at the initiation of the swap, is often referred to as the “breakeven inflation” rate and generally represents the current difference between treasury yields and Treasury Inflation Protected Securities yields of similar maturities at the initiation of the swap agreement. Inflation swaps are typically designated as “zero coupon,” where all cash flows are exchanged at maturity. The value of an inflation swap is expected to fluctuate in response to changes in the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. An inflation swap can lose value if the realized rate of inflation over the life of the swap is less than the fixed market implied inflation rate (the breakeven inflation rate) the investor agreed to pay at the initiation of the swap.

 

Credit Default Swaps

 

A credit default swap is an agreement between a “buyer” and a “seller” for credit protection. The credit default swap agreement may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not then held by a Fund. The protection buyer is generally obligated to pay the protection seller an upfront payment and/or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the agreement until a credit event on a reference obligation has occurred. If no default occurs, the seller would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the full notional amount (the “par value”) of the swap.

 

Caps, Collars and Floors

 

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

 

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Risks of Derivatives:

 

While transactions in derivatives may reduce certain risks, these transactions themselves entail certain other risks. For example, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance of the Funds than if they had not entered into any derivatives transactions. Derivatives may magnify the Funds’ gains or losses, causing them to make or lose substantially more than they invested.

 

When used for hedging purposes, increases in the value of the securities a Fund holds or intends to acquire should offset any losses incurred with a derivative. Purchasing derivatives for purposes other than hedging could expose the Fund to greater risks.

 

Use of derivatives involves transaction costs, which may be significant, and may also increase the amount of taxable income to shareholders.

 

Correlation of Prices. The Funds’ ability to hedge their securities through derivatives depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index or instrument correlate with price movements in the relevant securities. In the case of poor correlation, the price of the securities a Fund is hedging may not move in the same amount, or even in the same direction as the hedging instrument. The Adviser will try to minimize this risk by investing in only those contracts whose behavior it expects to correlate with the behavior of the portfolio securities it is trying to hedge. However, if the Adviser’s prediction of interest and currency rates, market value, volatility or other economic factors is incorrect, a Fund may lose money, or may not make as much money as it expected.

 

Derivative prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the characteristics of the underlying instruments are very similar to the derivative. Listed below are some of the factors that may cause such a divergence:

 

Current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract;

 

A difference between the derivatives and securities markets, including different levels of demand, how the instruments are traded, the imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or discontinued trading of an instrument; and

 

Differences between the derivatives, such as different margin requirements, different liquidity of such markets and the participation of speculators in such markets.

 

Derivatives based upon a narrower index of securities, such as those of a particular industry group, may present greater risk than derivatives based on a broad market index. Since narrower indices are made up of a smaller number of securities, they are more susceptible to rapid and extreme price fluctuations because of changes in the value of those securities.

While currency futures and options values are expected to correlate with exchange rates, they may not reflect other factors that affect the value of the investments of the Funds. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a yen-denominated security from a decline in the yen, but will not protect the Funds against a price decline resulting from deterioration in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Because the value of the Funds’ foreign-denominated investments changes in response to many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to match the amount of currency options and futures to the value of the Funds’ investments precisely over time.

 

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Lack of Liquidity. Before a futures contract or option is exercised or expires, a Fund can terminate it only by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. Moreover, a Fund may close out a futures contract only on the exchange the contract was initially traded. Although the Funds intend to purchase options and futures only where there appears to be an active market, there is no guarantee that such a liquid market will exist. If there is no secondary market for the contract, or the market is illiquid, a Fund may not be able to close out its position. In an illiquid market, a Fund may:

 

Have to sell securities to meet its daily margin requirements at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so;

 

Have to purchase or sell the instrument underlying the contract;

 

Not be able to hedge its investments; and/or

 

Not be able to realize profits or limit its losses.

 

Derivatives may become illiquid (i.e., difficult to sell at a desired time and price) under a variety of market conditions. For example:

 

An exchange may suspend or limit trading in a particular derivative instrument, an entire category of derivatives or all derivatives, which sometimes occurs because of increased market volatility;

 

Unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations of an exchange;

 

The facilities of the exchange may not be adequate to handle current trading volume;

 

Equipment failures, government intervention, insolvency of a brokerage firm or clearing house or other occurrences may disrupt normal trading activity; or

 

Investors may lose interest in a particular derivative or category of derivatives.

 

Management Risk. Successful use of derivatives by the Funds is subject to the ability of the Adviser to forecast stock market and interest rate trends. If the Adviser incorrectly predicts stock market and interest rate trends, the Funds may lose money by investing in derivatives. For example, if a Fund were to write a call option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would fall, but the price were to rise instead, the Fund could be required to sell the security upon exercise at a price below the current market price. Similarly, if a Fund were to write a put option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would rise, but the price were to fall instead, the Fund could be required to purchase the security upon exercise at a price higher than the current market price.

 

Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if a Fund has valued its securities too high, shareholders may end up paying too much for Fund shares when they buy into the Fund. If the Fund underestimates its price, shareholders may not receive the full market value for their Fund shares when they sell.

 

Margin. Because of the low margin deposits required upon the opening of a derivative position, such transactions involve an extremely high degree of leverage. Consequently, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to a Fund and it may lose more than it originally invested in the derivative.

 

If the price of a futures contract changes adversely, a Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so to meet its minimum daily margin requirement. A Fund may lose its margin deposits if a broker-dealer with whom it has an open futures contract or related option becomes insolvent or declares bankruptcy.

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Volatility and Leverage. The Funds’ use of derivatives may have a leveraging effect. Leverage generally magnifies the effect of any increase or decrease in value of an underlying asset and results in increased volatility, which means the Funds will have the potential for greater gains, as well as the potential for greater losses, than if the Funds do not use derivative instruments that have a leveraging effect. The prices of derivatives are volatile (i.e., they may change rapidly, substantially and unpredictably) and are influenced by a variety of factors, including:

 

Actual and anticipated changes in interest rates;

 

Fiscal and monetary policies; and

 

National and international political events.

 

Most exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a derivative can change during a single trading day. Daily trading limits establish the maximum amount that the price of a derivative may vary from the settlement price of that derivative at the end of trading on the previous day. Once the price of a derivative reaches that value, the Funds may not trade that derivative at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a given day and does not limit potential gains or losses. Derivative prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days, preventing prompt liquidation of the derivative.

 

Government Regulation. The regulation of derivatives markets in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. For example, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law in 2010, granted significant new authority to the SEC and the CFTC to impose comprehensive regulations on the over-the-counter and cleared derivatives markets. These regulations include, but are not limited to, mandatory clearing of certain derivatives and requirements relating to disclosure, margin and trade reporting. The law and regulations may negatively impact the Funds by increasing transaction and/or regulatory compliance costs, limiting the availability of certain derivatives or otherwise adversely affecting the value or performance of the derivatives the Funds trade.

 

In addition, the SEC adopted the Derivatives Rule on October 28, 2020. Since its compliance date of August 19, 2022, the Derivatives Rule has replaced prior SEC and staff guidance with an updated, comprehensive framework for registered funds’ use of derivatives. See “Derivatives – Rule 18f-4 under the Derivatives Rule” above for additional information on the requirements imposed on registered funds by the Derivatives Rule. Complying with the Derivatives Rule may increase the cost of the Funds' investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors. Other potentially adverse regulatory obligations can develop suddenly and without notice.

 

Illiquid Investments. Illiquid investments are investments that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Because of their illiquid nature, illiquid investments must be priced at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight. Despite such good faith efforts to determine fair value prices, a Fund’s illiquid investments are subject to the risk that the investment's fair value price may differ from the actual price which the Fund may ultimately realize upon its sale or disposition. Difficulty in selling illiquid investments may result in a loss or may be costly to a Fund. Under the oversight of the Board, the Adviser determines the liquidity of a Fund’s investments. A Fund may not acquire an illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets.

 

Securities Lending. Each Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial organizations that meet capital and other credit requirements or other criteria established by the Board. These loans, if and when made, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the total asset value of a Fund (including the loan collateral). A Fund will not lend portfolio securities to the Adviser or its affiliates unless permissible under the 1940 Act and the rules and promulgations thereunder. Loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized by cash, letters of credit or U.S. government securities, and the collateral will be maintained in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities by marking to market daily. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the account of a Fund.

 

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A Fund may pay a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral, or other fee, to an unaffiliated third party for acting as the Fund’s securities lending agent, but will bear all of any losses from the investment of collateral.

 

By lending its securities, a Fund may increase its income by receiving payments from the borrower that reflect the amount of any interest or any dividends payable on the loaned securities as well as by either investing cash collateral received from the borrower in short-term instruments or obtaining a fee from the borrower when U.S. government securities or letters of credit are used as collateral. Investing cash collateral subjects a Fund to market risk. A Fund remains obligated to return all collateral to the borrower under the terms of its securities lending arrangements, even if the value of investments made with the collateral decline. Accordingly, if the value of a security in which the cash collateral has been invested declines, the loss would be borne by the Fund, and the Fund may be required to liquidate other investments in order to return collateral to the borrower at the end of the loan. Each Fund will adhere to the following conditions whenever its portfolio securities are loaned: (i) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral or equivalent securities of the type discussed above from the borrower; (ii) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (iii) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan on demand; (iv) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in market value; (v) the Fund may pay only reasonable fees in connection with the loan (which fees may include fees payable to the lending agent, the borrower, the Fund’s administrator and the custodian); and (vi) voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, provided, however, that if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs, the Fund must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities. In such instances, the Adviser will vote the securities in accordance with its proxy voting policies and procedures. The Board has adopted procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the foregoing criteria will be met. Loan agreements involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the borrower, including possible delays or restrictions upon a Fund’s ability to recover the loaned securities or dispose of the collateral for the loan, which could give rise to loss because of adverse market action, expenses and/or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying securities.

 

Restricted Securities. The Funds may purchase restricted securities. Restricted securities are securities that may not be sold freely to the public absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) or an exemption from registration. Institutional markets for restricted securities have developed as a result of the promulgation of Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, which provides a “safe harbor” from 1933 Act registration requirements for qualifying sales to institutional investors. When Rule 144A restricted securities present an attractive investment opportunity and meet other selection criteria, a Fund may make such investments whether or not such securities are “illiquid” depending on the market that exists for the particular security. The Board has delegated the responsibility for determining the liquidity of Rule 144A restricted securities that the Funds may invest in to the Adviser.

 

Special Purpose Acquisition Companies. A Fund may invest in special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) to the extent that the Adviser believes that such investment will help the Fund to meet its investment objective. SPACs are collective investment structures that pool funds in order to seek potential acquisition opportunities. Unless and until an acquisition is completed, a SPAC generally invests its assets (less an amount to cover expenses) in U.S. Government securities, money market fund securities and cash. To the extent the SPAC is invested in cash or similar securities, this may impact a Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective. Because SPACs and similar entities may be “blank check companies” with no operating history or ongoing business other than to seek a potential acquisition, the value of their securities is particularly dependent on the ability of the entity’s management to identify and complete a profitable acquisition. Certain SPACs may seek acquisitions only in limited industries or regions, which may increase the volatility of their prices. In addition, these securities, which are typically traded in the over-the-counter market, may be considered illiquid and/or be subject to restrictions on resale.

 

Short Sales Against the Box. A Fund may make short sales of common stocks if, at all times when a short position is open, the Fund owns the stock or owns preferred stocks or debt securities convertible or exchangeable, without payment of further consideration, into the shares of common stock sold short. Short sales of this kind are referred to as short sales “against the box.” The broker/dealer that executes a short sale generally invests cash proceeds of the sale until they are paid to a Fund. Arrangements may be made with the broker/dealer to obtain a portion of the interest earned by the broker on the investment of short sale proceeds. A short sale against the box is a taxable transaction to a Fund with respect to the securities that are sold short. A Fund will incur transaction costs in connection with short sales against the box.

 

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When-Issued, Delayed-Delivery and Forward-Delivery Transactions. A when-issued security is one whose terms are available and for which a market exists, but which has not been issued. In a forward-delivery transaction, a Fund contracts to purchase securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary settlement time. “Delayed-delivery” refers to securities transactions on the secondary market where settlement occurs in the future. In each of these transactions, the parties fix the payment obligation and the interest rate that they will receive on the securities at the time the parties enter the commitment; however, they do not pay money or deliver securities until a later date. Typically, no income accrues on securities a Fund has committed to purchase before the securities are delivered. A Fund will only enter into these types of transactions with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but may sell them before the settlement date.

 

A Fund may use when-issued, delayed-delivery and forward-delivery transactions to secure what it considers an advantageous price and yield at the time of purchase. When a Fund engages in when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward-delivery transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the sale. If the other party fails to complete the sale, the Fund may miss the opportunity to obtain the security at a favorable price or yield.

 

When purchasing a security on a when-issued, delayed-delivery, or forward-delivery basis, a Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield changes. At the time of settlement, the market value of the security may be more or less than the purchase price. The yield available in the market when the delivery takes place also may be higher than those obtained in the transaction itself. Because a Fund does not pay for the security until the delivery date, these risks are in addition to the risks associated with its other investments.

 

The Derivatives Rule permits a Fund to enter into when-issued or delayed delivery basis securities notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the 1940 Act, provided that a Fund intends to physically settle the transaction and the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date. If a when-issued or delayed delivery basis security entered into by a Fund does not satisfy those requirements, the Fund would need to comply with the Derivatives Rule with respect to its when issued or delayed delivery transactions, which are considered derivatives transactions under the Derivatives Rule. See "Derivatives – Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act" above.

 

Special Risks of Cyber Attacks. As with any entity that conducts business through electronic means in the modern marketplace, the Funds, and their service providers, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber attacks. Cyber attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized monitoring, release, misuse, loss, destruction or corruption of confidential information, unauthorized access to relevant systems, compromises to networks or devices that the Funds and their service providers use to service the Funds’ operations, ransomware, operational disruption or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Funds and their service providers, or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber attacks affecting the Funds or the Adviser, the Funds’ distributor, custodian, or any other of the Funds’ intermediaries or service providers may adversely impact the Funds and their shareholders, potentially resulting in, among other things, financial losses or the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Funds’ ability to calculate their NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Funds to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Funds may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes designed to mitigate or prevent the risk of cyber attacks. Such costs may be ongoing because threats of cyber attacks are constantly evolving as cyber attackers become more sophisticated and their techniques become more complex. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Funds may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Funds’ investments in such companies to lose value. There can be no assurance that the Funds, the Funds’ service providers, or the issuers of the securities in which the Funds invest will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches in the future.

 

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LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Funds may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from, or continue to be tied to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. Such instruments may include bank loans, derivatives, floating rate securities, and other assets or liabilities. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, has ceased publishing all LIBOR settings on a representative basis. In April 2023, however, the FCA announced that some USD LIBOR settings will continue to be published under a synthetic methodology until September 30, 2024 for certain legacy contracts.

 

The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market, has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. Under U.S. regulations that implement a statutory fallback mechanism to replace LIBOR, benchmark rates based on SOFR have replaced LIBOR in different categories of financial contracts.

 

Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. While some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities, or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The Funds may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.

 

General Market Risk. An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus designated as COVID-19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in international, national and local border closings and other significant travel restrictions and disruptions, significant disruptions to business operations, supply chains and customer activity, event cancellations and restrictions, service cancellations, reductions and other changes, significant challenges in healthcare service preparation and delivery, and quarantines, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. These impacts also have caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, which have caused losses for investors. Health crises caused by viral or bacterial outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social, economic, market and financial risks. The impact of this outbreak, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which a Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

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Investments in China. China is an emerging market, and as a result, investments in securities of companies organized and listed in China may be subject to liquidity constraints and significantly higher volatility, from time to time, than investments in securities of more developed markets. China may be subject to considerable government intervention and varying degrees of economic, political and social instability. These factors may result in, among other things, a greater risk of stock market, interest rate, and currency fluctuations, as well as inflation. Accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards in China are different from U.S. standards and, therefore, disclosure of certain material information may not be made, may be less available, or may be less reliable. It may also be difficult or impossible for the Funds to obtain or enforce a judgment in a Chinese court. In addition, periodically there may be restrictions on investments in Chinese companies. For example, on November 12, 2020, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order (the “November 2020 Executive Order”) prohibiting U.S. persons from purchasing or investing in publicly-traded securities of companies identified by the U.S. Government as “Communist Chinese military companies” or in instruments that are derivative of, or are designed to provide investment exposure to, those companies. In addition, on August 9, 2023, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order (the “August 2023 Executive Order” and, together with the November 2020 Executive Order, the “Executive Orders”) directing the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) to promulgate regulations requiring notification of, or restricting, investments in China in certain categories of national security technologies, including semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information, and certain artificial intelligence technologies. Concurrent with the August 2023 Executive Order, the Treasury issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which contemplates the possibility that the regulations adopted would not apply to investments made by collectively offered funds such as the Funds. These regulations have not yet been proposed or adopted by the Treasury and their scope and impact therefore are unclear, but if they were adopted in a way that applies to a Fund, the regulations could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to make certain outbound investments.

 

The universe of securities affected by the Executive Orders can change from time to time. As a result of an increase in the number of investors looking to sell such securities, or because of an inability to participate in an investment that the Adviser otherwise believes is attractive, a Fund may incur losses. Certain securities that are or become designated as prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, potentially causing losses to a Fund. In addition, the market for securities of other Chinese-based issuers may also be negatively impacted, resulting in reduced liquidity and price declines.

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

Fundamental Policies

 

The following investment limitations are fundamental, which means that a Fund cannot change them without approval by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The phrase “majority of the outstanding shares” means the vote of (i) 67% or more of a Fund’s shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares, whichever is less.

 

Each Fund may not:

 

1.Purchase the securities of issuers conducting their principal business activity in the same industry if, immediately after the purchase and as a result thereof, the value of the Fund’s investments in that industry would equal or exceed 25% of the current value of the Fund’s total assets, provided that this restriction does not limit the Fund’s investments in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities, repurchase agreements involving such securities, securities of other investment companies, or municipal securities.

 

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2.With respect to 75% of its assets: (i) purchase the securities of any issuer (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer; or (ii) acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer.

 

3.Borrow money, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, including the rules, regulations and any orders obtained thereunder.

 

4.Issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, including the rules, regulations and any orders obtained thereunder.

 

5.Make loans to other parties if, as a result, the aggregate value of such loans would exceed one-third of the Fund’s total assets. For the purposes of this limitation, entering into repurchase agreements, lending securities and acquiring any debt securities are not deemed to be the making of loans.

 

6.Underwrite securities of other issuers, except to the extent that the purchase of permitted investments directly from the issuer thereof or from an underwriter for an issuer and the later disposition of such securities in accordance with the Fund’s investment program may be deemed to be an underwriting.

 

7.Purchase or sell real estate unless acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments (but this shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities or other instruments backed by real estate or securities of companies engaged in the real estate business).

 

8.Purchase or sell commodities, provided that (i) currency will not be deemed to be a commodity for purposes of this restriction, (ii) this restriction does not limit the purchase or sale of futures contracts, forward contracts or options, and (iii) this restriction does not limit the purchase or sale of securities or other instruments backed by commodities or the purchase or sale of commodities acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments.

 

Non-Fundamental Policies

 

In addition to the investment objective of each Fund, the following limitations are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.

 

1.Each Fund may lend securities from its portfolio to approved brokers, dealers and financial institutions, to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, including the rules, regulations and exemptions thereunder, which currently limit such activities to one-third of the value of the Fund’s total assets (including the value of the collateral received). Any such loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized based on values that are marked-to-market daily.

 

2.Each Fund may not make investments for the purpose of exercising control or management, provided that this restriction does not limit the Fund’s investments in securities of other investment companies or investments in entities created under the laws of foreign countries to facilitate investment in securities of that country.

 

3.Each Fund may not purchase securities on margin (except for short-term credits necessary for the clearance of transactions).

 

4.Each Fund may not sell securities short, unless it owns or has the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount to the securities sold short (short sales “against the box”), and provided that transactions in futures contracts and options are not deemed to constitute selling securities short.

 

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5.The CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of mid-capitalization companies. This non-fundamental policy may be changed by the Board upon at least 60 days’ written notice to Fund shareholders.

 

6.The CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in income producing securities. This non-fundamental policy may be changed by the Board upon at least 60 days’ written notice to Fund shareholders.

 

7.The CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities and other instruments that have economic characteristics similar to equity securities. This non-fundamental policy may be changed by the Board upon at least 60 days’ written notice to Fund shareholders.

 

Except with respect to Fund policies concerning borrowing, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of an investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from changes in values or assets will not constitute a violation of such restriction. Under normal circumstances, if such a change in values or assets causes a Fund to not adhere to a percentage restriction, the Fund will only make investments that will bring it toward meeting such restriction. With respect to the limitation on borrowing, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances causes a Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitation within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays).

The following descriptions of certain provisions of the 1940 Act may assist investors in understanding the above policies and restrictions:

 

Borrowing. The 1940 Act presently allows a fund to borrow from any bank in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) and to borrow for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of its total assets. Transactions that are fully collateralized in a manner that does not involve the prohibited issuance of a “senior security” within the meaning of Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act, shall not be regarded as borrowings for the purposes of a Fund’s investment restriction. Section 18(f) of the 1940 Act permits an investment company to borrow only from banks.

 

Concentration. The 1940 Act requires that every investment company have a fundamental policy regarding concentration. The SEC has defined concentration as investing 25% or more of an investment company’s total assets in any particular industry or group of industries, with certain exceptions such as with respect to investments in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies and instrumentalities, or tax-exempt obligations of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions. For purposes of the Funds’ concentration policy, each Fund may classify and re-classify companies in a particular industry and define and re-define industries in any reasonable manner, consistent with SEC and SEC staff guidance.

 

Diversification. Under the 1940 Act and the rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder, a “diversified company,” as to 75% of its total assets, may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government or its agencies, or instrumentalities or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer’s voting securities would be held by a fund.

 

Lending. Under the 1940 Act, an investment company may only make loans if expressly permitted by its investment policies.

 

Senior Securities. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although the 1940 Act does provide allowances for certain borrowings. In addition, Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act permits a fund to enter into derivatives transactions, notwithstanding the prohibitions and restrictions on the issuance of senior securities under the 1940 Act, provided that the fund complies with the conditions of Rule 18f-4.

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Underwriting. Under the 1940 Act, underwriting securities involves an investment company purchasing securities directly from an issuer for the purpose of selling (distributing) them or participating in any such activity either directly or indirectly. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified fund may not make any commitment as underwriter, if immediately thereafter the amount of its outstanding underwriting commitments, plus the value of its investments in securities of issuers (other than investment companies) of which it owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities, exceeds 25% of the value of its total assets.

 

Real Estate and Commodities. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company’s ability to invest in real estate or commodities, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments.

 

THE ADVISER

 

General. CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc., located at 181 West Madison Street, 36th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60602, has been providing investment advisory services since 1932, and is a professional investment management firm registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (“CIBC”), a Canadian multinational banking and financial services corporation. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $52.6 billion in assets under management.

 

Advisory Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Adviser have entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”). Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser serves as the investment adviser and makes investment decisions for each of the Funds and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the investment program of each of the Funds, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Trustees.

 

After the initial two-year term, the continuance of the Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually: (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of each Fund; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees or, with respect to any Fund, by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Fund, on not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser, or, by the Adviser, on not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ written notice to the Trust. As used in the Advisory Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested persons” and “assignment” have the same meaning as such terms in the 1940 Act.

 

Advisory Fees Paid to the Adviser. For its services to the CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at the following rates based on the average daily net assets of the Fund:

 

Fund Assets Fee
First $250 million 0.695%
Next $250 million 0.670%
Next $500 million 0.645%
Next $1.5 billion 0.620%
Next $2.5 billion 0.595%
Next $2.5 billion 0.570%
Next $2.5 billion 0.545%
Over $10 billion 0.520%

 

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For its services to the CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund, CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund, CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund, CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund and CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at the following rates based on the average daily net assets of each Fund:

CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund 0.75%
CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund 0.60%
CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund 0.82%
CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund 0.80%
CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund 0.82%

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce fees and/or reimburse expenses to the extent necessary to keep total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding 12b-1 fees, shareholder servicing fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding the amounts listed in the table below, as a percentage of average daily net assets of each Fund, until February 28, 2025:

 

CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund 0.80%
CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund 1.00%
CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund 0.85%
CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund 1.10%
CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund 1.10%
CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund 1.21%

 

In addition, the Adviser may receive from a Fund the difference between the total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee reductions or expense reimbursements made during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment if at any point total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee reduction and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025; or (ii) by the Board, for any reason at any time. The Board has no current intention to terminate the Agreement prior to February 28, 2025.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Funds paid the following investment advisory fees to the Adviser:

Fund Contractual Advisory Fees Fees Waived by the Adviser Total Fees Paid to the Adviser (After Waivers)1
2021 2022 2023 2021 2022 2023 2021 2022 2023
CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund $10,439,162 $10,411,836 $9,501,357 $0 $0 $0 $10,439,162 $10,411,836 $9,501,357
CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund $6,527,657 $5,772,937 $5,343,890 $0 $0 $0 $6,527,657 $5,772,937 $5,343,890
CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund $3,617,428 $3,916,711 $3,731,915 $0 $0 $0 $3,617,428 $3,916,711 $3,731,915
CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund $2,133,029 $2,073,246 $1,573,073 $0 $0 $0 $2,133,029 $2,073,246 $1,573,073
CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund $1,422,619 $2,056,564 $2,445,658 $0 $0 $0 $1,422,619 $2,056,564 $2,445,658
CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund $2,678,488 $3,167,193 $3,735,455 $0 $0 $0 $2,678,488 $3,167,193 $3,735,455

 

1During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021, the Adviser recovered previously waived and reimbursed fees of $97,884 for the CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund and $63,047 for the CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund.

 

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THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

This section includes information about the Funds’ portfolio managers, including information about other accounts they manage, the dollar range of Fund shares they own and how they are compensated.

 

Compensation. The Adviser seeks to maintain a compensation program that is competitively positioned to attract and retain high-caliber investment professionals. Portfolio managers receive a base salary, an incentive bonus opportunity and an equity compensation opportunity. Portfolio manager compensation is reviewed and may be modified each year as appropriate to reflect changes in the market, as well as to adjust the factors used to determine bonuses to promote competitive Fund performance. The Adviser evaluates competitive market compensation by periodically reviewing compensation survey results conducted by an independent third party of investment industry compensation. Each portfolio manager’s compensation consists of the following three elements:

 

Base Salary. Each portfolio manager is paid a base salary. In setting the base salary, the Adviser’s intention is to be competitive in light of the particular portfolio manager’s experience and responsibilities.

 

Annual Bonus. The portfolio managers are eligible, along with other employees of the Adviser, to participate in a year-end bonus pool. The Adviser reviews and approves the bonus pool metrics to be used each year. The Adviser considers investment performance and financial results in its review. Each portfolio manager is eligible to receive an annual bonus which is based on quantitative (i.e. investment performance) and non-quantitative factors (which may include, but are not limited to, individual performance, risk management and teamwork).

 

Each portfolio manager’s compensation is linked to the pre-tax investment performance of the Funds/accounts managed by the portfolio manager.

 

High investment performance (against applicable peer group and/or benchmarks) would deliver compensation generally associated with higher pay in the industry (determined by reference to the third party provided compensation survey information) and poor investment performance (versus applicable peer group) would result in low bonus compared to the applicable peer group. These decisions are reviewed and approved collectively by senior leadership which has responsibility for executing the compensation approach across the organization.

 

Equity-Based Compensation. A portion of the total year-end bonus award for Portfolio managers is granted in the form of deferred CIBC restricted stock units.

 

Portfolio managers also participate in benefit plans and programs available generally to all employees.

 

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Fund Shares Owned by the Portfolio Managers. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each portfolio manager’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Funds as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”).

 

Name Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned1
Patricia Bannan $500,001-$1,000,000 (CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund)
Brant Houston

$100,001-$500,000 (CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund)

$100,001-$500,000 (CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund)

James L. Farrell, CFA None
Gary Pzegeo None
Bryan G. Reilly None
Robert C. Bridges None
John P. Huber None
Gordon C. Scott, CFA $100,001-$500,000 (CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund)
Daniel Delany, CFA $100,001-$500,000 (CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund)
Matthew Scherer, CFA $10,001 - $50,000 (CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund)
Sean Usechek None

 

1Valuation date is October 31, 2023.

 

Other Accounts. In addition to the Funds, the portfolio managers may also be responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as indicated by the following table. None of these accounts are subject to a performance-based advisory fee. The information below is provided as of October 31, 2023, unless otherwise specified.

 

Name

Registered

Investment Companies

Other Pooled

Investment Vehicles

Other Accounts
Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in Millions)

Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in Millions)

Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in Millions)

Patricia Bannan 1

$1,415.73

5

$6,026.94

5326

$10,295.63

Brant Houston 2

$2,019.35

5

$6,026.94

5399

$10,427.91

James L. Farrell 1

$1,415.73

5

$6,026.94

5476

$10,456.24

Gary Pzegeo 1

$603.62

0

$—

73

$132.28

Bryan G. Reilly 1

$634.13

0

$—

1022

$1,561.62

Sean Usechek 1

$603.62

0

$—

73

$132.28

Robert C. Bridges 2

$465.04

0

$—

8398

$8,671.81

John P. Huber 2

$465.04

0

$—

8398

$8,671.81

Gordon C. Scott, CFA 1

$278.28

0

$—

4734

$3,881.18

Daniel Delany, CFA 1

$489.74

4

$2,300.47

2142

$1,339.56

Matthew Scherer, CFA 1

$489.74

4

$2,300.47

2236

$1,415.09

 

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Conflicts of Interest. Actual or apparent conflicts of interest may arise when a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities with respect to more than one Fund or other accounts. More specifically, portfolio managers who manage multiple Funds and/or other accounts may be presented with one or more of the following potential conflicts:

 

The management of multiple Funds and/or other accounts may result in a portfolio manager devoting unequal time and attention to the management of each Fund and/or other account. The Adviser seeks to manage such competing interests for the time and attention of portfolio managers by having portfolio managers focus on a particular investment discipline. Most other accounts managed by a portfolio manager are managed using the same investment models that are used in connection with the management of the Funds.

 

If a portfolio manager identifies a limited investment opportunity which may be suitable for more than one Fund or other account, a Fund may not be able to take full advantage of that opportunity due to an allocation of filled purchase or sale orders across the Funds and other account(s). To deal with these situations, the Adviser has adopted procedures for allocating portfolio transactions across multiple accounts.

 

The Adviser determines which broker to use to execute each order for securities transactions for the Funds, consistent with its duty to seek best execution of the transaction. However, for certain other accounts (such as mutual funds for which the Adviser or an affiliate acts as sub-adviser, other pooled investment vehicles that are not registered mutual funds, and other accounts managed for organizations and individuals), the Adviser may be limited by the client with respect to the selection of brokers or may be instructed to direct trades through a particular broker. In these cases, trades for a Fund in a particular security may be placed separately from, rather than aggregated with, such other accounts. Having separate transactions with respect to a security may temporarily affect the market price of the security or the execution of the transaction, or both, to the possible detriment of the Fund or other account(s) involved.

 

Finally, the appearance of a conflict of interest may arise where the Adviser has an incentive, such as a performance-based management fee, which relates to the management of one Fund or account but not all Funds and accounts for which a portfolio manager has day-to-day management responsibilities.

 

The Adviser has adopted certain compliance procedures which are designed to address these types of conflicts. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation in which a conflict arises.

 

THE ADMINISTRATOR

 

General. SEI Investments Global Funds Services (the “Administrator”), a Delaware statutory trust, has its principal business offices at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. SEI Investments Management Corporation (“SIMC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company (“SEI Investments”), is the owner of all beneficial interest in the Administrator. SEI Investments and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including the Administrator, are leading providers of fund evaluation services, trust accounting systems, and brokerage and information services to financial institutions, institutional investors, and money managers. The Administrator and its affiliates also serve as administrator or sub-administrator to other mutual funds.

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Administration Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Administrator have entered into an amended and restated administration agreement dated November 13, 2018, as amended (the “Administration Agreement”). Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides the Trust with administrative services, including regulatory reporting and all necessary office space, equipment, personnel and facilities.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Administration Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Administrator in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

Administration Fees Paid to the Administrator. For its services under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator is paid a fee, which varies based on the average daily net assets of the Funds, subject to certain minimums.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Funds paid the following amounts for these services:

 

Fund Administration Fees Paid
2021 2022 2023
CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund $756,576 $748,701 $692,101
CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund $408,443 $357,853 $337,274
CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund $282,805 $304,146 $294,484
CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund $121,906 $117,457 $90,806
CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund $83,277 $120,206 $144,760
CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund $152,789 $169,638 $215,433

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

The Trust and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments and an affiliate of the Administrator, are parties to a distribution agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 14, 2005 and as amended August 30, 2010 and November 13, 2018 (the “Distribution Agreement”). The principal business address of the Distributor is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act), and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or by the Distributor, upon not less than 60 days’ written notice to the other party.

 

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PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

Distribution Plan. The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan with respect to the Investor Class Shares (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which regulates circumstances under which an investment company may directly or indirectly bear expenses relating to the distribution of its shares. Continuance of the Plan must be approved annually by a majority of the Trustees and by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan (“Qualified Trustees”). The Plan requires that quarterly written reports of amounts spent under the Plan and the purposes of such expenditures be furnished to and reviewed by the Trustees. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount that may be spent thereunder without approval by a majority of the outstanding shares of the affected Fund(s). All material amendments of the Plan will require approval by a majority of the Trustees and of the Qualified Trustees.

 

The Plan provides a method of paying for distribution and shareholder services, which may help the Funds grow or maintain asset levels to provide operational efficiencies and economies of scale, provided by the Distributor or other financial intermediaries that enter into agreements with the Distributor. The Funds may make payments to financial intermediaries, such as banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, investment counselors, broker-dealers, mutual fund “supermarkets” and the Distributor’s affiliates and subsidiaries, as compensation for services, reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with distribution assistance or provision of shareholder services. The Distributor may, at its discretion, retain a portion of such payments to compensate itself for distribution services and distribution related expenses such as the costs of preparation, printing, mailing or otherwise disseminating sales literature, advertising, and prospectuses (other than those furnished to current shareholders of a Fund), promotional and incentive programs, and such other marketing expenses that the Distributor may incur.

 

Under the Plan, the Distributor or financial intermediaries may receive up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class Shares as compensation for distribution and shareholder services. The Plan is characterized as a compensation plan since the distribution fee will be paid to the Distributor without regard to the distribution or shareholder service expenses incurred by the Distributor or the amount of payments made to financial intermediaries. The Trust intends to operate the Plan in accordance with its terms and with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules concerning sales charges.

 

As of the date of this SAI, no payments have been made to the Distributor under the Plan.

 

Shareholder Servicing Plan. The Funds have adopted a shareholder servicing plan under which a shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.15% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class Shares of the CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund, CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund and CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund and 0.10% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class Shares of the CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund, CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund and CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund will be paid to financial intermediaries. Under the plan, financial intermediaries may perform, or may compensate other financial intermediaries for performing, certain shareholder and/or administrative services or similar non-distribution services, including: (i) maintaining shareholder accounts; (ii) arranging for bank wires; (iii) responding to shareholder inquiries relating to the services performed by the financial intermediaries; (iv) responding to inquiries from shareholders concerning their investment in the Funds; (v) assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; (vi) providing information periodically to shareholders showing their position in the Funds; (vii) forwarding shareholder communications from the Funds such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual reports, and dividend and capital gain distribution and tax notices to shareholders; (viii) processing purchase, exchange and redemption requests from shareholders and placing orders with the Funds or their service providers; (ix) providing sub-accounting services; (x) processing dividend and capital gain payments from the Funds on behalf of shareholders; (xi) preparing tax reports; and (xii) providing such other similar non-distribution services as the Funds may reasonably request to the extent that the financial intermediary is permitted to do so under applicable laws or regulations.

 

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Payments by the Adviser. The Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments from their own resources and not from Fund assets to affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Funds, their service providers or their respective affiliates, as incentives to help market and promote the Funds and/or in recognition of their distribution, marketing, administrative services, and/or processing support.

 

These additional payments may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Funds, the Distributor or shareholders of the Funds through the financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel and/or fund supermarkets. Payments may also be made through the financial intermediary’s retirement, qualified tuition, fee-based advisory, wrap fee bank trust, or insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. These payments may include, but are not limited to, placing the Funds in a financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel or on a preferred or recommended fund list; providing business or shareholder financial planning assistance; educating financial intermediary personnel about the Funds; providing access to sales and management representatives of the financial intermediary; promoting sales of Fund shares; providing marketing and educational support; maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder transaction processing services. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services.

 

The Adviser and/or its affiliates may also make payments from their own resources to financial intermediaries for costs associated with the purchase of products or services used in connection with sales and marketing, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs, client and investor entertainment and other sponsored events. The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.

 

Revenue sharing payments may be negotiated based on a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the amount of Fund assets attributable to investments in the Funds by financial intermediaries’ customers, a flat fee or other measures as determined from time to time by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. A significant purpose of these payments is to increase the sales of Fund shares, which in turn may benefit the Adviser through increased fees as Fund assets grow.

 

Investors should understand that some financial intermediaries may also charge their clients fees in connection with purchases of shares or the provision of shareholder services.

 

THE TRANSFER AGENT

 

SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 333 West 11th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105 (the “Transfer Agent”), serves as the Funds’ transfer agent.

 

THE CUSTODIAN

 

U.S. Bank National Association, 800 Nicollett Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-4302 (the “Custodian”), serves as the custodian of the Funds. The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Funds as required by the 1940 Act.

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Ernst & Young LLP, One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 700, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds. The financial statements and notes thereto incorporated by reference have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are incorporated by reference in reliance on the authority of their report as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

S-42

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 2222 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-3007, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

 

SECURITIES LENDING

 

The Funds did not engage in securities lending activities during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023.

 

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

 

Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series, including the Funds described in this SAI, are overseen by the Trustees. The Board has approved contracts, as described above, under which certain companies provide essential management services to the Trust.

 

Like most mutual funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of risk, is performed by third party service providers, such as the Adviser, Distributor and Administrator. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, have oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the funds. The funds and their service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust’s business (e.g., the Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of each Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the funds’ service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

 

The Trustees’ role in risk oversight begins before the inception of a fund, at which time certain of the fund’s service providers present the Board with information concerning the investment objectives, strategies and risks of the fund as well as proposed investment limitations for the fund. Additionally, the fund’s adviser provides the Board with an overview of, among other things, its investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the adviser and other service providers, such as the fund’s independent accountants, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the funds may be exposed.

 

The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the funds by the adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the advisory agreement with an adviser, the Board meets with the adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the adviser’s adherence to the funds’ investment restrictions and compliance with various fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the funds’ investments, including, for example, reports on the adviser’s use of derivatives in managing the funds, if any, as well as reports on the funds’ investments in other investment companies, if any.

 

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues and fund and adviser risk assessments. At least annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the adviser. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report; any material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures; and any material compliance matters since the date of the last report.

 

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The Board receives reports from the funds’ service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. The Adviser makes regular reports to the Board concerning investments for which market quotations are not readily available. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of the funds’ financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the funds and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the funds’ internal controls. Additionally, in connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees fund management’s implementation of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with the SEC are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust’s internal controls over financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Trust’s financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust’s financial statements.

 

From their review of these reports and discussions with the adviser, the Chief Compliance Officer, the independent registered public accounting firm and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee learn in detail about the material risks of the funds, thereby facilitating a dialogue about how management and service providers identify and mitigate those risks.

 

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the funds can be identified and/or quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the funds’ goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the funds’ investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the funds’ adviser and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the funds’ and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s ability to monitor and manage risk, as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.

 

Members of the Board. There are seven members of the Board, five of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“independent Trustees”). Robert Nesher, an interested person of the Trust, serves as Chairman of the Board. Joseph T. Grause, Jr., an independent Trustee, serves as the lead independent Trustee. The Trust has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Trust made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the independent Trustees constitute more than two-thirds of the Board, the fact that the chairperson of each Committee of the Board is an independent Trustee, the amount of assets under management in the Trust, and the number of funds (and classes of shares) overseen by the Board. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the independent Trustees from fund management.

 

The Board has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and the Governance Committee. The Audit Committee and the Governance Committee are chaired by an independent Trustee and composed of all of the independent Trustees. In addition, the Board has a lead independent Trustee.

 

In his role as lead independent Trustee, Mr. Grause, among other things: (i) presides over Board meetings in the absence of the Chairman of the Board; (ii) presides over executive sessions of the independent Trustees; (iii) along with the Chairman of the Board, oversees the development of agendas for Board meetings; (iv) facilitates communication between the independent Trustees and management, and among the independent Trustees; (v) serves as a key point person for dealings between the independent Trustees and management; and (vi) has such other responsibilities as the Board or independent Trustees determine from time to time.

 

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Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and principal occupations and other directorships held during at least the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee. There is no stated term of office for the Trustees. Nevertheless, an independent Trustee must retire from the Board as of the end of the calendar year in which such independent Trustee first attains the age of seventy-five years; provided, however, that, an independent Trustee may continue to serve for one or more additional one calendar year terms after attaining the age of seventy-five years (each calendar year a “Waiver Term”) if, and only if, prior to the beginning of such Waiver Term: (1) the Governance Committee (a) meets to review the performance of the independent Trustee; (b) finds that the continued service of such independent Trustee is in the best interests of the Trust; and (c) unanimously approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above; and (2) a majority of the Trustees approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each Trustee is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served

Principal Occupations

in the Past 5 Years

Other Directorships Held in the Past 5 Years
Interested Trustees

Robert Nesher

(Born: 1946)

 

Chairman of the Board of Trustees1

(since 1991)

SEI employee 1974 to present; currently performs various services on behalf of SEI Investments for which Mr. Nesher is compensated. President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. President and Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP. Vice Chairman of Winton Series Trust to 2017. Vice Chairman of Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund (closed-end investment company), The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Gallery Trust, Schroder Series Trust and Schroder Global Series Trust to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Catholic Responsible Investments Funds, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP, SEI Global Master Fund plc, SEI Global Assets Fund plc, SEI Global Investments Fund plc, SEI Investments—Global Funds Services, Limited, SEI Investments Global, Limited, SEI Investments (Europe) Ltd., SEI Investments—Unit Trust Management (UK) Limited, SEI Multi-Strategy Funds PLC and SEI Global Nominee Ltd.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

S-45

 

N. Jeffrey Klauder

(Born: 1952)

 

Trustee1

(since 2018)

Senior Advisor of SEI Investments since 2018. Executive Vice President and General Counsel of SEI Investments, 2004 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds. Director of SEI Private Trust Company, SEI Global Fund Services Ltd., SEI Investments Global Limited, SEI Global Master Fund, SEI Global Investments Fund, SEI Global Assets Fund and SEI Investments - Guernsey Limited.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of SEI Investments Management Corporation, SEI Trust Company, SEI Investments (South Africa), Limited and SEI Investments (Canada) Company to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

S-46

 

Independent Trustees

Kathleen Gaffney

(Born: 1961)

Trustee

(since 2022)

 

Retired since 2019. Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Eaton Vance Management from 2012 to 2019. Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

Joseph T. Grause, Jr.

(Born: 1952)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Lead Independent Trustee

(since 2018)

Self-Employed Consultant since 2012. Director of Endowments and Foundations, Morningstar Investment Management, Morningstar, Inc., 2010 to 2011. Director of International Consulting and Chief Executive Officer of Morningstar Associates Europe Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2007 to 2010. Country Manager – Morningstar UK Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2005 to 2007.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Director of The Korea Fund, Inc. to 2019. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

S-47

 

Robert Mulhall

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2019)

Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, from 1998 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of Villanova University Alumni Board of Directors to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

Bruce Speca

(Born: 1956)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Global Head of Asset Allocation, Manulife Asset Management (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2010 to 2011. Executive Vice President – Investment Management Services, John Hancock Financial Services (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2003 to 2010.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022. Director of Stone Harbor Investments Funds (8 Portfolios), Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Income Fund (closed-end fund) and Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Total Income Fund (closed-end fund) to 2022.

Monica Walker

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2022)

Retired. Private Investor since 2017. Co-Founder (1991-2017), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (2009 to 2017) and Chief Investment Officer – Equity (2007 to 2017) of Holland Capital Management, LLC (Chicago). Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

1Denotes Trustees who may be deemed to be “interested” persons of the Fund as that term is defined in the 1940 Act by virtue of their affiliation with the Distributor and/or its affiliates.

 

Individual Trustee Qualifications. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of their ability to review and understand information about the funds provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the funds, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the funds’ shareholders. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on their own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Nesher should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 1974, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 1991.

 

S-48

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Klauder should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 2004, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he gained serving as a partner of a large law firm.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Gaffney should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as a vice president and portfolio manager for a large asset management company, her experience in and knowledge of the asset management industry, and the experience she has gained serving in board and leadership positions in a variety of nonprofit and civic organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Grause should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with different financial institutions, his knowledge of the mutual fund and investment management industries, his past experience as an interested trustee and chair of the investment committee for a multi-managed investment company, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Mulhall should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with an audit firm and various financial services firms, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and his experience serving in a variety of leadership capacities for non-profit organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Speca should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained serving as president of a mutual fund company and portfolio manager for a $95 billion complex of asset allocation funds, his over 25 years of experience working in a management capacity with mutual fund boards, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Walker should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained in a variety of leadership roles with an asset management company that she co-founded, her experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience she has gained in various other corporate accounting, finance and investment roles.

 

In its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the funds.

 

Board Committees. The Board has established the following standing committees:

 

Audit Committee. The Board has a standing Audit Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee include: (i) recommending which firm to engage as each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this relationship; (ii) reviewing the independent registered public accounting firm’s compensation, the proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firm’s independence; (iii) pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; (iv) serving as a channel of communication between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; (v) reviewing the results of each external audit, including any qualifications in the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion, any related management letter, management’s responses to recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the audit, reports submitted to the Committee by the internal auditing department of the Administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and management’s responses to any such reports; (vi) reviewing each fund’s audited financial statements and considering any significant disputes between the Trust’s management and the independent registered public accounting firm that arose in connection with the preparation of those financial statements; (vii) considering, in consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trust’s senior internal accounting executive, if any, the independent registered public accounting firms’ reports on the adequacy of the Trust’s internal financial controls; (viii) reviewing, in consultation with each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed when preparing each fund’s financial statements; and (ix) other audit related matters. Ms. Gaffney, Mr. Grause, Mr. Mulhall, Mr. Speca and Ms. Walker currently serve as members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Mulhall serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met four (4) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

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Governance Committee. The Board has a standing Governance Committee (formerly the Nominating Committee) that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Governance Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Governance Committee include: (i) considering and reviewing Board governance and compensation issues; (ii) conducting a self-assessment of the Board’s operations; (iii) selecting and nominating all persons to serve as independent Trustees; and (iv) reviewing shareholder recommendations for nominations to fill vacancies on the Board if such recommendations are submitted in writing and addressed to the Committee at the Trust’s office. Ms. Gaffney, Mr. Grause, Mr. Mulhall, Mr. Speca and Ms. Walker currently serve as members of the Governance Committee. Mr. Speca serves as the Chairman of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met three (3) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Fund Shares Owned by Board Members. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each Trustee’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of each of the Funds as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act. The Trustees and officers of the Trust own less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.

 

Name Dollar Range of Fund Shares
(Fund)1
Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares
(All Funds in the Family of Investment Companies)1,2
Interested Trustees
Nesher None None
Klauder None None
Independent Trustees
Gaffney3 None None
Grause None None
Mulhall None None
Speca None None
Walker3 None None

 

1Valuation date is December 31, 2023.
2The Funds are the only funds in the family of investment companies.

 

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Board Compensation. The Trust paid the following fees to the Trustees during the Funds’ most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Name Aggregate Compensation from the Trust Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses

Estimated

Annual Benefits Upon Retirement

Total Compensation from the Trust and Fund Complex1
Interested Trustees
Nesher $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Klauder $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Independent Trustees
Gaffney $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Grause $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Johnson2 $25,660 N/A N/A $25,660 for service on one (1) board
Krikorian3 $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Mulhall $114,666 N/A N/A $114,666 for service on one (1) board
Speca $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Walker $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board

 

1All funds in the Fund Complex are series of the Trust.
2In accordance with the Trust’s retirement policy, Mr. Johnson retired from the Board effective December 31, 2022, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.
3In accordance with the Trust’s retirement policy, Ms. Krikorian retired from the Board effective December 31, 2023, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.

 

Trust Officers. Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations for the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as executive officers of the Trust. There is no stated term of office for officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each officer is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. The Chief Compliance Officer is the only officer who receives compensation from the Trust for his services.

 

Certain officers of the Trust also serve as officers of one or more mutual funds for which SEI Investments or its affiliates act as investment manager, administrator or distributor.

 

Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served Principal Occupations in Past 5 Years
Michael Beattie (Born: 1965)

President

(since 2011)

Managing Director, SEI Investments, since 2021. Director of Client Service, SEI Investments, from 2004 to 2021.

 

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James Bernstein

(Born: 1962)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2017)

Attorney, SEI Investments, since 2017.

 

Prior Positions: Self-employed consultant, 2017. Associate General Counsel & Vice President, Nationwide Funds Group and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, from 2002 to 2016. Assistant General Counsel & Vice President, Market Street Funds and Provident Mutual Insurance Company, from 1999 to 2002.

John Bourgeois

(Born: 1973)

Assistant Treasurer

(since 2017)

Fund Accounting Manager, SEI Investments, since 2000.

Donald Duncan

(Born: 1964)

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer and Privacy Officer

(since 2023)

Chief Compliance Officer and Global Head of Anti-Money Laundering Strategy of SEI Investments Company since January 2023. Head of Global Anti-Money Laundering Program for Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC from August 2021 until December 2022. Senior VP and Supervising Principal of Hamilton Lane Securities, LLC from June 2016 to August 2021. Senior Director at AXA-Equitable from June 2011 until May 2016. Senior Director at PRUCO Securities, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. from October 2005 until December 2009.

Eric C. Griffith

(Born: 1969)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2019)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2019. Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co., from 2012 to 2018.

Matthew M. Maher

(Born: 1975)

Vice President

(since 2018)

 

Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2018. Attorney, Blank Rome LLP, from 2015 to 2018. Assistant Counsel & Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon, from 2013 to 2014. Attorney, Dilworth Paxson LLP, from 2006 to 2013.

Andrew Metzger

(Born: 1980)

Treasurer, Controller and Chief Financial Officer

(since 2021)

Director of Fund Accounting, SEI Investments, since 2020. Senior Director, Embark, from 2019 to 2020. Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, from 2002 to 2019.

 

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Robert Morrow (Born: 1968)

Vice President

(since 2017)

Account Manager, SEI Investments, since 2007.

Stephen F. Panner

(Born: 1970)

Chief Compliance Officer

(since 2022)

Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds, SEI Structured Credit Fund LP, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds since September 2022. Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Alternative Income Fund since May 2023. Chief Compliance Officer of Symmetry Panoramic Trust since December 2023. Fund Compliance Officer of SEI Investments Company from February 2011 to September 2022. Fund Accounting Director and CFO and Controller for the SEI Funds from July 2005 to February 2011.

Alexander F. Smith

(Born: 1977)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2020. Associate Counsel & Manager, Vanguard, 2012 to 2020. Attorney, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, 2008 to 2012.

 

PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES

 

Purchases and redemptions may be made through the Transfer Agent on any day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business. Shares of the Funds are offered and redeemed on a continuous basis. Currently, the NYSE is closed for business when the following holidays are observed: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

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It is currently the Trust’s policy to pay all redemptions in cash. The Trust retains the right, however, to alter this policy to provide for redemptions in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of securities held by the Funds in lieu of cash. Shareholders may incur brokerage charges on the sale of any such securities so received in payment of redemptions. A shareholder will at all times be entitled to aggregate cash redemptions from all funds of the Trust up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Trust’s net assets during any 90-day period.

 

The Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption and/or to postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, for any period on which trading on the NYSE is restricted (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation), or during the existence of an emergency (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation) as a result of which the disposal or valuation of a Fund’s securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC has by order permitted. The Trust also reserves the right to suspend sales of shares of the Funds for any period during which the NYSE, the Adviser, the Administrator, the Transfer Agent and/or the Custodian are not open for business.

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

General Policy. The Funds adhere to Section 2(a)(41), and Rules 2a-4 and 2a-5 thereunder, of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other securities are valued at fair value by the Adviser in good faith, and subject to the oversight of the Board. In complying with the 1940 Act, the Trust relies on guidance provided by the SEC and by the SEC staff in various interpretive letters and other guidance.

 

Equity Securities. Securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system for which quotations are readily available (except for securities traded on NASDAQ), including securities traded over-the-counter, are valued at the last quoted sale price on an exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on the valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time if such exchange is normally open at that time), or, if there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recent quoted bid price. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price will be used. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Funds’ pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Money Market Securities and other Debt Securities. If available, money market securities and other debt securities are priced based upon valuations provided by recognized independent, third-party pricing agents. Such values generally reflect the last reported sales price if the security is actively traded. The third-party pricing agents may also value debt securities by employing methodologies that utilize actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations, or other methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities. Such methodologies generally consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. Money market securities and other debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less may be valued at their amortized cost, which approximates market value. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of each Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Foreign Securities. The prices for foreign securities are reported in local currency and converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates. Exchange rates are provided daily by recognized independent pricing agents.

 

Derivatives and Other Complex Securities. Exchange traded options on securities and indices purchased by the Funds generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last bid price. Exchange traded options on securities and indices written by the Funds generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last asked price. In the case of options traded in the over-the-counter market, if the OTC option is also an exchange traded option, the Funds will follow the rules regarding the valuation of exchange traded options. If the OTC option is not also an exchange traded option, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

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Futures and swaps cleared through a central clearing house (“centrally cleared swaps”) are valued at the settlement price established each day by the board of the exchange on which they are traded. The daily settlement prices for financial futures are provided by an independent source. On days when there is excessive volume or market volatility, or the future or centrally cleared swap does not end trading by the time the Funds calculate NAV, the settlement price may not be available at the time at which each Fund calculates its NAV. On such days, the best available price (which is typically the last sales price) may be used to value a Fund’s futures or centrally cleared swaps position.

 

Foreign currency forward contracts are valued at the current day’s interpolated foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day’s spot rate, and the thirty, sixty, ninety and one-hundred eighty day forward rates provided by an independent source.

 

If available, non-centrally cleared swaps, collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations and bank loans are priced based on valuations provided by an independent third party pricing agent. If a price is not available from an independent third party pricing agent, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Use of Third-Party Independent Pricing Services. Pursuant to contracts with the Administrator, prices for most securities held by the Funds with readily available market quotations are provided by third-party independent pricing agents. The valuations for these securities are reviewed by the Administrator. In accordance with the Adviser’s Valuation Procedures, the Adviser may also use third-party independent pricing agents (reviewed and approved by the Adviser) to fair value certain securities without readily available market quotations (or where market quotations are unreliable).

 

Fair Value Procedures. Securities for which market prices are not “readily available” or which cannot be valued using the methodologies described above are valued in accordance with Fair Value Procedures established by the Adviser and implemented through the Adviser’s Valuation Committee. In establishing a fair value for an investment, the Adviser will use valuation methodologies established by the Adviser and may consider inputs and methodologies provided by, among others, third-party independent pricing agents, independent broker dealers and/or the Adviser’s own personnel (including investment personnel).

 

TAXES

 

The following is only a summary of certain additional U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Funds and their shareholders that is intended to supplement the discussion contained in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Funds or their shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. In particular, it does not address investors subject to special rules, such as investors who hold shares through an individual retirement account (“IRA”), 401k, or other tax advantaged accounts. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations, including their state, local, and foreign tax liabilities.

 

The following general discussion of certain federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.

 

Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company. Each Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year to be treated as a regulated investment company ("RIC"). By following such a policy, each Fund expects to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal taxes to which it may be subject. If a Fund qualifies as a RIC, it will generally not be subject to federal income taxes on the net investment income and net realized capital gains that it timely distributes to its shareholders. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of a Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

S-55

 

In order to qualify as a RIC under the Code, each Fund must distribute annually to its shareholders at least 90% of its net investment income (which, includes dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, less operating expenses) and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income, for each tax year, if any, to its shareholders (the “Distribution Requirement”) and also must meet certain additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of each Fund’s gross income each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities, or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (the “Qualifying Income Test”); and (ii) at the close of each quarter of each Fund’s taxable year: (A) at least 50% of the value of each Fund’s total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, including the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership, and (B) not more than 25% of the value of each Fund’s total assets is invested, including through corporations in which a Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities (other than U.S. Government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of another RIC) of two or more issuers which a Fund controls and that are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Asset Test”).

 

Although each Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and may distribute its capital gains for any taxable year, a Fund will be subject to federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed. Each Fund is treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes. Losses in one Fund do not offset gains in another and the requirements (other than certain organizational requirements) for qualifying RIC status are determined at the Fund level rather than at the Trust level.

 

If a Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income or Asset Tests in any taxable year, such Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where a Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. If a Fund fails to maintain qualification as a RIC for a tax year, and the relief provisions are not available, such Fund will be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate (currently 21%) without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In such case, its shareholders would be taxed as if they received ordinary dividends to the extent of a Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits, although corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends received deduction (subject to certain limitations) and individuals may be able to benefit from the lower tax rates available to qualified dividend income. In addition, a Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC.

 

Each Fund may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year. A “qualified late year loss” generally includes net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (commonly referred to as “post-October losses”) and certain other late-year losses.

 

The treatment of capital loss carryovers for a Fund is similar to the rules that apply to capital loss carryovers of individuals, which provide that such losses are carried over indefinitely. If a Fund has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains), the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year. The carryover of capital losses may be limited under the general loss limitation rules if a Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Code.

 

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Federal Excise Tax. Notwithstanding the Distribution Requirement described above, which generally requires each Fund to distribute at least 90% of its annual investment company taxable income and the excess of its exempt interest income (but does not require any minimum distribution of net capital gain), a Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax to the extent it fails to distribute by the end of the calendar year at least 98% of its ordinary income and 98.2% of its capital gain net income (the excess of short- and long-term capital gains over short- and long-term capital losses) for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year (including any retained amount from the prior calendar year on which a Fund paid no federal income tax). Each Fund intends to make sufficient distributions to avoid liability for federal excise tax, but can make no assurances that such tax will be completely eliminated. For example, a Fund may receive delayed or corrected tax reporting statements from its investments that cause such Fund to accrue additional income and gains after such Fund has already made its excise tax distributions for the year. In such a situation, a Fund may incur an excise tax liability resulting from such delayed receipt of such tax information statements. In addition, a Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate Fund investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal excise tax liability at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Fund to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.

 

Distributions to Shareholders. Each Fund receives income generally in the form of dividends and interest on investments. This income, plus net short-term capital gains, if any, less expenses incurred in the operation of a Fund, constitutes a Fund’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. Any distributions by a Fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary income or at the lower capital gains rates that apply to individuals receiving qualified dividend income, whether you take them in cash or in additional shares.

 

Distributions by a Fund are currently eligible for the reduced maximum tax rate to individuals of 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets) to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income on the securities it holds and the Funds report the distributions as qualified dividend income. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that: (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become “ex-dividend” (which is the day on which declared distributions (dividends or capital gains) are deducted from a Fund’s assets before it calculates the NAV) with respect to such dividend, (ii) such Fund has not satisfied similar holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder, (iii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property, or (iv) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Code. Therefore, if you lend your shares in a Fund, such as pursuant to a securities lending arrangement, you may lose the ability to treat dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. Distributions that a Fund receives from an underlying fund taxable as a RIC or from a REIT will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such underlying fund or REIT. Certain of the Funds' investment strategies may limit their ability to distribute dividends eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.

 

Distributions by a Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Capital gain distributions consisting of a Fund’s net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains for individual shareholders currently set at a maximum rate of 20% regardless of how long you have held your shares in such Fund. Distributions from capital gains are generally made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards.

 

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In the case of corporate shareholders, a Fund's distributions (other than capital gain distributions) generally qualify for the dividends received deduction to the extent such distributions are so reported and do not exceed the gross amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund for the year. Generally, and subject to certain limitations (including certain holding period limitations), a dividend will be treated as a qualifying dividend if it has been received from a domestic corporation. Certain of the Funds' investment strategies may significantly limit their ability to make distributions eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

A RIC that receives business interest income may pass through its net business interest income for purposes of the tax rules applicable to the interest expense limitations under Section 163(j) of the Code. A RIC’s total “Section 163(j) Interest Dividend” for a tax year is limited to the excess of the RIC’s business interest income over the sum of its business interest expense and its other deductions properly allocable to its business interest income. A RIC may, in its discretion, designate all or a portion of ordinary dividends as Section 163(j) Interest Dividends, which would allow the recipient shareholder to treat the designated portion of such dividends as interest income for purposes of determining such shareholder’s interest expense deduction limitation under Section 163(j). This can potentially increase the amount of a shareholder’s interest expense deductible under Section 163(j). In general, to be eligible to treat a Section 163(j) Interest Dividend as interest income, you must have held your shares in a Fund for more than 180 days during the 361-day period beginning on the date that is 180 days before the date on which the share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend. Section 163(j) Interest Dividends, if so designated by a Fund, will be reported to your financial intermediary or otherwise in accordance with the requirements specified by Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).

 

To the extent that a Fund makes a distribution of income received by such Fund in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

If a Fund’s distributions exceed its current and accumulated earnings and profits for the taxable year (as calculated for federal income tax purposes), all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholder’s cost basis in a Fund and result in a higher reported capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold.

 

A dividend or distribution received shortly after the purchase of shares reduces the NAV of the shares by the amount of the dividend or distribution and, although in effect a return of capital, will be taxable to the shareholder. If the NAV of shares were reduced below the shareholder’s cost by dividends or distributions representing gains realized on sales of securities, such dividends or distributions would be a return of investment though taxable to the shareholder in the same manner as other dividends or distributions.

 

Each Fund (or its administrative agent) will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, and will advise you of their tax status for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held your shares for a full year, a Fund may report and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gain, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Fund.

 

Dividends declared to shareholders of record in October, November or December and actually paid in January of the following year will be treated as having been received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which declared. Under this rule, therefore, a shareholder may be taxed in one year on dividends or distributions actually received in January of the following year.

 

S-58

 

Sales, Exchanges or Redemptions. Sales, exchanges and redemptions of Fund shares may be taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. Any gain or loss recognized on a sale, exchange, or redemption of shares of a Fund by a shareholder who holds Fund shares as capital assets will generally be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months and otherwise will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss. However, if shares on which a shareholder has received a net capital gain distribution are subsequently sold, exchanged, or redeemed and such shares have been held for six months or less, any loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the net capital gain distribution. In addition, the loss realized on a sale or other disposition of shares will be disallowed to the extent a shareholder repurchases (or enters into a contract to or option to repurchase) shares within a period of 61 days (beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares). This loss disallowance rule will apply to shares received through the reinvestment of dividends during the 61-day period. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different fund is the same as a sale.

 

Each Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the IRS and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for purchases of Fund shares. In addition to the requirement to report the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, each Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares have a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, a Fund (or its administrative agent) will permit Fund shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, each Fund will use the average cost basis method as its default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. If your shares are held in a brokerage account, your broker may use a different method and you should contact your broker to determine which method it will use. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review the cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

Net Investment Income Tax. U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including any capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of a Fund).

 

Tax Treatment of Complex Securities. The Funds may invest in complex securities and these investments may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules. These rules could affect a Fund's ability to qualify as a RIC, affect whether gains and losses recognized by a Fund are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to a Fund and/or defer a Fund's ability to recognize losses, and, in limited cases, subject a Fund to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of its foreign securities. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by a Fund and may require a Fund to sell securities to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

Certain derivative investments by the Funds, such as exchange-traded products and over-the-counter derivatives, may not produce qualifying income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Test described above, which must be met in order for a Fund to maintain its status as a RIC under the Code. In addition, the determination of the value and the identity of the issuer of such derivative investments are often unclear for purposes of the Asset Test described above. The Funds intend to carefully monitor such investments to ensure that any non-qualifying income does not exceed permissible limits and to ensure that they are adequately diversified under the Asset Test. The Funds, however, may not be able to accurately predict the non-qualifying income from these investments and there are no assurances that the IRS will agree with the Funds’ determination of the Asset Test with respect to such derivatives. Failure of the Asset Test might also result from a determination by the IRS that financial instruments in which the Fund invests are not securities.

 

S-59

 

Each Fund is required for federal income tax purposes to mark-to-market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures and options contracts subject to section 1256 of the Code ("Section 1256 Contracts") as of the end of the year as well as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from Section 1256 Contracts on broad-based indexes required to be marked to market will be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. A Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on Section 1256 Contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the Fund. These provisions may also require a Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolios (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirement and for avoiding the excise tax discussed above. Accordingly, in order to avoid certain income and excise taxes, a Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

With respect to investments in STRIPS, treasury receipts, and other zero coupon securities which are sold at original issue discount and thus do not make periodic cash interest payments, a Fund will be required to include as part of its current income the imputed interest on such obligations even though the Fund has not received any interest payments on such obligations during that period. Because each Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income to its shareholders, a Fund may have to sell Fund securities to distribute such imputed income which may occur at a time when the Adviser would not have chosen to sell such securities and which may result in taxable gain or loss.

 

Any market discount recognized on a bond is taxable as ordinary income. A market discount bond is a bond acquired in the secondary market at a price below redemption value or adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount. Absent an election by a Fund to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on the Fund’s disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount.

 

In general, for purposes of the Qualifying Income Test described above, income derived from a partnership will be treated as qualifying income only to the extent such income is attributable to items of income of the partnership that would be qualifying income if realized directly by the Fund. However, 100% of the net income derived from an interest in a “qualified publicly traded partnership” (generally, a partnership (i) interests in which are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof, (ii) that derives at least 90% of its income from the passive income sources specified in Code section 7704(d), and (iii) that derives less than 90% of its income from the same sources as described in the Qualifying Income Test) will be treated as qualifying income. In addition, although in general the passive loss rules of the Code do not apply to RICs, such rules do apply to a RIC with respect to items attributable to an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership.

 

The CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund may invest in certain MLPs which may be treated as “qualified publicly traded partnerships.” Income from qualified publicly traded partnerships is qualifying income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Test, but the Fund’s investment in one or more of such qualified publicly traded partnerships is limited under the Asset Test to no more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s assets. The Fund will monitor its investments in such qualified publicly traded partnerships in order to ensure compliance with the Qualifying Income and Asset Tests.

 

MLPs and other partnerships that the CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund may invest in will deliver Schedules K-1 to the Fund to report its share of income, gains, losses, deductions and credits of the MLP or other partnership. These Schedules K-1 may be delayed and may not be received until after the time that the Fund issues its tax reporting statements. As a result, the Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues you your Form 1099 tax reporting statement and, accordingly, send you a corrected Form 1099.

 

S-60

 

"Qualified publicly traded partnership income” within the meaning of Section 199A(e)(5) of the Code is eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. Qualified publicly traded partnership income is generally income of a “publicly traded partnership” that is not treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is effectively connected with such entity’s trade or business, but does not include certain investment income. A “publicly traded partnership” for purposes of this deduction is not necessarily the same as a “qualified publicly traded partnership” as defined for the purpose of the immediately preceding paragraphs. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). The Code does not contain a provision permitting a RIC, such as the CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund, to pass the special character of this income through to its shareholders. Currently, direct investors in entities that generate “qualified publicly traded partnership income” will enjoy the lower rate, but investors in RICs that invest in such entities will not. Unless later extended or made permanent, this 20% deduction will no longer be available for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

 

The Funds may invest in U.S. REITs. Investments in REIT equity securities may require the Funds to accrue and distribute income not yet received. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, a Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. A Fund’s investments in REIT equity securities may at other times result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to the Fund’s shareholders for federal income tax purposes. Dividends paid by a REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a REIT to a Fund will be treated as long-term capital gains by the Fund and, in turn, may be distributed by the Fund to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT generally will not constitute qualified dividend income or qualify for the dividends received deduction. If a REIT is operated in a manner such that it fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the REIT would be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits.

 

"Qualified REIT dividends” (i.e., ordinary REIT dividends other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income eligible for capital gain tax rates) are eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). Distributions by a Fund to its shareholders that are attributable to qualified REIT dividends received by the Fund and which such Fund properly reports as “section 199A dividends,” are treated as “qualified REIT dividends” in the hands of non-corporate shareholders. A section 199A dividend is treated as a qualified REIT dividend only if the shareholder receiving such dividend holds the dividend-paying RIC shares for at least 46 days of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. A Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as section 199A dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so. Unless later extended or made permanent, this 20% deduction will no longer be available for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

 

REITs in which a Fund invests often do not provide complete and final tax information to the Fund until after the time that the Fund issues a tax reporting statement. As a result, a Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues your tax reporting statement. When such reclassification is necessary, a Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a corrected, final Form 1099-DIV to reflect the reclassified information. If you receive a corrected Form 1099-DIV, use the information on this corrected form, and not the information on the previously issued tax reporting statement, in completing your tax returns.

 

S-61

 

If a Fund owns shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to as “passive foreign investment companies” or “PFICs," the Fund will generally be subject to one of the following special tax regimes: (i) the Fund may be liable for U.S. federal income tax, and an additional interest charge, on a portion of any “excess distribution” from such foreign entity or any gain from the disposition of such shares, even if the entire distribution or gain is paid out by the Fund as a dividend to its shareholders; (ii) if the Fund was able and elected to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” or “QEF,” the Fund would be required each year to include in income, and distribute to shareholders in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above, the Fund’s pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of the PFIC, whether or not such earnings or gains are distributed to the Fund; or (iii) the Fund may be entitled to mark-to-market annually shares of the PFIC, and in such event, would be required to distribute to shareholders any such mark-to-market gains in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above. The Funds intend to make the appropriate tax elections, if possible, and take any additional steps that are necessary to mitigate the effect of these rules. Amounts included in income each year by a Fund arising from a QEF election will be “qualifying income” under the Qualifying Income Test (as described above) even if not distributed to the Fund, if the Fund derives such income from its business of investing in stock, securities or currencies.

 

Certain Foreign Currency Tax Issues. The Funds' transactions in foreign currencies and forward foreign currency contracts will generally be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Funds (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Funds and defer losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also may require a Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out) which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirements and for avoiding the excise tax described above. Each Fund intends to monitor its transactions, intends to make the appropriate tax elections, and intends to make the appropriate entries in their books and records when they acquire any foreign currency or forward foreign currency contract in order to mitigate the effect of these rules so as to prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC and minimize the imposition of income and excise taxes. Accordingly, a Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

The U.S. Treasury Department has authority to issue regulations that would exclude foreign currency gains from the Qualifying Income Test described above if such gains are not directly related to a Fund’s business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect to stock or securities). Accordingly, regulations may be issued in the future that could treat some or all of a Fund’s non-U.S. currency gains as non-qualifying income, thereby potentially jeopardizing the Fund’s status as a RIC for all years to which the regulations are applicable.

 

Foreign Taxes. Dividends and interest received by the Funds may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions that would reduce the yield on the Funds' stock or securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these taxes. Foreign countries generally do not impose taxes on capital gains with respect to investments by foreign investors.

 

If more than 50% of the value of a Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to and intends to file an election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. Pursuant to the election, the Fund will treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders. Each such shareholder will be required to include a proportionate share of those taxes in gross income as income received from a foreign source and must treat the amount so included as if the shareholder had paid the foreign tax directly. The shareholder may then either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him or her in computing his or her taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating any foreign tax credit they may be entitled to use against the shareholders' federal income tax. If a Fund makes the election, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions. If a Fund does not hold sufficient foreign securities to meet the above threshold, then shareholders will not be entitled to claim a credit or further deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund.

 

A shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by a Fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, which may result in a shareholder not receiving a full credit or deduction (if any) for the amount of such taxes. In particular, shareholders must hold their Fund shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 additional days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a given dividend. Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such foreign taxes. Even if a Fund were eligible to make such an election for a given year, it may determine not to do so. Shareholders that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and those who invest in a Fund through tax-advantaged accounts (including those who invest through IRAs or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by a Fund.

 

S-62

 

Under certain circumstances, if a Fund receives a refund of foreign taxes paid in respect of a prior year, the value of Fund shares could be affected or any foreign tax credits or deductions passed through to shareholders in respect of the Fund’s foreign taxes for the current year could be reduced.

 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, IRAs, salary deferral arrangements, 401(k)s, and other tax-exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Tax-exempt entities are not permitted to offset losses from one trade or business against the income or gain of another trade or business. Certain net losses incurred prior to January 1, 2018 are permitted to offset gain and income created by an unrelated trade or business, if otherwise available. Under current law, the Funds generally serve to block UBTI from being realized by their tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, the tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of an investment in a Fund where, for example: (i) the Fund invests in residual interests of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”); (ii) the Fund invests in a REIT that is a taxable mortgage pool (“TMP”) or that has a subsidiary that is a TMP or that invests in the residual interest of a REMIC, or (iii) shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisor. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding these issues.

 

A Fund’s shares held in a tax-qualified retirement account will generally not be subject to federal taxation on income and capital gains distributions from the Fund until a shareholder begins receiving payments from their retirement account. Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, shareholders should consult their tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Funds.

 

Backup Withholding. A Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold at a rate of 24% and remit to the U.S. Treasury the amount withheld on amounts payable to any shareholder who: (i) has provided the Fund either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all; (ii) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends; (iii) has failed to certify to the Fund that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding; or (iv) has failed to certify to the Fund that the shareholder is a U.S. person (including a resident alien). Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

 

S-63

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Any non-U.S. investors in the Funds may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in the Funds. Foreign shareholders (i.e., nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on distributions derived from taxable ordinary income. A Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Short-term capital gain dividends received by a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year are not exempt from this 30% withholding tax. Gains realized by foreign shareholders from the sale or other disposition of shares of a Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Foreign shareholders who fail to provide an applicable IRS form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from a Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described in this paragraph. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.

 

Under legislation generally known as “FATCA” (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), the Funds are required to withhold 30% of certain ordinary dividends they pay to shareholders that fail to meet prescribed information reporting or certification requirements. In general, no such withholding will be required with respect to a U.S. person or non-U.S. person that timely provides the certifications required by a Fund or its agent on a valid IRS Form W-9 or applicable series of IRS Form W-8, respectively. Shareholders potentially subject to withholding include foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”), such as non-U.S. investment funds, and non-financial foreign entities (“NFFEs”). To avoid withholding under FATCA, an FFI generally must enter into an information sharing agreement with the IRS in which it agrees to report certain identifying information (including name, address, and taxpayer identification number) with respect to its U.S. account holders (which, in the case of an entity shareholder, may include its direct and indirect U.S. owners), and an NFFE generally must identify and provide other required information to the Funds or other withholding agent regarding its U.S. owners, if any. Such non-U.S. shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by regulations and other guidance. A non-U.S. shareholder resident or doing business in a country that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement.

 

A non-U.S. entity that invests in a Fund will need to provide such Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity’s status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding. Non-U.S. investors in the Funds should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

 

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, generally, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC such as a Fund are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

State Taxes. Depending upon state and local law, distributions by the Funds to their shareholders and the ownership of such shares may be subject to state and local taxes. Rules of state and local taxation of dividend and capital gains distributions from RICs often differ from the rules for federal income taxation described above. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding state and local taxes applicable to an investment in the Funds. It is expected that a Fund will not be liable for any corporate excise, income or franchise tax in Massachusetts if it qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes.

 

S-64

 

Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. Government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by the Funds. Investment in Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae securities, banker’s acceptances, commercial paper, and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government securities do not generally qualify for such tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding state and local taxes applicable to an investment in the Funds.

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Brokerage Transactions. Generally, equity securities, both listed and over-the-counter, are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Purchases from underwriters will include the underwriting commission or concession, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers will include a dealer’s mark-up or reflect a dealer’s mark-down. Money market securities and other debt securities are usually bought and sold directly from the issuer or an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Generally, the Funds will not pay brokerage commissions for such purchases. When a debt security is bought from an underwriter, the purchase price will usually include an underwriting commission or concession. The purchase price for securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealer’s mark up or reflect a dealer’s mark down. When the Funds execute transactions in the over-the-counter market, they will generally deal with primary market makers unless prices that are more favorable are otherwise obtainable.

 

In addition, the Adviser may place a combined order for two or more accounts it manages, including a Fund, engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, joint execution is in the best interest of each participant and will result in best price and execution. Transactions involving commingled orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account or fund. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or a Fund may obtain, it is the opinion of the Adviser that the advantages of combined orders outweigh the possible disadvantages of combined orders.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Funds paid the following aggregate brokerage commissions on Fund transactions:

 

  Aggregate Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions Paid
Fund 2021 2022 2023
CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund $122,946 $87,367 $80,548
CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund $131,223 $126,098 $100,189
CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund $73,755 $104,453 $74,712
CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund $72,608 $67,860 $55,863
CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund $47,077 $79,618 $73,317
CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund $566,660 $341,020 $489,041

 

Brokerage Selection. The Trust does not expect to use one particular broker or dealer, and when one or more brokers is believed capable of providing the best combination of price and execution, the Adviser may select a broker based upon brokerage or research services provided to the Adviser. The Adviser may pay a higher commission than otherwise obtainable from other brokers in return for such services only if a good faith determination is made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.

 

S-65

 

Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause the Funds to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In addition to agency transactions, the Adviser may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). In the case of research services, the Adviser believes that access to independent investment research is beneficial to its investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Funds.

 

To the extent that research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the Adviser might utilize Fund commissions include research reports and other information on the economy, industries, sectors, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, political developments, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and other analysis. The Adviser may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used by the Adviser in connection with the Funds or any other specific client accounts that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Adviser will be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. Any advisory or other fees paid to the Adviser are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services.

 

In some cases the Adviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a “research” and a “non-research” use. When this occurs, the Adviser makes a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions, while the Adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the Adviser believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.

 

From time to time, the Adviser may purchase new issues of securities for clients, including the Funds, in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the Adviser with research services. FINRA has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will provide research “credits” in these situations at a rate that is higher than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).

 

S-66

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Funds paid the following commissions on brokerage transactions directed to brokers pursuant to an agreement or understanding whereby the broker provides research services to the Adviser:

 

Fund

Total Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions

for Research Services

Total Dollar Amount of Transactions Involving Brokerage Commissions

for Research Services

CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund $78,813 $309,842,095
CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund $100,189 $377,910,651
CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund $57,614 $132,441,992
CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund $55,863 $193,260,645
CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund $73,317 $175,048,069
CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund $489,041 $224,148,841

 

Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. The Funds may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Funds or the Adviser for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act and rules promulgated by the SEC. The 1940 Act requires that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Funds for exchange transactions not exceed “usual and customary” brokerage commissions. The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” The Trustees, including those who are not “interested persons” of the Funds, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Funds did not pay any brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions effected by affiliated brokers.

 

Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealers.” The Funds are required to identify any securities of their “regular brokers and dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that each Fund held during their most recent fiscal year. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Funds did not hold any securities of their “regular brokers and dealers.”

 

Portfolio Turnover Rates. Portfolio turnover is calculated by dividing the lesser of total purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. Excluded from both the numerator and denominator are amounts relating to securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less. Instruments excluded from the calculation of portfolio turnover generally would include the futures contracts in which a Fund may invest since such contracts generally have remaining maturities of less than one year. A Fund may at times hold investments in other short-term instruments, such as repurchase agreements, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover.

 

S-67

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023, the portfolio turnover rates for the Funds were as follows:

 

Fund Portfolio Turnover Rates
2022 2023
CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund 13% 10%
CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund 20% 32%
CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund 20% 28%
CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund 57% 44%
CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund 23% 27%
CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund 14% 13%

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Board has approved policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances regarding the disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings information to shareholders and third parties. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that disclosure of information regarding the Funds’ portfolio securities is in the best interests of the Funds’ shareholders, and include procedures to address conflicts between the interests of the Funds’ shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Funds, the Adviser, or the principal underwriter, on the other. Pursuant to such procedures, the Board has authorized the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer to authorize the release of the Funds’ portfolio holdings, as necessary, in conformity with the foregoing principles. The Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer, either directly or through reports by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, reports quarterly to the Board regarding the operation and administration of such policies and procedures.

 

Pursuant to applicable law, the Funds are required to disclose their complete portfolio holdings quarterly, within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (currently, each January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31). Each Fund discloses a complete or summary schedule of investments (which includes the Fund’s 50 largest holdings in unaffiliated issuers and each investment in unaffiliated issuers that exceeds one percent of the Fund’s net asset value (“Summary Schedule”)) in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports which are distributed to Fund shareholders. Each Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the first and third fiscal quarters will be available in quarterly holdings reports filed with the SEC as exhibits to Form N-PORT, and each Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the second and fourth fiscal quarters will be available in shareholder reports filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR.

 

Complete schedules of investments filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR and as exhibits to Form N-PORT are not distributed to the Funds’ shareholders but are available, free of charge, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Should a Fund include only a Summary Schedule rather than a complete schedule of investments in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports, its complete schedule of investments will be available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-855-328-3863.

 

In addition to information provided to shareholders and the general public, portfolio holdings information may be disclosed as frequently as daily to the Funds’ Adviser, Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent, financial printer, pricing vendors, liquidity analytics vendors, class action reclaim vendors and foreign tax reclaim vendors and other vendors that provide the Adviser with various middle office, back office, client reporting and portfolio analytics services in connection with their services to the Funds. From time to time rating and ranking organizations, such as S&P, Lipper and Morningstar, Inc., may request non-public portfolio holdings information in connection with rating the Funds. Similarly, institutional investors, financial planners, pension plan sponsors and/or their consultants or other third-parties may request portfolio holdings information in order to assess the risks of a Fund’s portfolio along with related performance attribution statistics. The lag time for such disclosures will vary. The Funds believe that these third parties have legitimate objectives in requesting such portfolio holdings information.

 

S-68

 

The Funds’ policies and procedures provide that the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer may authorize disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information to such parties at differing times and/or with different lag times. Prior to making any disclosure to a third party, the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer must determine that such disclosure serves a reasonable business purpose, is in the best interests of the Funds’ shareholders and that to the extent conflicts between the interests of the Funds’ shareholders and those of the Funds’ Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Funds exist, such conflicts are addressed. Portfolio holdings information may be disclosed no more frequently than monthly to ratings agencies, consultants and other qualified financial professionals or individuals. The disclosures will not be made sooner than three days after the date of the information. The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer will regularly review these arrangements and will make periodic reports to the Board regarding disclosure pursuant to such arrangements.

 

With the exception of disclosures to rating and ranking organizations as described above, the Funds require any third party receiving non-public holdings information to enter into a confidentiality agreement with the Adviser. The confidentiality agreement provides, among other things, that non-public portfolio holdings information will be kept confidential and that the recipient has a duty not to trade on the non-public information and will use such information solely to analyze and rank the Funds, or to perform due diligence and asset allocation, depending on the recipient of the information.

 

The Funds’ policies and procedures prohibit any compensation or other consideration from being paid to or received by any party in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information, including the Funds, the Adviser and its affiliates or recipients of the Funds’ portfolio holdings information.

 

The Adviser may manage other accounts that are not subject to these policies and procedures with investment objectives and strategies that are substantially similar to those of a Fund. Because the portfolio holdings of such accounts may be substantially similar, and in some cases nearly identical, to those of a Fund, an investor in such an account may be able to infer the portfolio holdings of a Fund from the portfolio holdings of the account.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of funds and shares of each fund, each of which represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund with each other share. Shares are entitled upon liquidation to a pro rata share in the net assets of the fund. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees may create additional series or classes of shares. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any additional funds and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that fund and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto. Share certificates representing shares will not be issued. The Funds’ shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY

 

The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a “Massachusetts business trust.” Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the trust. Even if, however, the Trust were held to be a partnership, the possibility of the shareholders incurring financial loss for that reason appears remote because the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees, and because the Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the Trust property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust.

 

S-69

 

LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY

 

The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful defaults and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents, employees or investment advisers, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust unless it is determined in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. Nothing contained in this section attempts to disclaim a Trustee’s individual liability in any manner inconsistent with the federal securities laws.

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Funds to the Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which are included in Appendix B to this SAI.

 

The Trust is required to disclose annually the Funds’ complete proxy voting records during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 on Form N-PX. This voting record is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-855-328-3863; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

CODES OF ETHICS

 

The Board on behalf of the Trust has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Distributor have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers and certain employees (“Access Persons”). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by Access Persons. Under each Code of Ethics, Access Persons are permitted to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Funds, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. In addition, certain Access Persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings or private placements or are prohibited from making such investments. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.

 

S-70

 

PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS

 

As of February 6, 2024, the following persons were record owners (or to the knowledge of the Trust, beneficial owners) of 5% or more of any class of the shares of the Funds. The Trust believes that most of the shares referred to below were held by the below persons in accounts for their fiduciary, agency or custodial customers. Persons beneficially owning more than 25% of a Fund’s outstanding shares may be deemed to “control” the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Shareholders controlling a Fund may have a significant impact on any shareholder vote of the Fund.

 

CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

101 MONTGOMERY ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151

Institutional 39.48%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP

ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS PA 19456-9989

Institutional 18.14%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FEBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT

499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

Institutional 18.11%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP

ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS PA 19456-9989

Institutional 13.01%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP

ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS PA 19456-9989

Institutional 6.77%

 

CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

101 MONTGOMERY ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151

Institutional 39.11%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FEBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT

499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

Institutional 22.46%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP LLC

1 FREEDOM VALLEY DR

OAKS PA 19456-9989

Institutional 17.24%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP LLC

1 FREEDOM VALLEY DR

OAKS PA 19456-9989

Institutional 13.11%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP LLC

1 FREEDOM VALLEY DR

OAKS PA 19456-9989

Institutional 6.11%

 

S-71

 

CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP

ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS PA 19456-9989

Institutional 34.2%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

101 MONTGOMERY ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151

Institutional 22.8%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP

ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS PA 19456-9989

Institutional 18.44%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FEBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT

499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

Institutional 13.28%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP

ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS PA 19456-9989

Institutional 8.86%

 

CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901

Institutional 69.2%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FEBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT

499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

Institutional 21.28%

 

S-72

 

CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94105-1901

Institutional 66.03%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FEBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT

499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

Institutional 17.97%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP

ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS PA 19456-9989

Institutional 6.91%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP

ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS PA 19456-9989

Institutional 5.16%

S-73

 

 

CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

101 MONTGOMERY ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151

Institutional 45.54%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT

499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 4

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

Institutional 20.51%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP

ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS PA 19456-9989

Institutional 11.99%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP

ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS PA 19456-9989

Institutional 10.82%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O CIBC PRIVATE WEALTH GROUP

ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS PA 19456-9989

Institutional 10.62%

 

 

S-74

 

 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

 

Description of Ratings

 

The following descriptions of securities ratings have been published by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), respectively.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Ratings

 

Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Long-Term Ratings

 

Aaa Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

Aa Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

A Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

Baa Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

Ba Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

B Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

Caa Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

Ca Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

C Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

A-1

 

Hybrid Indicator (hyb)

 

The hybrid indicator (hyb) is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms. By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Short-Term Ratings

 

P-1 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-2 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-3 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

NP Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Description of Moody’s U.S. Municipal Short-Term Obligation Ratings

 

The Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale is used to rate U.S. municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less. Under certain circumstances, the MIG scale is used to rate bond anticipation notes with maturities of up to five years.

 

Moody’s U.S. municipal short-term obligation ratings are as follows:

 

MIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

MIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

MIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

Description of Moody’s Demand Obligation Ratings

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), Moody’s assigns both a long-term rating and a short-term payment obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer’s ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term payment obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to meet any purchase price payment obligation resulting from optional tenders (“on demand”) and/or mandatory tenders of the VRDO. The short-term payment obligation rating uses the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (“VMIG”) scale. VMIG ratings with liquidity support use as an input the short-term counterparty risk assessment of the support provider, or the long-term rating of the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support. Transitions of VMIG ratings with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions of Prime ratings reflecting the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade. For VRDOs, Moody’s typically assigns a VMIG rating if the frequency of the payment obligation is less than every three years. If the frequency of the payment obligation is less than three years, but the obligation is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the VMIG short-term rating is not assigned and it is denoted as “NR”.

 

A-2

 

Moody’s demand obligation ratings are as follows:

 

VMIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or legal protections.

 

Description of S&P’s Issue Credit Ratings

 

An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term issue credit ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. S&P would typically assign a long-term issue credit rating to an obligation with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. However, the ratings S&P assigns to certain instruments may diverge from these guidelines based on market practices. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

 

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations:

 

• The likelihood of payment—the capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitments on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

 

• The nature and provisions of the financial obligation, and the promise S&P imputes; and

 

• The protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

 

A-3

 

An issue rating is an assessment of default risk but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

 

NR indicates that a rating has not been assigned or is no longer assigned.

 

Description of S&P’s Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings*

 

AAA An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

AA An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.

 

A An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.

 

BBB An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

BB; B; CCC; CC; and C Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.

 

BB An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CCC An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CC An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

C An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.

 

D An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

A-4

 

* Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.

 

Description of S&P’s Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

 

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

 

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

 

A-3 A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

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

 

D A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

Description of S&P’s Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings

 

An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

• Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

• Source of payment—the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

A-5

 

S&P’s municipal short-term note ratings are as follows:

 

SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

D ‘D’ is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.

 

Description of Fitch’s Credit Ratings

 

Fitch’s credit ratings relating to issuers are forward looking opinions on the relative ability of an entity or obligation to meet financial commitments. Credit ratings relating to securities and obligations of an issuer can include a recovery expectation. Credit ratings are used are indications of the likelihood of repayment in accordance with the terms of the issuance.

 

Fitch’s credit rating scale for issuers and issues is expressed using the categories ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’ (investment grade) and ‘BB’ to ‘D’ (speculative grade) with an additional +/- for AA through CCC levels indicating relative differences of probability of default or recovery for issues. The terms “investment grade” and “speculative grade” are market conventions and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the speculative grade categories signal either a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred.

 

Fitch may also disclose issues relating to a rated issuer that are not and have not been rated. Such issues are also denoted as ‘NR’ on its web page.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. Credit ratings do not deal with the risk of market value loss due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and/or other market considerations. However, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay or refinance a financial commitment. Ratings nonetheless do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, in the case of payments linked to performance of an index).

 

Credit ratings are indications of the likelihood of repayment in accordance with the terms of the issuance. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations (i.e. rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation’s documentation).

 

Description of Fitch’s Long-Term Corporate Finance Obligations Ratings

 

AAA Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

AA Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

A-6

 

A High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

BBB Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

BB Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

B Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

CCC Substantial credit risk. ‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.

 

CC Very high levels of credit risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.

 

C Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. ‘C’ ratings indicate exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Ratings in the categories of ‘CCC’, ‘CC’ and ‘C’ can also relate to obligations or issuers that are in default. In this case, the rating does not opine on default risk but reflects the recovery expectation only.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned ‘RD’ or ‘D’ ratings, but are instead rated in the ‘CCC’ to ‘C’ rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Description of Fitch’s Short-Term Ratings

 

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

 

Fitch’s short-term ratings are as follows:

 

F1 Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

F2 Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

F3 Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

B Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

C High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

 

A-7

 

RD Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

D Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

 

A-8

 

 

APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

CIBC logo

 

 

US Region Compliance

CIBC Private Wealth Management

Proxy Policy and Guidelines

 

 

 

 

Availability:

Trust Compliance\ROC1040-Governance Documents (Policy, Procedure Guidelines)(A+7)\Proxy Policy
Approved By: CIBC PWM Proxy Committee
Approval Date: February 20, 2024

 

 

 

CIBC Proxy Policy and Guidelines Internal

 

Contents

 

1.0 Summary and Scope 3
2.0 Key Resources 3
3.0 Roles and Responsibilities 3
4.0 Detailed Procedures 6
  4.1. Procedures for Proxy Voting 6
  4.2. Recordkeeping 7
  4.3. Conflicts of Interest 7
  4.4. Social Responsibility Issues 8
  4.5. Client Directed Votes/Overrides 8
  4.6. Proxy Voting Guidelines 8
    4.6.2 Corporate Governance and Organization Matters 9
    4.6.3 Capital Structure Transactions 10
    4.6.4 Stockholder Proposals 11
    4.6.5 International Investing 11
5 Maintenance and Review 12

  

2 

CIBCProxy Policy and GuidelinesInternal

 

1.0 Summary and Scope

 

The outcome of a proxy vote can have a significant impact on the value of a company. As fiduciaries of client or fund assets that include equities, CIBC National Trust Company, CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc., and CIBC Delaware Trust Company (collectively, “We”, “CIBC Private Wealth Management” or the “Companies”) are responsible for voting proxies in a prudent manner. We consider proxy voting to be a part of its fiduciary duty to protect and enhance the long-term interests of our clients. The fundamental precept followed by CIBC Private Wealth Management (“CIBC PWM”) in voting proxies is to ensure that the way in which shares are voted is in the best interest of clients/beneficiaries and the value of the investment.

 

CIBC PWM acquires a company's stock with the expectation that it will prove to be a good investment. Accordingly, consideration of proxy proposals is primarily focused on the investment implications of each proposal. In certain cases, such as international investing, practical considerations may make it impossible or disadvantageous to vote proxies in every instance.

 

The Companies, in their capacity as fiduciaries and to meet regulatory requirements, must document how client proxies are voted. The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) has promulgated rules that require registered investment advisers and registered investment companies to develop policies and procedures for proxy voting and to disclose such policies to their clients and shareholders. The SEC also requires these registered entities to maintain proxy voting records and make them available to clients and shareholders upon request.

 

This Proxy Policy (“Proxy Policy”) contains group-wide proxy-voting policies and procedures for CIBC PWM. This Proxy Policy will be reviewed and approved periodically by each of the Companies' boards (collectively, the “Boards”). Amendments may be made by the Investment Policy Committee (“IPC”) of CIBC PWM as ratified by the Boards.

 

2.0 Key Resources

 

ISS- an independent thirty party proxy voting service

 

3.0 Roles and Responsibilities

 

Role/Title Summary of Responsibilities
Proxy Voting Committee The Proxy Voting Committee (the “Proxy Committee”) is a sub-committee of the IPC. The Proxy Committee has responsibility for the content, interpretation and application of this Proxy Policy and Guidelines. Membership of the Proxy Committee consists of a group of senior CIBC PWM investment team members and members of the CIBC PWM operations and compliance teams. Meetings of the Proxy Committee may be called by the Chairperson or, in his or her absence, by any two committee members. Meetings may be conducted in-person or remotely. A majority of committee members present (in-person or by proxy) will constitute a quorum for the transacting of business at any meeting. The approval of proxy votes or changes to these policies and procedures or the Proxy Guidelines may be made by majority vote of those present (in person or by proxy) at a meeting called for that purpose. Alternatively, the Proxy Committee may approve proxy votes or changes to these policies and procedures or the Proxy Guidelines by a majority vote communicated remotely (without a meeting) or electronically, provided that any action so approved is properly documented and reflected in minutes of the next meeting of the Proxy Committee. In addition to the Proxy Committee’s evaluations and knowledge of the portfolio companies, the Proxy Committee may use independent research and input provided by third-parties.

 

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CIBCProxy Policy and GuidelinesInternal

 

 

Proxy Voting Service

CIBC PWM has engaged ISS, an independent third-party (the “Proxy Voting Service”) that is a leading provider of proxy vote and research services; CIBC PWM has delegated the responsibility to the Proxy Voting Service for the review of proxy proposals and making voting recommendations to the Proxy Committee. As is outlined in this Proxy Policy, the Proxy Committee believes that the selected proxy voting guidelines promulgated annually by the Proxy Voting Service are consistent with CIBC PWM’s philosophy on corporate governance and shareholder issues; further, the proxy voting guidelines provide a level of detail and research capabilities that the Proxy Committee would be unable to provide on its own. The Proxy Committee believes that the Proxy Voting Service’s guidelines reflect current best practices in the proxy industry and, subject to the special situations described later in this section, have adopted the Proxy Voting Service’s United States Benchmark Proxy Voting Guidelines as the guidelines to be followed by CIBC PWM for the current year (“Proxy Voting Guidelines”)

 

For proxy proposals that, under the Proxy Voting Guidelines, are to be voted on a case by case basis, CIBC PWM provides supplementary instructions to the Proxy Voting Service to guide its decision when making vote recommendations. CIBC PWM has instructed the Proxy Voting Service not to exercise any discretion in making vote recommendations and to seek guidance whenever it encounters situations that are either not covered by the Proxy Guidelines or where application of the Proxy Guidelines is unclear. In the event that the Proxy Voting Service does not or will not provide recommendations with respect to proxy proposals for securities over which CIBC PWM or its affiliates have voting discretion, the relevant proxy analyst at CIBC PWM responsible for the issuer or its business sector shall be responsible for reviewing the proxy proposal and making a voting recommendation to the Proxy Committee consistent with the Proxy Guidelines.

 

4 

CIBCProxy Policy and GuidelinesInternal

 

Proxy Administrator

The Proxy Committee has appointed a Proxy Administrator who is responsible for the administration and monitoring of the proxy voting process. The Proxy Administrator will coordinate as appropriate, between the Proxy Committee and the Proxy Voting Service to ensure that all proxies are voted and recorded in an accurate and timely manner.

 

The Proxy Administrator is also responsible for ensuring that shareholder requests for proxy voting records are responded to.

 

The Proxy Administrator will be responsible for the maintenance of records of all client specific direction with respect to proxy voting that are at variance from the CIBC PWM Guidelines.

 

The Proxy Administrator will share any issues relating to the proxy voting process or shareholder requests for proxy voting records at a regular meeting of the Proxy Committee and, along with any related discussion, will be incorporated into the minutes of that meeting.

Relationship Manager

Ensure the client account in the CIBC PWM system accurately reflects whether CIBC PWM or the client is responsible for voting proxies.

 

Ensure that clients who opt out of CIBC PWM voting proxies on their behalf are reported to both the Proxy Administrator and CIBC PWM Operations.

 

Where CIBC PWM votes proxies, but the client gives us direction with respect to particular stock or stocks, ensure that directed stocks are flagged for both the Proxy Administrator and CIBC PWM Operations so that the client's shares are voted in accordance with the client's direction.

 

5 

CIBCProxy Policy and GuidelinesInternal

 

4.0 Detailed Procedures

 

4.1.       Procedures for Proxy Voting

 

Proxies generally will be voted in accordance with the Proxy Voting Guidelines adopted by the Proxy Committee and contained in this Proxy Policy and Guidelines unless an issue warrants special consideration by the Proxy Committee or an issue falls outside the scope of the Proxy Voting Guidelines. In addition to the implementation of the Proxy Voting Guidelines, the Companies will rely upon the Proxy Administrator and Proxy Voting Service to assist with the administrative and ministerial aspects of the proxy voting process including, but not limited to, proxy voting, recordkeeping and the handling of client or shareholder requests, and have engaged the Proxy Voting Service in this regard. A description of the specific operations and procedures for each of the Companies is set forth below:

 

CIBC National Trust Company

 

CIBC National Trust Company (“NTC”) uses the Proxy Committee to oversee the voting of proxies for securities held in its client accounts. Proxies are generally voted in accordance with the Proxy Voting Guidelines. Issues that are not covered by the Proxy Voting Guidelines are referred to the Proxy Committee, which has authority to decide how the proxies shall be voted. In deciding how to vote proxies, the Proxy Committee may consult with the portfolio manager(s) or analysts of the accounts that hold the securities to be voted. The Proxy Administrator shall be responsible for notifying the Proxy Voting Service how to vote on these issues. NTC retains required documentation regarding the voting of proxies by it.

 

CIBC Delaware Trust Company

 

CIBC Delaware Trust Company (“DTC”) (together with NTC the “Trust Companies”) uses the Proxy Committee to oversee the voting of proxies for securities held in its client accounts. Proxies are generally voted in accordance with the Proxy Voting Guidelines. Issues that are not covered by the Proxy Voting Guidelines are referred to the Proxy Committee, which has authority to decide how the proxies shall be voted. In deciding how to vote proxies, the Proxy Committee may consult with the portfolio manager(s) and/or analysts of the accounts that hold the securities to be voted. The Proxy Administrator shall be responsible for notifying the Proxy Voting Service how to vote on these issues. DTC retains required documentation regarding the voting of proxies by it.

 

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc.

 

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. (the “Advisor”) may handle proxy voting in several ways. Where the client does not delegate to CIBC PWM proxy voting authority, and the account is custodied at an external custodian, proxy voting responsibility will be delegated to the external custodian, which votes proxies for securities held in these accounts in accordance with its own proxy voting policies and procedures.

 

In cases where proxy voting authority has been delegated to the Advisor, proxies are voted in accordance with the Proxy Voting Guidelines or, in certain cases, not covered by the Proxy Voting Guidelines as directed by the Proxy Committee. Issues that are not covered by the Proxy Voting Guidelines are referred to the Proxy Committee, which has authority to decide how the proxies shall be voted on these issues. In deciding how to vote proxies, the Proxy Committee may consult with the portfolio manager(s) and/or the analyst assigned to the funds or accounts that hold the securities to be voted. The Proxy Administrator shall be responsible for notifying the Proxy Voting Service how to vote on these issues.

 

6 

CIBCProxy Policy and GuidelinesInternal

 

Sub-Advisers

 

From time to time, CIBC PWM may use sub-advisers to perform investment advisory services for certain clients. It is the position of CIBC PWM that a sub-adviser generally is in the best position to vote proxies and therefore typically will arrange for the sub-advisers to assume responsibility for proxy voting in the sub-advisory agreement. Proxies will be voted in accordance with the proxy voting policies and procedures of the sub- adviser. Copies of sub-adviser's proxy voting policies will be reviewed by the Proxy Voting Committee and retained by the Proxy Voting Administrator.

 

4.2.       Recordkeeping

 

SEC-regulated entities must maintain and preserve proxy voting policies and voting records in an easily accessible place for no less than five (5) years (the first two of which must be in an appropriate office). In view of the fact that the Advisor is an SEC regulated entity, and each of the Trust Companies is a regulated entity, all proxy-related materials are retained for this length of time and include the following records:

 

Copies of the Proxy Policy and Guidelines, client disclosures and any amendments thereto;

 

A copy of each proxy statement that is received (or have arrangements in place with the Proxy Voting Service to retain a copy and provide promptly upon request);

 

A record of each vote cast on behalf of a client. (Or, have arrangements in place with the Proxy Voting Service to record votes cast and provide a copy of such record promptly upon request);

 

Any other documentation that was used in the decision-making process or that memorializes the basis for the decision;

 

A copy of each written client request for information on how proxies are voted and any responses to client requests.

 

The Proxy Committee will be responsible for the provision of copies of the foregoing records upon the request of any client. It is generally the practice of CIBC PWM not to disclose its proxy voting records to third parties, except as may be required by applicable laws and regulations.

 

4.3.       Conflicts of Interest

 

In most cases, proxies are voted in accordance with the specific provisions articulated in the Proxy Voting Guidelines and conflicts of interest generally do not arise. However, conflicts, either perceived or actual, may occur. Should a conflict of interest arise, the Proxy Committee may resolve the conflict in any of the following ways, or other manner consistent with its duty of loyalty and care, depending upon the facts and circumstances of each situation and the requirements of applicable law:

 

Vote pursuant to client direction;

Vote pursuant to the Proxy Voting Service recommendation; or

Abstain from voting.

 

Specific examples of potential conflict of interest include:

 

A client account at one of the Companies which holds CIBC (CM) stock. CIBC PWM will not accept delegation of the voting authority on CM proxies;

 

Clients who are corporate insiders or are otherwise connected to the senior management of a publicly traded company, often direct that proxies for the company be voted in accord with management recommendations. It is the practice of CIBC PWM that when accounts are set up for these clients, the Relationship Manager must flag the stock in question such that the proxy for that company so that the Proxy Committee is on notice that the client may wish to vote their proxies in alignment with management recommendations. At client direction we will vote the client's proxies with management which is potentially not in agreement with the Proxy Voting Guidelines and/or the Proxy Voting Service recommendation.

 

7 

CIBCProxy Policy and GuidelinesInternal

 

Any conflict presented regarding the voting of proxies will be reviewed on a quarterly basis and recorded in the minutes of the Proxy Committee meeting.

 

4.4.       Social Responsibility Issues

 

Under our Proxy Voting Guidelines, CIBC PWM votes proxies with a primary focus on the investment implications of each issue. Accordingly, social issues generally are considered within the context of our clients' financial interests. However, ESG portfolios and clients who wish to incorporate social responsibility into their proxy voting we offer the ability to add a proxy override to their account and elect a socially responsible proxy option. At present, this option is SRI Proxy Voting Guidelines published annually by the Proxy Voting Service. As with all Proxy Voting Service guidelines adopted by the Proxy Committee, the results of the annual review of the Proxy Voting Service SRI Proxy Voting Guidelines will be presented at a regular meeting of the Proxy Committee and, along with any related discussion, will be incorporated into the minutes of that meeting.

 

4.5.       Client Directed Votes/Overrides

 

CIBC PWM serves a diverse group of clients, some of whom possess concentrated holdings in public companies or have expressed interest in a particular company. On occasion, CIBC PWM's proxy voting policies may contradict a client's views on a particular issue and the client will seek to vote his or her own position of shares. In these instances, the CIBC PWM will, if operationally feasible, take direction from the individual client and override the vote with respect to that client's shares. (Due to the amount of time required to remove an individual client's securities from the CIBC PWM's electronic voting file, it may be impossible to separately vote the proxy for an individual client's securities on a pending proposal.) The Proxy Administrator will document and maintain records of all voting exceptions.

 

4.6.       Proxy Voting Guidelines

 

The Proxy Committee believes that the ISS US Benchmark Proxy Voting Guidelines effect current best practices in the proxy industry and therefore has adopted these proxy voting guidelines as the institutional level guidelines to be followed by CIBC PWM. However, in deciding whether to support or oppose a proxy proposal, we seek to assure that the proposal is consistent with the following general principles.

 

4.6.1Management

 

As part of the investment process, CIBC PWM evaluates the management of all portfolio companies. The ability and judgment of management is, in our opinion, one of the most critical factors in determining the investment merits of any portfolio company. CIBC PWM generally will not hold securities of companies whose management it questions, and accordingly, gives substantial weight to management opinions. CIBC PWM generally casts most of its proxy votes, particularly on routine matters, in accordance with management recommendations.

 

8 

CIBCProxy Policy and GuidelinesInternal

 

CIBC PWM will generally vote in favor of the following proxy resolutions:

 

Separate CEO and Chairman positions

 

Annual election of board of directors

 

Proposals related to declassifying or staggered boards; all directors should stand for election every year

 

Independent audit, compensation, nominating and governance committees

 

Authorization of increases in common shares provided the amount requested is necessary for sound business practice and is reasonable given the company's industry and performance history

 

Mandatory share ownership - executives and directors should be required to own a minimum level of equity ownership in the companies on whose board they sit.

 

However, when the Proxy Committee believes that the position of management may not be in the best interests of shareholders, the Proxy Committee may vote against management recommendations. As a general rule, CIBC PWM votes against any proposals that:

 

Reduce the rights of shareholder,

 

Reduce shareholder influence over the board of directors and management,

 

Adversely affect the alignment of interests between management and shareholders or reduce the value of an investment.

 

In addition, absent specific prior authorization from the Proxy Committee, CIBC PWM generally does not:

 

Announce its voting intentions and the reasons.

 

Participate in a proxy solicitation or otherwise seek proxy-voting authority from any other portfolio company shareholder.

 

Act in concert with other portfolio company shareholders in connection with any proxy issue or other activity involving the control or management of a portfolio company including those shareholders who are under “common control” with the CIBC PWM.

 

4.6.2Corporate Governance and Organization Matters

 

Proposals that could allow management to disregard the opinions of shareholders relating to major corporate changes will generally be opposed. These include:

 

Restrict or prohibit the right of shareholders to call a special meeting

 

Restrict or prohibit the right of shareholders to take action by written consent

 

Adopt anti-takeover provisions, including the issuance of new shares, shareholder rights plans (poison pills), and golden parachutes. We will generally withhold votes on all members of the board if new shares are issued, or if a poison pill or golden parachute was implemented or extended without shareholder approval. The link between the financial interests of shareholders and their right to consider and accept buyout offers is significant, and therefore it is important that shareholders be allowed to weigh in and vote on whether they support a rights plan

 

9 

CIBCProxy Policy and GuidelinesInternal

 

In the majority of cases, management’s slate of nominees to a board of directors is unopposed and will generally be approved, unless specific information reveals that a particular candidate is unfit to serve.

 

Generally, CIBC PWM supports management proposals that:

 

Indemnify directors unless otherwise inappropriate.

 

Assure that a majority of the board consisting of outside directors to encourage objective oversight and to make a variety of experience and opinions available to management.

 

Assure that inside directors prohibited from serving on the audit committee of the board of directors.

 

Provide that a majority of the compensation committee should be outside directors.

 

Amend a corporate charter to change the scope of business description or fiscal year of a corporation generally.

 

Appoint independent auditors.

 

Proposals at variance to these positions will generally be opposed. In addition, CIBC PWM will also generally oppose management proposals that:

 

Change the state of incorporation unless there is a compelling reason to do so.

 

Limit special meetings.

 

Alter by-laws to require for a supermajority for stockholder approval

 

4.6.3Capital Structure Transactions

 

When evaluating proposed changes to capital structure, changes that could dilute the interests of the shareholders will be carefully examined and generally opposed. Proposals giving a board unlimited authority to issue “blank check preferred” stock will be opposed. Such authority could be used to issue preferred stock for little or no consideration and such stock could have voting, liquidation, and dividend rights superior to the common shares. The board could also use the threat to issue blank check preferred as an anti-takeover device.

 

Proposals to increase the number of authorized shares outstanding will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in light of the reasons stated in the proxy. Proposals to increase authorized shares to accommodate stock dividends, splits or other clearly defined needs generally will be approved. However, proposals to increase authorized stock without appropriate management explanation and for purposes other than the benefit of shareholders generally will be opposed. Management proposals to eliminate preemptive rights generally will be approved, except in closely held companies. Approval to repurchase shares will ordinarily be given as share repurchase programs tend to support the price of the stock and shares are generally only repurchased when management cannot find an appropriate use for excess corporate funds.

 

In the case of competing tender offers, the highest offer will generally be approved in the absence of contrary overriding circumstances. The payment of “greenmail” to convince a potential acquirer to drop its bid would usually be an improper use of corporate assets and accordingly, will be opposed.

 

10 

CIBCProxy Policy and GuidelinesInternal

 

In the case of competing tender offers, the highest offer will generally be approved in the absence of contrary overriding circumstances. The payment of “greenmail” to convince a potential acquirer to drop its bid would usually be an improper use of corporate assets and accordingly, will be opposed.

 

4.6.4Stockholder Proposals

 

In voting stockholder proposals, CIBC PWM generally supports proposals dealing with:

 

Expanded financial information;

 

Annual election of all board members;

 

Majority rights;

 

Anti-greenmail charter provisions;

 

Equal access to proxy process;

 

Right of shareholders to act by written consent;

 

Right of shareholders to vote on a Poison Pill;

 

Confidential voting; or

 

Requiring a majority of the Audit and Compensation committees to be comprised of outside directors.

 

In voting on stockholder proposals, CIBC PWM generally opposes proposals dealing with:

 

Specific boycotts or restrictions based on political, special interest or international trade considerations that would impair the company's ability to do business; such as restrictions on political contributions;

 

Requiring directors to own stock;

 

Cumulative voting; or

 

By-law amendments by shareholder vote.

 

4.6.5International Investing

 

Laws governing non-U.S. issuers may vary significantly from U.S. law and from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. For example, many non-U.S. jurisdictions impose the following material burdens on voting proxies:

 

Share-blocking. Shares must be frozen for certain periods of time to vote via proxy.

 

Share re-registration. Shares must be re-registered out of the name of the local custodian or nominee into the name of the client for the meeting and, in many cases, then re-registered back. Shares are normally blocked during this period.

 

Powers of attorney. Detailed documentation from a client must be given to the local sub-custodian. In many cases the investment adviser is not authorized to deliver this information or sign the relevant documents. Further, the expense of obtaining Powers of Attorney for non-U.S. jurisdictions may outweigh the value of voting proxies. However, from time to time, CIBC PWA may seek Powers of Attorney for non-U.S. jurisdictions in order to vote proxy for securities held in mutual funds sub-advised by CIBC PWA.

 

11 

CIBCProxy Policy and GuidelinesInternal

 

Before making a decision, the Proxy Committee will weigh the advantages and disadvantages to voting in these jurisdictions. Where the Proxy Committee believes it is in the best interest of the client to vote, it will do so in accordance with the Proxy Voting Guidelines, where applicable.

 

5 Maintenance and Review

 

This Proxy Policy and Guidelines will be reviewed no less than annually by the Proxy Committee at a regular meeting of the Proxy Committee and, along with any related discussion, will be incorporated into the minutes of that meeting.

 

Version Control

 

Version Name Effective Date Version Updates (Material)
Proxy Policy and Guidelines February 20, 2024 Annual Review
Proxy Policy and Guidelines February 8, 2023 New Format

 

12 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund

Ticker Symbol: HAVGX

 

Prospectus

March 1, 2024

 

 

Investment Adviser:

Haverford Financial Services, Inc.

 

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

 

 

About This Prospectus

 

This Prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this important information. For detailed information about the Fund, please see:

 

   

Page

Fund Summary

1

Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategy

2

Principal Risks

3

Performance Information

3

Investment Adviser

5

Portfolio Managers

5

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

6

Tax Information

6

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

6

More Information about the Fund’s Objective and Investments

7

More Information about Risk

8

Information about Portfolio Holdings

9

Investment Adviser

9

Portfolio Managers

10

Historical Performance Data of the Adviser

11

Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares

12

Other Policies

21

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

24

Dividends and Distributions

26

Taxes

26

Additional Information

28

Financial Highlights

29

How to Obtain More Information about the Fund

Back Cover

 

 

 

HAVGX Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund Shares

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

 

The Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is long-term growth of capital.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

Management Fees

0.60%

Other Expenses

0.21%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses1

0.81%

 

1

Haverford Financial Services, Inc. (“Haverford” or the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, extraordinary expenses, and amounts payable pursuant to any plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets until February 28, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee reductions or expense reimbursements made during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain

 

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the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

$83

$259

$450

$1,002

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 13% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategy

 

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The Fund focuses on U.S. listed common stocks issued by companies with large market capitalizations that the Adviser believes are quality companies with stock that offers the potential for future price appreciation. The Adviser considers quality growth companies to: have a history of predictable and consistent earnings growth; have regular, growing dividend payments; and be industry leaders in their respective categories. After screening companies based on these criteria, the Adviser invests in companies that it believes offer exceptional financial strength, industry position, franchise recognition, and consistent and predictable growth in earnings and dividends. Using this strategy, the Fund will ordinarily expect to hold stocks of 25 to 35 different companies.

 

The Fund seeks to buy and hold its securities for the long term and seeks to keep portfolio turnover to a minimum. However, the Adviser may sell a security for the following reasons: in response to deterioration in a company’s business prospects, performance, or financial strength; when it becomes over-valued or comprises too large of a position in the Fund’s portfolio; or when better opportunities are available among similar companies.

 

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Principal Risks

 

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

Although the Fund is diversified, its investment strategy often results in a relatively focused portfolio of stocks of companies that it believes hold the most growth potential. As a result, poor performance or adverse economic events affecting one or more of these companies could have a greater impact on the Fund than it would on another mutual fund with a broader range of investments.

 

The Fund is also subject to the risk that large-cap growth stocks may underperform other equity market segments or the equity market as a whole.

 

Performance Information

 

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for 1, 5 and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.

 

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Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on the Fund’s website at www.haverfordfunds.com or by calling 1-866-301-7212.

 

 

 

BEST QUARTER

WORST QUARTER

18.23%

(20.71)%

(06/30/2020)

(03/31/2020)

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns will depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”).

 

Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since
Inception
(06/30/04)

Fund Returns Before Taxes

9.25%

12.92%

9.21%

7.10%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

8.04%

11.94%

8.30%

6.50%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

6.32%

10.30%

7.37%

5.86%

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

26.29%

15.69%

12.03%

9.76%

 

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Investment Adviser

 

 

Haverford Financial Services, Inc.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

 

Joseph J. McLaughlin, Jr., Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Investment Selection Committee and Board of Directors, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2004.

 

Keith P. Aleardi, President and Member of the Investment Selection Committee and Board of Directors, has managed the Fund since 2023.

 

Henry B. Smith, Vice President, Head of Investment Strategy and Member of the Investment Selection Committee, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2004.

 

John H. Donaldson, Vice President, Director of Fixed Income and Member of the Investment Selection Committee, has managed the Fund since 2009.

 

Timothy A. Hoyle, Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Member of the Investment Selection Committee, has managed the Fund since 2009.

 

Maxine A. Cuffe, Vice President, Director of Global Strategies and Member of the Investment Selection Committee, has managed the Fund since 2020.

 

Halie W. O’Shea, Vice President, Director of Research and Member of the Investment Selection Committee, has managed the Fund since 2020.

 

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Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

 

To purchase shares of the Fund for the first time, including an initial purchase through an IRA, you must invest at least $2,500. There is no minimum for subsequent investments. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business by contacting the Fund directly by mail at: Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail Address: Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105) or by telephone at 1-866-301-7212.

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to redeem your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

Tax Information

 

 

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as qualified dividend income, ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distribution will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

 

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

 

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More Information about the Fund’s Objective and Investments

 

 

The investment objective of the Fund is long-term growth of capital. The investment objective of the Fund cannot be changed without shareholder approval.

 

This Prospectus describes the Fund’s principal investment strategies, and the Fund will normally invest in the types of securities described in this Prospectus. The Fund has adopted a non-fundamental policy to invest, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities. This non-fundamental policy may be changed upon 60 days’ written notice to shareholders. Equity securities include public and privately issued equity securities, common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights to subscribe to common stock and convertible securities, shares of American Depositary Receipts, as well as instruments that attempt to track the price movement of equity indices. In addition to the investments and strategies described in this Prospectus, the Fund also may invest, to a lesser extent, in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategy. These investments and strategies, as well as those described in this Prospectus, are described in detail in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”). (For information on how to obtain a copy of the SAI see the back cover of this Prospectus.) Of course, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment goal.

 

The investments and strategies described in this Prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments and other cash equivalents that would not ordinarily be consistent with its investment objective. If the Fund invests in this manner, it may not achieve its investment objective. The Fund will only make temporary defensive investments if the Adviser believes that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity for growth of capital.

 

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More Information about Risk

 

 

Investing in the Fund involves risk, and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good of a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund, just as you could with similar investments.

 

The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the value of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets in which they trade. The effect on the Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings.

 

Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations, and by businesses, including changes to operations and reducing staff. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests will cause the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) to fluctuate. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

 

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Information about Portfolio Holdings

 

 

A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the circumstances under which the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings is available in the SAI. The Fund posts its ten largest portfolio holdings as of the end of the most recent calendar month on the internet at www.haverfordfunds.com. This information is generally provided within two days of each month end. The Adviser may exclude any portion of the Fund’s portfolio holdings from such publication when deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund. The portfolio holdings information placed on the website generally will remain there until such information is included in a filing with the SEC.

 

Investment Adviser

 

 

Haverford Financial Services, Inc., founded in 2003, serves as Adviser to the Fund. The Adviser’s principal place of business is located at Three Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450, Radnor, PA 19087-4546. The Adviser is wholly owned by Drexel Morgan & Co. and is an affiliate of The Haverford Trust Company (“Haverford Trust”). Founded in 1979, Haverford Trust offers investment management, trust and estate services, and private banking. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $346 million in assets under management. The Adviser makes investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Fund’s investment program. The Board oversees the Adviser and establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its management activities.

 

For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to an investment advisory fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.60%, based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep the Fund’s net operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, extraordinary expenses, and amounts payable pursuant to any plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets until February 28, 2025. The contractual expense limitation agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board, for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the

 

9

 

 

 

Fund the difference between the total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap, to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee reductions or expense reimbursements made during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment if at any point total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid 0.60% of its average daily net assets in advisory fees to the Adviser.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement is available in the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders dated October 31, 2023, which covers the period from November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2023.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

 

The Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Joseph J. McLaughlin, Jr., Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Investment Selection Committee and Board of Directors, joined Haverford in 2004 and has over 35 years of investment experience. Mr. McLaughlin received a B.S. from St. Joseph’s University.

 

Keith P. Aleardi, President and Member of the Investment Selection Committee and Board of Directors, joined Haverford in 2023 and has over 30 years of investment experience. Prior to joining Haverford, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer for Fulton Bank from 2011 to January 2023. Mr. Aleardi received a B.A. from Ursinus College.

 

Henry B. Smith, Vice President, Head of Investment Strategy and Member of the Investment Selection Committee, joined Haverford in 2004 and has over 35 years of investment experience. Mr. Smith received a B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College.

 

John H. Donaldson, Vice President, Director of Fixed Income and Member of the Investment Selection Committee, joined Haverford in 2008 and has over 40 years of investment experience. Mr. Donaldson holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation and received a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.

 

Timothy A. Hoyle, Vice President, Chief Investment Officer and Member of the Investment Selection Committee, joined Haverford in

 

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2004 and has over 20 years of investment experience. Mr. Hoyle holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation and received a B.S. from Drexel University.

 

Maxine A. Cuffe, Vice President, Director of Global Strategies and Member of the Investment Selection Committee, joined Haverford in 2017 and has over 20 years of investment experience. Ms. Cuffe holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation and received a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia.

 

Halie W. O’Shea, Vice President, Director of Research and Member of the Investment Selection Committee joined Haverford in 2018 and has over 20 years of investment experience. Ms. O’Shea received an M.B.A. from New York University and a B.S. from Northwestern University.

 

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

 

Historical Performance Data of the Adviser

 

 

The following table represents the performance information for all the private accounts managed by Haverford Trust with investment objectives, policies and strategies that are substantially similar to those of the Fund, as well as a comparison to the Fund’s performance benchmark. These private accounts were managed by the same team of investment professionals that currently manage the investments of the Fund. These similarly managed private accounts are referred to as Haverford Trust’s “Quality Equity Composite.”

 

Haverford Trust has prepared and presented its performance results in compliance with the performance presentation standards of Global Investment Performance Standards (“GIPS®”). The manner in which the performance was calculated for the Quality Equity Composite differs from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) standardized method of calculating performance for mutual funds. The performance of the Quality Equity Composite (net of fees) reflects Haverford Trust’s applicable account fees and expenses, however the Fund’s fees and expenses are generally expected to be higher than those of the accounts included in the Quality Equity Composite. If the Fund’s fees and expenses had been imposed on the accounts included in the Quality Equity Composite, the performance shown below would have been lower. For example, the Quality Equity Composite does not reflect custody fees or other expenses normally paid by mutual funds. Further, the accounts included in the Quality Equity Composite were not subject to the investment limitations, diversification requirements and other legal and tax restrictions that are applicable to the Fund.

 

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If these limitations and restrictions were imposed on the accounts included in the Quality Equity Composite, it could have adversely affected their performance.

 

The information in the table does not represent the historical performance of the Fund. It shows the performance of similar accounts managed by the Adviser. The performance of the Quality Equity Composite is no guarantee of the future performance of the Fund.

 

 

Average Annual Total Return for

the Periods Ended December 31, 2023

Composite/Benchmark

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since
Inception
1

Quality Equity Composite (gross of fees)

9.96%

13.51%

9.87%

12.20%

Quality Equity Composite (net of fees)

8.86%

12.38%

8.78%

11.08%

S&P 500 Index2

26.29%

15.96%

12.03%

11.98%

 

1

Inception date is 1/1/1979.

 

2

The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged capitalization-weighted index of 500 stocks designed to measure performance of the broad domestic economy through changes in the aggregate market value of 500 stocks representing all major industries.

 

Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares

 

 

This section tells you how to purchase and sell (sometimes called “redeem”) shares of the Fund.

 

The Fund is for individual and institutional investors.

 

For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Taxes.”

 

How to Purchase Fund Shares

 

To purchase shares directly from the Fund through its transfer agent, complete and send in the application. If you need an application or have questions, please call 1-866-301-7212.

 

All investments must be made by check, Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), or wire. All checks must be made payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept purchases made by third-party checks, credit cards, credit card checks, cash, traveler’s checks, money orders or cashier’s checks.

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject any specific purchase order for any reason. The Fund is not intended for short-term trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For

 

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more information about the Fund’s policy on short-term trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

The Fund does not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Fund subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Fund for more information.

 

By Mail

 

You can open an account with the Fund by sending a check and your account application to the address below. You can add to an existing account by sending the Fund a check and, if possible, the “Invest By Mail” stub that accompanies your confirmation statement. Be sure your check identifies clearly your name, your account number and the Fund’s name. Make your check payable to “Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund.”

 

Regular Mail Address

 

Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

 

Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of purchase orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Wire

 

To open an account by wire, call 1-866-301-7212 for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the wiring instructions set forth below (be sure to include the Fund name and your account number). The share price used to fill the purchase order

 

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is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the wire in good order.

 

Wiring Instructions

 

UMB Bank, N.A.
ABA #101000695
The Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund
DDA Acct. #9870523965
Ref: Fund name/account number/account name

 

By Automatic Investment Plan (via ACH)

 

You may not open an account via ACH. However, once you have established an account, you can set up an automatic investment plan by mailing a completed application to the Fund. These purchases can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually in amounts of at least $25. To cancel or change a plan, write to the Fund at: Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail Address: Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105). Please allow up to 15 days to create the plan and 3 days to cancel or change it.

 

Purchases In-Kind

 

Subject to the approval of the Fund, an investor may purchase shares of the Fund with liquid securities and other assets that are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an appropriate investment for the Fund. Assets purchased by the Fund in such a transaction will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

 

General Information

 

You may purchase shares on any day that the NYSE is open for business (a “Business Day”). Shares cannot be purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days when either the NYSE or the Federal Reserve is closed.

 

The Fund’s price per share will be the next determined NAV per share after the Fund or an authorized institution (defined below) receives and accepts your purchase order in good order. “Good order” means that the Fund was provided a complete and signed account application,

 

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including the investor’s social security number or tax identification number, and other identification required by law or regulation, as well as sufficient purchase proceeds. Purchase orders that are not in good order cannot be accepted and processed even if money to purchase shares has been submitted by wire, check or ACH.

 

The Fund calculates its NAV once each Business Day as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day’s NAV, the Fund (or an authorized institution) must receive and accept your purchase order in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE. If your purchase order is not received and accepted in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV calculated on the subsequent Business Day on which your order is received and accepted in good order. If the NYSE closes early, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading, the Fund reserves the right to calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. The Fund will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or any other special conditions. Shares will only be priced on Business Days.

 

Buying or Selling Shares through a Financial Intermediary

 

In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from the Fund through its transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of the Fund through accounts with financial intermediaries such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. When you purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to the financial intermediary at an earlier time for your transaction to become effective that day. This allows the financial intermediary time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund prior to the time the Fund calculates its NAV that day. Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. If your financial intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses. Unless your financial intermediary is an authorized institution, orders transmitted by the financial intermediary and received by the Fund after the time NAV is calculated for a particular day will receive the following day’s NAV.

 

Certain financial intermediaries, including certain broker-dealers and shareholder organizations, are authorized to act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to the receipt of purchase and redemption orders

 

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for Fund shares (“authorized institutions”). Authorized institutions are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized institution or, if applicable, an authorized institution’s designee, receives the order. Orders will be priced at the Fund’s next computed NAV after they are received by an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee. To determine whether your financial intermediary is an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee such that it may act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

If you deal directly with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with the Fund. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for your purchase and/or redemption transactions. For more information about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

How the Fund Calculates NAV

 

The NAV of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding.

 

In calculating NAV, the Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price. If market prices are not readily available or are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that is assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

Although the Fund invests primarily in the stocks of U.S. companies that are traded on U.S. exchanges, there may be limited circumstances

 

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in which the Adviser would price such securities at fair value – for example, if the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closed early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time the Fund calculated its NAV.

 

Minimum Purchases

 

You can open an account (including an IRA) with a minimum initial investment of $2,500. There is no minimum for subsequent investments. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

Fund Codes

 

The Fund’s reference information, which is listed below, will be helpful to you when you contact the Fund to purchase shares, check daily NAV, or obtain additional information.

 

Fund Name

Ticker Symbol

CUSIP

Fund Code

Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund

HAVGX

0075W0866

1225

 

How to Sell Your Fund Shares

 

If you own your shares directly, you may sell your shares on any Business Day by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-866-301-7212.

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to sell your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

If you would like to have your sales proceeds, including proceeds generated as a result of closing your account, sent to a third party or an address other than your own, please notify the Fund in writing.

 

Certain redemption requests will require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor institution. Eligible guarantors include commercial banks, savings and loans, savings banks, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any other member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. For example, signature guarantees may be required if your address of record has changed in the last 30 days, if you want the proceeds sent to a bank other than the bank of record on your account, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address.

 

17

 

 

 

Please note that a notary public is not an acceptable provider of a signature guarantee and that the Fund must be provided with the original guarantee. Signature guarantees are for the protection of Fund shareholders. Before it grants a redemption request, the Fund may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to ensure proper authorization.

 

Accounts held by a corporation, trust, fiduciary or partnership, may require additional documentation along with a signature guaranteed letter of instruction. The Fund participates in the Paperless Legal Program (the “Program”), which eliminates the need for accompanying paper documentation on legal securities transfers. Requests received with a Medallion Signature Guarantee will be reviewed for the proper criteria to meet the guidelines of the Program and may not require additional documentation. Please contact Shareholder Services at 1-866-301-7212 for more information.

 

The sale price of each share will be the next-determined NAV after the Fund (or an authorized institution) receives and accepts your request in good order.

 

By Mail

 

To redeem shares by mail, please send a letter to the Fund signed by all registered parties on the account specifying:

 

 

The Fund name;

 

 

The account number;

 

 

The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;

 

 

The account name(s); and

 

 

The address to which redemption (sale) proceeds should be sent.

 

All registered shareholders must sign the letter in the exact name(s) in which their account is registered and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.

 

Regular Mail Address

 

Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

 

18

 

 

 

Express Mail Address

 

Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of sale orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the sale order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Telephone

 

You must first establish the telephone redemption privilege (and, if desired, the wire or ACH redemption privileges) by completing the appropriate sections of the account application. Call 1-866-301-7212 to redeem your shares. Based on your instructions, the Fund will mail your proceeds to you, or send them to your bank via wire or ACH.

 

Receiving Your Money

 

Normally, the Fund will send your sale proceeds within one Business Day after it receives your redemption request. The Fund, however, may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account (may be subject to a $10 fee), sent to you by check or sent via ACH to your bank account if you have established banking instructions with the Fund. If you are selling shares that were recently purchased by check or through ACH, redemption proceeds may not be available until your check has cleared or the ACH transaction has been completed (which may take up to 15 days from your date of purchase).

 

The Fund typically expects to sell portfolio assets and/or hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. On a less regular basis, the Fund may also meet redemption requests by using short-term borrowings from its custodian and/or redeeming shares in-kind (as described below). These methods may be used during both normal and stressed market conditions.

 

By Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH)

 

If your account balance is at least $10,000, you may transfer as little as $100 per month from your account to another financial institution. To

 

19

 

 

 

participate in this service you must complete the appropriate sections of the account application and mail it to the Fund.

 

Redemptions In Kind

 

The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders, the Fund might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in kind). The Fund may also redeem in kind to discourage short term trading of shares. It is highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in kind, but if they were, you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption. In addition, you would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in kind until they are sold.

 

Involuntary Redemptions of Your Shares

 

If your account balance drops below $2,500 because of redemptions, you may be required to sell your shares. The Fund will provide you at least 30 days’ written notice to give you time to add to your account and avoid the involuntary redemption of your shares. The Fund reserves the right to waive the minimum account value requirement in its sole discretion.

 

Suspension of Your Right to Sell Your Shares

 

The Fund may suspend your right to sell your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC. More information about this is in the SAI.

 

Telephone Transactions

 

Purchasing and selling Fund shares over the telephone is extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or costs incurred by following telephone instructions it reasonably believes to be genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund over the telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.

 

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Other Policies

 

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourages shareholders from engaging in “market timing” or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Fund may present risks to the Fund’s long-term shareholders and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests, and experiencing increased transaction costs.

 

The Fund’s service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Fund’s policies and procedures described in this Prospectus and approved by the Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Fund’s service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control. The Fund’s policies and procedures include:

 

 

Shareholders are restricted from making more than four (4) “round trips” into or out of the Fund per calendar year. If a shareholder exceeds this amount, the Fund and/or its service providers may, at their discretion, reject any additional purchase orders. The Fund defines a “round trip” as a purchase into the Fund by a shareholder, followed by a subsequent redemption out of the Fund, of an amount the Adviser reasonably believes would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

The Fund and/or its service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. The Fund does not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders. Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in the Fund will occur. Systematic purchases and redemptions are exempt from these policies.

 

21

 

 

 

Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Fund has entered into “information sharing agreements” with these financial intermediaries, which permit the Fund to obtain, upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary’s customers that invest in the Fund. If the Fund or its service providers identify omnibus account level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Fund, the Fund or its service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Fund or its service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Fund, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Fund by that customer. If the Fund is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Fund may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Fund’s shares is requested by the Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Fund on behalf of other persons.

 

The Fund and its service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Fund to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary’s customers. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

What this means to you: When you open an account, the Fund will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Fund to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.

 

22

 

 

 

The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

 

In certain instances, the Fund is required to collect documents to fulfill its legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.

 

Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker. If this information cannot be obtained within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund, your application will be rejected.

 

Upon receipt of your application in good order or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application, your investment will be accepted and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV.

 

The Fund reserves the right to close or liquidate your account at the next-determined NAV and remit proceeds to you via check if it is unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund. Further, the Fund reserves the right to hold your proceeds until your original check clears the bank, which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

Customer identification and verification is part of the Fund’s overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Fund has adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Fund reserves the right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund or in cases when the Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Fund is required to withhold such proceeds.

 

23

 

 

 

Unclaimed Property

 

Each state has unclaimed property rules that generally provide for escheatment (or transfer) to the state of unclaimed property under various circumstances. Such circumstances include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or “RPO,” as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once it flags property as unclaimed, the Fund will attempt to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state.

 

Shareholders that reside in the state of Texas may designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that can be found on the website of the Texas Comptroller. While the designated representative does not have any rights to claim or access the shareholder’s account or assets, the escheatment period will cease if the representative communicates knowledge of the shareholder’s location and confirms that the shareholder has not abandoned his or her property. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Fund (if shares are held directly with the Fund) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if shares are not held directly with the Fund).

 

More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-866-301-7212.

 

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

 

 

The Fund and/or the Adviser may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to the Fund and/or its shareholders. Financial intermediaries include affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates. This section briefly describes how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing these services. For more information please see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

Payments by the Fund

 

The Fund may enter into agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which the Fund may pay financial intermediaries for non-distribution-related sub-transfer agency, administrative, sub-

 

24

 

 

 

accounting, and other shareholder services. Payments made pursuant to such agreements are generally based on either (1) a percentage of the average daily net assets of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary, or (2) the number of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary.

 

Payments by the Adviser

 

From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support for the Fund. These payments are sometimes characterized as “revenue sharing” payments and are made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own legitimate profits or other resources, and may be in addition to any payments made to financial intermediaries by the Fund. A financial intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments for making shares of the Fund available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Fund with “shelf space,” placing it on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Fund in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries.

 

The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary or the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV or price of the Fund’s shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders.

 

25

 

 

 

In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, commissions or transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Fund, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

 

The Fund distributes its net investment income quarterly and makes distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Fund shares on the Fund’s record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.

 

You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you must notify the Fund in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Fund receives your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Fund written notice.

 

Taxes

 

 

Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific questions about U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax issues that affect the Fund and its shareholders. This summary is based on current tax laws, which may change. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future.

 

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”). If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable whether you receive them in cash or you

 

26

 

 

 

reinvest them in additional shares of the Fund. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Fund as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain foreign countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). Once a year the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information for Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares have a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review any cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is

 

27

 

 

 

known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

Each sale of Fund shares may be a taxable event. Assuming a shareholder holds Fund shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for 12 months or less or as a long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale of shares of the Fund).

 

The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund receives from sources in foreign countries.

 

Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

More information about taxes is in the SAI.

 

Additional Information

 

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to

 

28

 

 

 

purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this Prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

The table that follows presents performance information about the Fund. This information is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Some of this information reflects financial information for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information provided below has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund. The financial statements and the unqualified opinion of Ernst & Young LLP are included in the 2023 Annual Report of the Fund, which is available upon request by calling the Fund at 1-866-301-7212.

 

29

 

 

 

Financial Highlights
Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund

 

 

 

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 
   

Year Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 22.47     $ 26.20     $ 18.98     $ 18.32     $ 17.33  

Income from Investment Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Income(1)

    0.23       0.20       0.19       0.19       0.22  

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    (0.14 )     (2.43 )     7.22       0.72       1.73  

Total from Investment Operations

    0.09       (2.23 )     7.41       0.91       1.95  

Dividends and Distributions:

                                       

Net Investment Income

    (0.23 )     (0.19 )     (0.19 )     (0.19 )     (0.22 )

Net Realized Gains

    (1.04 )     (1.31 )           (0.06 )     (0.74 )

Total Dividends and Distributions

    (1.27 )     (1.50 )     (0.19 )     (0.25 )     (0.96 )

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 21.29     $ 22.47     $ 26.20     $ 18.98     $ 18.32  

Total Return*

    0.29 %     (9.15 )%     39.13 %     5.04 %     12.47 %
                                         

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 276,962     $ 287,528     $ 319,502     $ 233,545     $ 222,968  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (including fees paid indirectly)

    0.81 %     0.80 %     0.80 %     0.81 %     0.81 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (excluding fees paid indirectly)

    0.81 %     0.80 %     0.80 %     0.81 %     0.81 %

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets

    1.01 %     0.83 %     0.79 %     1.03 %     1.31 %

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    13 %     12 %     9 %     15 %     9 %

 

*

Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

 

(1)

Per share data calculated using average shares method.

 

Amounts designated as “—” are $0.

 

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The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund

 

Investment Adviser

Haverford Financial Services, Inc.
Three Radnor Corporate Center
Suite 450
Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087-4546

 

Distributor

SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

 

Legal Counsel

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
2222 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

 

More information about the Fund is available, without charge, through the following:

 

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI, dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time, includes detailed information about the Fund and The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund. The SAI is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this Prospectus.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports: These reports list the Fund’s holdings and contain information from the Adviser about investment strategies and recent market conditions and trends and their impact on Fund performance. The reports also contain detailed financial information about the Fund.

 

To Obtain an SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report, or More Information:

 

By Telephone:

1-866-301-7212

By Mail:

Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

By Internet:

www.haverfordfunds.com

 

From the SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act registration number is 811-06400.

 

HIM-PS-001-2100

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

HAVERFORD QUALITY GROWTH STOCK FUND

(Ticker Symbol: HAVGX)

 

a series of THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND

 

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

HAVERFORD FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”) and the Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund (the “Fund”). This SAI is incorporated by reference and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s prospectus dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Prospectus. The most recent Annual Report for the Fund, which includes the Fund’s audited financial statements dated October 31, 2023, is incorporated by reference into this SAI. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Prospectus or Annual Report free of charge by writing to the Fund at Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail Address: Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105) or by calling the Fund at 1-866-301-7212.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE TRUST S-1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES S-1
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS S-2
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS S-18
THE ADVISER S-19
THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS S-20
THE ADMINISTRATOR S-21
THE DISTRIBUTOR S-22
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES S-22
THE TRANSFER AGENT S-23
THE CUSTODIAN S-23
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM S-23
LEGAL COUNSEL S-24
SECURITIES LENDING S-24
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST S-24
PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES S-35
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE S-35
TAXES S-37
FUND TRANSACTIONS S-44
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS S-46
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES S-47
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY S-47
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY S-48
PROXY VOTING S-48
CODES OF ETHICS S-48
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS S-49
APPENDIX A – DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS A-1
APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES B-1

 

March 1, 2024 HIM-SX-001-2100

ii  

 

 

THE TRUST

 

General. The Fund is a separate series of the Trust. The Trust is an open-end investment management company established under Massachusetts law as a Massachusetts voluntary association (commonly known as a business trust) under a Declaration of Trust dated July 18, 1991, as amended and restated February 18, 1997 and amended May 15, 2012 and August 18, 2020 (the “Declaration of Trust”). The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series (“funds”) of shares of beneficial interest (“shares”). The Trust reserves the right to create and issue shares of additional funds. Each fund is a separate mutual fund or exchange traded fund (“ETF”), and each share of each fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund and all assets of such fund belong solely to that fund and would be subject to liabilities related thereto. Each fund of the Trust pays its (i) operating expenses, including fees of its service providers, expenses of preparing prospectuses, proxy solicitation material and reports to shareholders, costs of custodial services and registering its shares under federal and state securities laws, pricing and insurance expenses, brokerage costs, interest charges, taxes and organization expenses, and (ii) pro rata share of the fund’s other expenses, including audit and legal expenses. Expenses attributable to a specific fund shall be payable solely out of the assets of that fund. Expenses not attributable to a specific fund are allocated across all of the funds on the basis of relative net assets. The other funds of the Trust are described in one or more separate statements of additional information.

 

Voting Rights. Each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote for each share held on the record date for the meeting. The Fund will vote separately on matters relating solely to it. As a Massachusetts voluntary association, the Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Approval of shareholders will be sought, however, for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (each a “Trustee” and together, the “Board”) under certain circumstances. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to liquidate the Fund without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they may do so if the Fund fails to reach a viable size within a reasonable amount of time or for such other reasons as may be determined by the Board.

 

In addition, a Trustee may be removed by the remaining Trustees or by shareholders at a special meeting called upon written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.

Any series of the Trust created on or after November 11, 1996 may reorganize or merge with one or more other series of the Trust or of another investment company. Any such reorganization or merger shall be pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization authorized and approved by the Trustees and entered into by the relevant series in connection therewith. In addition, such reorganization or merger may be authorized by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office and, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the Declaration of Trust, without the approval of shareholders of any series.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

 

The Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies are described in the Prospectus. The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus. For a description of certain permitted investments discussed below, see “Description of Permitted Investments” in this SAI.

Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund. The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital. This investment objective is fundamental, and may not be changed without the consent of shareholders. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to achieve its investment objective. The Fund is classified as a “diversified” investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). This means that with respect to 75% of its total assets, the Fund may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer’s voting securities would be held by the Fund. Under applicable federal securities laws, the diversification of a mutual fund’s holdings is measured at the time a fund purchases a security. If the Fund holds securities that perform well on a relative basis, the value of those securities could appreciate such that the value of the Fund’s securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, in the aggregate, might exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets. In these circumstances, the Adviser might determine that it is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders not to reduce one or more of the Fund’s holdings in securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. If the Adviser makes such a determination, the Fund’s holdings in such securities would continue to exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets, and the Fund would not purchase any additional shares of securities that constituted more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. The Fund would continue to qualify as a diversified fund under applicable federal securities laws. If more than 25% of the Fund’s assets were invested, in the aggregate, in securities of issuers that individually represented more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, the Fund would be subject to the risk that its performance could be disproportionately affected by the performance of such securities.

 

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As its principal investment strategy, the Fund invests primarily in equity securities as described in the Prospectus. Consistent with Rule 35d-1 of the 1940 Act regarding the use of certain mutual fund names, the Fund has adopted a “non-fundamental” policy to invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, under normal circumstances, in equity securities. This non-fundamental policy may be changed by the Board upon at least 60 days’ written notice to Fund shareholders.

 

Although the Fund will normally be as fully invested as practicable in equity securities, as secondary investment strategies and consistent with its investment objective, the Fund may to a lesser extent invest in warrants, rights to purchase common stocks, debt securities convertible into common stocks and preferred stocks. A portion of the Fund’s assets may also be invested in investment grade fixed income securities, cash and money market securities. Investment grade fixed income securities either are debt securities rated in one of the four highest rating categories (“investment grade”) by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (an “NRSRO”) or that the Fund’s investment adviser, Haverford Financial Services, Inc. (“HFS” or the “Adviser”) determines are of comparable quality. The Fund may also make limited use of equity index futures contracts for liquidity purposes. In order to generate additional income, the Fund may lend securities that it owns as well as invest in repurchase agreements.

 

DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS

 

The following are descriptions of the Fund’s permitted investments and investment practices and the associated risk factors. The Fund may invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices unless such investment or activity is inconsistent with or is not permitted by the Fund’s stated investment policies, including those stated below.

 

Equity Securities. Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company and consist of common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock, and securities convertible into common stock. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests will cause the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Fund to fluctuate. The Fund purchases equity securities traded in the United States on registered exchanges or the over-the-counter market. Equity securities are described in more detail below:

 

Common Stock. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.

 

Preferred Stock. Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock.

 

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Rights and Warrants. A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life, usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price. Warrants are freely transferable and are traded on major exchanges. Unlike rights, warrants normally have a life that is measured in years and entitles the holder to buy common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. Corporations often issue warrants to make the accompanying debt security more attractive.

 

An investment in warrants and rights may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. Investing in rights and warrants increases the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities.

 

Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio. A convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue. If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption or conversion, the Fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.

 

Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Because of this higher yield, convertible securities generally sell at a price above their “conversion value,” which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion. The difference between this conversion value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline in value, convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities. However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder. When the underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible securities may also be expected to increase. At the same time, however, the difference between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks. Because convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk, and are often lower-quality securities.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Issuers. Investing in equity securities of small and medium capitalization companies often involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investments in larger capitalization companies. This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of smaller size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines and frequent lack of depth of management. The securities of smaller companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and even if listed on a national securities exchange may not be traded in volumes typical for that exchange. Consequently, the securities of smaller companies are less likely to be liquid, may have limited market stability, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established growth companies or the market averages in general.

 

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American Depositary Receipts. American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), as well as other “hybrid” forms of ADRs, including European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. Depositary receipts are securities that evidence ownership interests in a security or a pool of securities that have been deposited with a “depository” and may be sponsored or unsponsored. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. The underlying shares are held in trust by a custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer’s home country. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. However, ADRs continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.

 

For ADRs, the depository is typically a U.S. financial institution and the underlying securities are issued by a foreign issuer. For other depositary receipts, the depository may be a foreign or a U.S. entity, and the underlying securities may have a foreign or a U.S. issuer. Depositary receipts will not necessarily be denominated in the same currency as their underlying securities. Generally, ADRs are issued in registered form, denominated in U.S. dollars, and designed for use in the U.S. securities markets. Other depositary receipts, such as GDRs and EDRs, may be issued in bearer form and denominated in other currencies, and are generally designed for use in securities markets outside the U.S. While the two types of depositary receipt facilities (unsponsored or sponsored) are similar, there are differences regarding a holder’s rights and obligations and the practices of market participants. A depository may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or acquiescence of) the underlying issuer; typically, however, the depository requests a letter of non-objection from the underlying issuer prior to establishing the facility. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of the facility. The depository usually charges fees upon deposit and withdrawal of the underlying securities, the conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars or other currency, the disposition of non-cash distributions, and the performance of other services.

 

Sponsored depositary receipt facilities are created in generally the same manner as unsponsored facilities, except that sponsored depositary receipts are established jointly by a depository and the underlying issuer through a deposit agreement. The deposit agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of the underlying issuer, the depository, and the depositary receipt holders. With sponsored facilities, the underlying issuer typically bears some of the costs of the depositary receipts (such as dividend payment fees of the depository), although most sponsored depositary receipts agree to distribute notices of shareholders meetings, voting instructions, and other shareholder communications and information to the depositary receipt holders at the underlying issuer’s request. The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequency is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

For purposes of the Fund’s investment policies, investments in depositary receipts will be deemed to be investments in the underlying securities. Thus, a depositary receipt representing ownership of common stock will be treated as common stock. Depositary receipts do not eliminate all of the risks associated with directly investing in the securities of foreign issuers.

 

Investments in the securities of foreign issuers may subject the Fund to investment risks that differ in some respects from those related to investments in securities of U.S. issuers. Such risks include future adverse political and economic developments, possible imposition of withholding taxes on income, possible seizure, nationalization or expropriation of foreign deposits, possible establishment of exchange controls or taxation at the source or greater fluctuation in value due to changes in exchange rates. Foreign issuers of securities often engage in business practices different from those of domestic issuers of similar securities, and there may be less information publicly available about foreign issuers. In addition, foreign issuers are, generally speaking, subject to less government supervision and regulation and different accounting treatment than are those in the United States.

 

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Real Estate Investment Trusts. A U.S. real estate investment trust (“REIT”) is a corporation or business trust (that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation) which meets the definitional requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct from taxable income the dividends paid, thereby effectively eliminating corporate level federal income tax. To meet the definitional requirements of the Code, a REIT must, among other things: invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate (including mortgages and other REITs), cash and government securities; derive most of its income from rents from real property or interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property; and distribute annually 90% or more of its otherwise taxable income to shareholders.

 

REITs are sometimes informally characterized as Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs. An Equity REIT invests primarily in the fee ownership or leasehold ownership of land and buildings; a Mortgage REIT invests primarily in mortgages on real property, which may secure construction, development or long-term loans.

 

REITs may be affected by changes in underlying real estate values, which may have an exaggerated effect to the extent that REITs in which the Fund invests may concentrate investments in particular geographic regions or property types. Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalization, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of securities issued by such REITs. Additionally, rising interest rates may cause investors in REITs to demand a higher annual yield from future distributions, which may in turn decrease market prices for equity securities issued by REITs. Rising interest rates also generally increase the costs of obtaining financing, which could cause the value of the Fund’s investments to decline. During periods of declining interest rates, certain Mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by such Mortgage REITs. Equity and Mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency defaults by borrowers and self-liquidation. In addition, Mortgage REITs may be affected by the ability of borrowers to repay when due the debt extended by the REIT and Equity REITs may be affected by the ability of tenants to pay rent. The above factors may adversely affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments.

 

Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders. In addition, U.S. REITs could possibly fail to qualify for tax free pass-through of income under the Code or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act.

 

Money Market Securities. Money market securities include short-term U.S. government securities; custodial receipts evidencing separately traded interest and principal components of securities issued by the U.S. Treasury; commercial paper rated in the highest short-term rating category by an NRSRO, such as S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase; short-term bank obligations (certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances) of U.S. commercial banks with assets of at least $1 billion as of the end of their most recent fiscal year; and repurchase agreements involving such securities. Each of these money market securities are described below. For a description of ratings, see “Appendix A – Description of Ratings” to this SAI.

 

U.S. Government Securities. The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years. U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi-annually and repay the principal at maturity. Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (“Farmer Mac”).

 

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Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency. Additionally, some obligations are issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, which are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so, since the U.S. government is not so obligated by law. Guarantees of principal by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Fund’s shares.

 

On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), placing the two federal instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the takeover, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and obtained warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality (the “Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement” or “Agreement”). Under the Agreement, the U.S. Treasury pledged to provide up to $200 billion per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. This was intended to ensure that the instrumentalities maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was amending the Agreement to allow the $200 billion cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in net worth through the end of 2012. The unlimited support the U.S. Treasury extended to the two companies expired at the beginning of 2013 – Fannie Mae’s support is now capped at $125 billion and Freddie Mac has a limit of $149 billion.

 

On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to terminate the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each pay a 10 percent annual dividend. Instead, the companies will transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceed a capital reserve amount. The capital reserve amount was $3 billion in 2013, and decreased by $600 million in each subsequent year through 2017. It is believed that this amendment put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a better position to service their debt because it eliminated the need for the companies to have to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to make fixed dividend payments. As part of the new terms, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also will be required to reduce their investment portfolios over time. On December 21, 2017, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to reinstate the $3 billion capital reserve amount. On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was further amending the Agreement, now permitting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to retain earnings beyond the $3 billion capital reserves previously allowed through the 2017 amendment. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now permitted to maintain capital reserves of $25 billion and $20 billion, respectively.

 

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Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the subject of several continuing class action lawsuits and investigations by federal regulators over certain accounting, disclosure or corporate governance matters, which (along with any resulting financial restatements) may adversely affect the guaranteeing entities. Importantly, the future of the entities is in serious question as the U.S. government reportedly is considering multiple options, ranging from nationalization, privatization, consolidation, or abolishment of the entities.

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations. U.S. Treasury obligations consist of direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, including Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations, including those transferable through the Federal book-entry system known as Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities (“STRIPS”). The STRIPS program lets investors hold and trade the individual interest and principal components of eligible Treasury notes and bonds as separate securities. Under the STRIPS program, the principal and interest components are separately issued by the U.S. Treasury at the request of depository financial institutions, which then trade the component parts separately.

 

Commercial Paper. Commercial paper is the term used to designate unsecured short-term promissory notes issued by corporations and other entities. Maturities on these issues vary from a few to 270 days.

 

Obligations of Domestic Banks, Foreign Banks and Foreign Branches of U.S. Banks. The Fund may invest in obligations issued by banks and other savings institutions. Investments in bank obligations include obligations of domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks. Such investments in domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks may involve risks that are different from investments in securities of domestic branches of U.S. banks. These risks may include future unfavorable political and economic developments, possible withholding taxes on interest income, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations, or other governmental restrictions which might affect the payment of principal or interest on the securities held by the Fund. Additionally, these institutions may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements and to different accounting, auditing, reporting and recordkeeping requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks. Bank obligations include the following:

 

Bankers’ Acceptances. Bankers’ acceptances are bills of exchange or time drafts drawn on and accepted by a commercial bank. Corporations use bankers’ acceptances to finance the shipment and storage of goods and to furnish dollar exchange. Maturities are generally six months or less.

 

Certificates of Deposit. Certificates of deposit are interest-bearing instruments with a specific maturity. They are issued by banks and savings and loan institutions in exchange for the deposit of funds and normally can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Certificates of deposit with penalties for early withdrawal will be considered illiquid.

 

Time Deposits. Time deposits are non-negotiable receipts issued by a bank in exchange for the deposit of funds. Like a certificate of deposit, it earns a specified rate of interest over a definite period of time; however, it cannot be traded in the secondary market. Time deposits with a withdrawal penalty or that mature in more than seven days are considered to be illiquid investments.

 

Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which a fund acquires a fixed income security (generally a security issued by the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a banker’s acceptance, or a certificate of deposit) from a commercial bank, broker, or dealer, and simultaneously agrees to resell such security to the seller at an agreed upon price and date (normally, the next business day). Because the security purchased constitutes collateral for the repurchase obligation, a repurchase agreement may be considered a loan that is collateralized by the security purchased. The acquisition of a repurchase agreement may be deemed to be an acquisition of the underlying securities as long as the obligation of the seller to repurchase the securities is collateralized fully. The Fund follows certain procedures designed to minimize the risks inherent in such agreements. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with creditworthy financial institutions whose condition will be continually monitored by the Adviser. The repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund may provide that the underlying collateral at all times shall have a value at least equal to 102% of the resale price stated in the agreement and consist only of securities permissible under Section 101(47)(A)(i) of the Bankruptcy Code (the Adviser monitors compliance with this requirement). Under all repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund, the custodian or its agent must take possession of the underlying collateral. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Fund’s right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. The Fund may enter into “tri-party” repurchase agreements. In “tri-party” repurchase agreements, an unaffiliated third party custodian maintains accounts to hold collateral for the Fund and its counterparties and, therefore, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of those custodians. The investments of the Fund in repurchase agreements, at times, may be substantial when, in the view of the Adviser, liquidity or other considerations so warrant.

 

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Securities of Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies, to the extent permitted by applicable law, subject to certain restrictions. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund. The Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying the Fund’s expenses.

 

Generally, the federal securities laws limit the extent to which the Fund can invest in securities of other investment companies, subject to certain exceptions. For example, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act prohibits a fund from (i) acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any one investment company, (ii) investing more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, and (iii) investing more than 10% of its total assets in all investment companies combined, including its ETFs investments.

 

The Fund may rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, which provides an exemption from Section 12(d)(1) that allows the Fund to invest all of its assets in other registered funds, including ETFs, if, among other conditions, the Fund, together with its affiliates, acquires no more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any acquired fund. The Fund may also rely on Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 12d1-4 permits the Fund to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions specified in the Rule including, among other conditions, that the Fund and its advisory group will not control (individually or in the aggregate) an acquired fund (e.g., hold more than 25% of the outstanding voting securities of an acquired fund that is a registered open-end management investment company). In addition, the Fund may be able to rely on certain other rules under the 1940 Act to invest in shares of money market funds or other investment companies beyond the statutory limits noted above, but subject to certain conditions.

 

For hedging or other purposes, the Fund may invest in investment companies that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific indexes or portions of specific indexes. Certain of these investment companies, known as ETFs, are traded on a securities exchange. The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with changes in the underlying portfolio securities of the investment company and also due to supply and demand of the investment company’s shares on the exchange upon which the shares are traded. Index-based investments may not replicate or otherwise match the composition or performance of their specified index due to transaction costs, among other things.

 

The Fund may invest in investment companies that are not registered with the SEC or in privately placed securities of investment companies (which may or may not be registered), such as hedge funds and offshore funds. Unregistered funds are largely exempt from the regulatory requirements that apply to registered investment companies. As a result, unregistered funds may have a greater ability to make investments, or use investment techniques, that offer a higher potential investment return (for example, leveraging), but which may carry high risk. Unregistered funds, while not regulated by the SEC like registered funds, may be indirectly supervised by the financial institutions (e.g., commercial and investment banks) that may provide them with loans or other sources of capital. Investments in unregistered funds may be difficult to sell, which could cause the Fund to lose money when selling an interest in an unregistered fund. For example, many hedge funds require their investors to hold their investments for at least one year.

 

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Securities Lending. The Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial organizations that meet capital and other credit requirements or other criteria established by the Board. These loans, if and when made, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the total asset value of the Fund (including the loan collateral). The Fund will not lend portfolio securities to the Adviser or its affiliates unless permissible under the 1940 Act and the rules and promulgations thereunder. Loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized by cash, letters of credit or U.S. government securities, and the collateral will be maintained in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities by marking to market daily. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the account of the Fund.

 

The Fund may pay a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral, or other fee, to an unaffiliated third party for acting as the Fund’s securities lending agent, but the Fund will bear all of any losses from the investment of collateral.

 

By lending its securities, the Fund may increase its income by receiving payments from the borrower that reflect the amount of any interest or any dividends payable on the loaned securities as well as by either investing cash collateral received from the borrower in short-term instruments or obtaining a fee from the borrower when U.S. government securities or letters of credit are used as collateral. Investing cash collateral subjects the Fund to market risk. The Fund remains obligated to return all collateral to the borrower under the terms of its securities lending arrangements, even if the value of investments made with the collateral decline. Accordingly, if the value of a security in which the cash collateral has been invested declines, the loss would be borne by the Fund, and the Fund may be required to liquidate other investments in order to return collateral to the borrower at the end of the loan. The Fund will adhere to the following conditions whenever its portfolio securities are loaned: (i) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral or equivalent securities of the type discussed above from the borrower; (ii) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (iii) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan on demand; (iv) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in market value; (v) the Fund may pay only reasonable fees in connection with the loan (which fees may include fees payable to the lending agent, the borrower, the Fund’s administrator and the custodian); and (vi) voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, provided, however, that if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs, the Fund must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities. The Board has adopted procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the foregoing criteria will be met. Loan agreements involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the borrower, including possible delays or restrictions upon the Fund’s ability to recover the loaned securities or dispose of the collateral for the loan, which could give rise to loss because of adverse market action, expenses and/or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying securities.

 

Derivatives

 

Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Derivatives Rule”) provides a comprehensive framework for the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. The Derivatives Rule permits a registered investment company, subject to various conditions described below, to enter into derivatives transactions and certain other transactions notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior securities” under Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other things, prohibits open-end funds, including the Fund, from issuing or selling any “senior security,” other than borrowing from a bank (subject to a requirement to maintain 300% “asset coverage”).

 

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Registered investment companies that don’t qualify as “limited derivatives users” as defined below, are required by the Derivatives Rule to, among other things, (i) adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program (“DRMP”) and new testing requirements; (ii) comply with a relative or absolute limit on fund leverage risk calculated based on value-at-risk (“VaR”); and (iii) comply with new requirements related to Board and SEC reporting. The DRMP is administered by a “derivatives risk manager,” who is appointed by the Board and periodically reviews the DRMP and reports to the Board.

 

The Derivatives Rule provides an exception from the DRMP, VaR limit and certain other requirements for a registered investment company that limits its “derivatives exposure” to no more than 10% of its net assets (as calculated in accordance with the Derivatives Rule) (a “limited derivatives user”), provided that the registered investment company establishes appropriate policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage derivatives risks, including the risk of exceeding the 10% “derivatives exposure” threshold.

 

The requirements of the Derivatives Rule may limit the Fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may also increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments and/or the performance of the Fund. The rule also may not be effective to limit the Fund’s risk of loss. In particular, measurements of VaR rely on historical data and may not accurately measure the degree of risk reflected in the Fund’s derivatives or other investments. There may be additional regulation of the use of derivatives transactions by registered investment companies, which could significantly affect their use. The ultimate impact of the regulations remains unclear. Additional regulation of derivatives transactions may make them more costly, limit their availability or utility, otherwise adversely affect their performance or disrupt markets.

 

CFTC Regulations. Pursuant to rules adopted under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), the Fund must either operate within certain guidelines and restrictions with respect to the Fund’s use of futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps, or the Adviser will be subject to registration with the CFTC as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”).

 

Consistent with the CFTC’s regulations, the Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, has filed a notice of exclusion from the definition of the term CPO under the CEA pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 with respect to the Fund's operation. Therefore, the Fund is not subject to regulation as a commodity pool under the CEA and the Adviser is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA with respect to the Fund. As a result, the Fund will be limited in its ability to use futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps. Complying with the limitations may restrict the Adviser’s ability to implement the Fund’s investment strategies and may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

 

Types of Derivatives:

 

Futures. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties whereby one party agrees to sell and the other party agrees to buy a specified amount of a financial instrument at an agreed upon price and time. The financial instrument underlying the contract may be a stock, stock index, bond, bond index, interest rate, foreign exchange rate or other similar instrument. Agreeing to buy the underlying financial instrument is called buying a futures contract or taking a long position in the contract. Likewise, agreeing to sell the underlying financial instrument is called selling a futures contract or taking a short position in the contract.

 

Futures contracts are traded in the United States on commodity exchanges or boards of trade (known as “contract markets”) approved for such trading and regulated by the CFTC. These contract markets standardize the terms, including the maturity date and underlying financial instrument, of all futures contracts.

 

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Unlike other securities, the parties to a futures contract do not have to pay for or deliver the underlying financial instrument until some future date (the “delivery date”). Contract markets require both the purchaser and seller to deposit “initial margin” with a futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant or custodian bank, when they enter into the contract. Initial margin deposits are typically equal to a percentage of the contract’s value. Initial margin is similar to a performance bond or good faith deposit on a contract and is returned to the depositing party upon termination of the futures contract if all contractual obligations have been satisfied. After they open a futures contract, the parties to the transaction must compare the purchase price of the contract to its daily market value. If the value of the futures contract changes in such a way that a party’s position declines, that party must make additional “variation margin” payments so that the margin payment is adequate. On the other hand, the value of the contract may change in such a way that there is excess margin on deposit, possibly entitling the party that has a gain to receive all or a portion of this amount. This process is known as “marking to the market.” Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by a party but is instead a settlement between the party and the futures broker of the amount one party would owe the other if the futures contract terminated. In computing daily NAV, each party marks to market its open futures positions.

 

Although the terms of a futures contract call for the actual delivery of and payment for the underlying security, in many cases the parties may close the contract early by taking an opposite position in an identical contract. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is less than the original purchase price, the party closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is more than the original purchase price, the party closing out the contract will realize a gain. Conversely, if the purchase price upon closing out the contract is more than the original sale price, the party closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the purchase price upon closing out the contract is less than the original sale price, the party closing out the contract will realize a gain.

 

The Fund may incur commission expenses when it opens or closes a futures position.

 

Options. An option is a contract between two parties for the purchase and sale of a financial instrument for a specified price (known as the “strike price” or “exercise price”) at any time during the option period. Unlike a futures contract, an option grants a right (not an obligation) to buy or sell a financial instrument. Generally, a seller of an option can grant a buyer two kinds of rights: a “call” (the right to buy the security) or a “put” (the right to sell the security). Options have various types of underlying instruments, including specific securities, indices of securities prices, foreign currencies, interest rates and futures contracts. Options may be traded on an exchange (exchange-traded options) or may be customized agreements between the parties (over-the-counter or “OTC” options). Like futures, a financial intermediary, known as a clearing corporation, financially backs exchange-traded options. However, OTC options have no such intermediary and are subject to the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligations under the contract. The principal factors affecting the market value of an option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market value of the underlying instrument relative to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until the option expires.

 

Purchasing Put and Call Options

 

When the Fund purchases a put option, it buys the right to sell the instrument underlying the option at a fixed strike price. In return for this right, the Fund pays the current market price for the option (known as the “option premium”). The Fund may purchase put options to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of its securities (“protective puts”) or to benefit from a decline in the price of securities that it does not own. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs. However, if the price of the underlying instrument does not fall enough to offset the cost of purchasing the option, a put buyer would lose the premium and related transaction costs.

 

Call options are similar to put options, except that the Fund obtains the right to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the option’s strike price. The Fund would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase in the market value of securities it owns or wants to buy. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying instrument exceeded the exercise price plus the premium paid and related transaction costs. Otherwise, the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.

 

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The purchaser of an option may terminate its position by:

 

Allowing it to expire and losing its entire premium;

 

Exercising the option and either selling (in the case of a put option) or buying (in the case of a call option) the underlying instrument at the strike price; or

 

Closing it out in the secondary market at its current price.

 

Selling (Writing) Put and Call Options

 

When the Fund writes a call option it assumes an obligation to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a fixed strike price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. Similarly, when the Fund writes a put option it assumes an obligation to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a fixed strike price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. The Fund may terminate its position in an exchange-traded put option before exercise by buying an option identical to the one it has written. Similarly, the Fund may cancel an OTC option by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparty to the option.

 

The Fund could try to hedge against an increase in the value of securities it would like to acquire by writing a put option on those securities. If security prices rise, the Fund would expect the put option to expire and the premium it received to offset the increase in the security’s value. If security prices remain the same over time, the Fund would hope to profit by closing out the put option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the Fund may lose an amount of money equal to the difference between the value of the security and the premium it received. Writing covered put options may deprive the Fund of the opportunity to profit from a decrease in the market price of the securities it would like to acquire.

 

The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, except that call writers expect to profit if prices remain the same or fall. The Fund could try to hedge against a decline in the value of securities it already owns by writing a call option. If the price of that security falls as expected, the Fund would expect the option to expire and the premium it received to offset the decline of the security’s value. However, the Fund must be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, which may deprive it of the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the securities it holds.

 

The Fund is permitted to write only “covered” options. At the time of selling a call option, the Fund may cover the option by owning, among other things:

 

The underlying security (or securities convertible into the underlying security without additional consideration), index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract;

 

A call option on the same security or index with the same or lesser exercise price;

 

Cash or liquid securities equal to at least the market value of the optioned securities, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract; or

 

In the case of an index, the portfolio of securities that corresponds to the index.

 

At the time of selling a put option, the Fund may cover the option by, among other things:

 

Entering into a short position in the underlying security;

 

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Purchasing a put option on the same security, index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract with the same or greater exercise price; or

 

Maintaining the entire exercise price in liquid securities.

 

Options on Securities Indices

 

Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

Options on Futures

 

An option on a futures contract provides the holder with the right to buy a futures contract (in the case of a call option) or sell a futures contract (in the case of a put option) at a fixed time and price. Upon exercise of the option by the holder, the contract market clearing house establishes a corresponding short position for the writer of the option (in the case of a call option) or a corresponding long position (in the case of a put option). If the option is exercised, the parties will be subject to the futures contracts. In addition, the writer of an option on a futures contract is subject to initial and variation margin requirements on the option position. Options on futures contracts are traded on the same contract market as the underlying futures contract.

 

The buyer or seller of an option on a futures contract may terminate the option early by purchasing or selling an option of the same series (i.e., the same exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously purchased or sold. The difference between the premiums paid and received represents the trader’s profit or loss on the transaction.

 

The Fund may purchase put and call options on futures contracts instead of selling or buying futures contracts. The Fund may buy a put option on a futures contract for the same reasons it would sell a futures contract. It also may purchase such a put option in order to hedge a long position in the underlying futures contract. The Fund may buy a call option on a futures contract for the same purpose as the actual purchase of a futures contract, such as in anticipation of favorable market conditions.

 

The Fund may write a call option on a futures contract to hedge against a decline in the prices of the instrument underlying the futures contracts. If the price of the futures contract at expiration were below the exercise price, the Fund would retain the option premium, which would offset, in part, any decline in the value of its portfolio securities.

 

The writing of a put option on a futures contract is similar to the purchase of the futures contracts, except that, if the market price declines, the Fund would pay more than the market price for the underlying instrument. The premium received on the sale of the put option, less any transaction costs, would reduce the net cost to the Fund.

 

Combined Positions

 

The Fund may purchase and write options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward contracts or swap agreements, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall position. For example, the Fund could construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract by purchasing a put option and writing a call option on the same underlying instrument. Alternatively, the Fund could write a call option at one strike price and buy a call option at a lower price to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.

 

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Risks of Derivatives:

 

While transactions in derivatives may reduce certain risks, these transactions themselves entail certain other risks. For example, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance of the Fund than if it had not entered into any derivatives transactions. Derivatives may magnify the Fund’s gains or losses, causing it to make or lose substantially more than it invested.

 

When used for hedging purposes, increases in the value of the securities the Fund holds or intends to acquire should offset any losses incurred with a derivative. Purchasing derivatives for purposes other than hedging could expose the Fund to greater risks.

 

Use of derivatives involves transaction costs, which may be significant, and may also increase the amount of taxable income to shareholders.

 

Correlation of Prices. The Fund’s ability to hedge its securities through derivatives depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index or instrument correlate with price movements in the relevant securities. In the case of poor correlation, the price of the securities the Fund is hedging may not move in the same amount, or even in the same direction as the hedging instrument. The Adviser will try to minimize this risk by investing in only those contracts whose behavior it expects to correlate with the behavior of the portfolio securities it is trying to hedge. However, if the Adviser’s prediction of interest and currency rates, market value, volatility or other economic factors is incorrect, the Fund may lose money, or may not make as much money as it expected.

 

Derivative prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the characteristics of the underlying instruments are very similar to the derivative. Listed below are some of the factors that may cause such a divergence:

 

Current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract;

 

A difference between the derivatives and securities markets, including different levels of demand, how the instruments are traded, the imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or discontinued trading of an instrument; and

 

Differences between the derivatives, such as different margin requirements, different liquidity of such markets and the participation of speculators in such markets.

 

Derivatives based upon a narrower index of securities, such as those of a particular industry group, may present greater risk than derivatives based on a broad market index. Since narrower indices are made up of a smaller number of securities, they are more susceptible to rapid and extreme price fluctuations because of changes in the value of those securities.

 

While currency futures and options values are expected to correlate with exchange rates, they may not reflect other factors that affect the value of the investments of the Fund. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a yen-denominated security from a decline in the yen, but will not protect the Fund against a price decline resulting from deterioration in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Because the value of the Fund’s foreign-denominated investments changes in response to many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to match the amount of currency options and futures to the value of the Fund’s investments precisely over time.

 

Lack of Liquidity. Before a futures contract or option is exercised or expires, the Fund can terminate it only by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. Moreover, the Fund may close out a futures contract only on the exchange the contract was initially traded. Although the Fund intends to purchase options and futures only where there appears to be an active market, there is no guarantee that such a liquid market will exist. If there is no secondary market for the contract, or the market is illiquid, the Fund may not be able to close out its position. In an illiquid market, the Fund may:

 

Have to sell securities to meet its daily margin requirements at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so;

 

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Have to purchase or sell the instrument underlying the contract;

 

Not be able to hedge its investments; and/or

 

Not be able to realize profits or limit its losses.

 

Derivatives may become illiquid (i.e., difficult to sell at a desired time and price) under a variety of market conditions. For example:

 

An exchange may suspend or limit trading in a particular derivative instrument, an entire category of derivatives or all derivatives, which sometimes occurs because of increased market volatility;

 

Unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations of an exchange;

 

The facilities of the exchange may not be adequate to handle current trading volume;

 

Equipment failures, government intervention, insolvency of a brokerage firm or clearing house or other occurrences may disrupt normal trading activity; or

 

Investors may lose interest in a particular derivative or category of derivatives.

 

Management Risk. Successful use of derivatives by the Fund is subject to the ability of the Adviser to forecast stock market and interest rate trends. If the Adviser incorrectly predicts stock market and interest rate trends, the Fund may lose money by investing in derivatives. For example, if the Fund were to write a call option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would fall, but the price were to rise instead, the Fund could be required to sell the security upon exercise at a price below the current market price. Similarly, if the Fund were to write a put option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would rise, but the price were to fall instead, the Fund could be required to purchase the security upon exercise at a price higher than the current market price.

 

Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the Fund has valued its securities too high, shareholders may end up paying too much for Fund shares when they buy into the Fund. If the Fund underestimates its price, shareholders may not receive the full market value for their Fund shares when they sell.

 

Margin. Because of the low margin deposits required upon the opening of a derivative position, such transactions involve an extremely high degree of leverage. Consequently, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to the Fund and it may lose more than it originally invested in the derivative.

 

If the price of a futures contract changes adversely, the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so to meet its minimum daily margin requirement. The Fund may lose its margin deposits if a broker-dealer with whom it has an open futures contract or related option becomes insolvent or declares bankruptcy.

 

Volatility and Leverage. The Fund’s use of derivatives may have a leveraging effect. Leverage generally magnifies the effect of any increase or decrease in value of an underlying asset and results in increased volatility, which means the Fund will have the potential for greater gains, as well as the potential for greater losses, than if the Fund does not use derivative instruments that have a leveraging effect. The prices of derivatives are volatile (i.e., they may change rapidly, substantially and unpredictably) and are influenced by a variety of factors, including:

 

Actual and anticipated changes in interest rates;

 

Fiscal and monetary policies; and

 

National and international political events.

 

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Most exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a derivative can change during a single trading day. Daily trading limits establish the maximum amount that the price of a derivative may vary from the settlement price of that derivative at the end of trading on the previous day. Once the price of a derivative reaches that value, the Fund may not trade that derivative at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a given day and does not limit potential gains or losses. Derivative prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days, preventing prompt liquidation of the derivative. 

 

Government Regulation. The regulation of derivatives markets in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. For example, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law in 2010, granted significant new authority to the SEC and the CFTC to impose comprehensive regulations on the over-the-counter and cleared derivatives markets. These regulations include, but are not limited to, mandatory clearing of certain derivatives and requirements relating to disclosure, margin and trade reporting. The law and regulations may negatively impact the Fund by increasing transaction and/or regulatory compliance costs, limiting the availability of certain derivatives or otherwise adversely affecting the value or performance of the derivatives the Fund trades.

 

In addition, the SEC adopted the Derivatives Rule on October 28, 2020. Since its compliance date of August 19, 2022, the Derivatives Rule has replaced prior SEC and staff guidance with an updated, comprehensive framework for registered funds’ use of derivatives. See “Derivatives – Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act” above for additional information on the requirements imposed on registered funds by the Derivatives Rule. Complying with the Derivatives Rule may increase the cost of the Fund's investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors. Other potentially adverse regulatory obligations can develop suddenly and without notice.

 

Illiquid Investments. Illiquid investments are investments that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Because of their illiquid nature, illiquid investments must be priced at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight. Despite such good faith efforts to determine fair value prices, the Fund’s illiquid investments are subject to the risk that the investment's fair value price may differ from the actual price which the Fund may ultimately realize upon its sale or disposition. Difficulty in selling illiquid investments may result in a loss or may be costly to the Fund. Under the oversight of the Board, the Adviser determines the liquidity of the Fund’s investments. The Fund may not acquire an illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets.

 

Restricted Securities. Restricted securities are securities that may not be sold freely to the public absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) or an exemption from registration. As consistent with the Fund’s investment objective, the Fund may invest in Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper. Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper is issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act and is generally sold to institutional investors who purchase for investment. Any resale of such commercial paper must be in an exempt transaction, usually to an institutional investor through the issuer or investment dealers who make a market in such commercial paper.

 

Special Risks of Cyber Attacks. As with any entity that conducts business through electronic means in the modern marketplace, the Fund, and its service providers, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber attacks. Cyber attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized monitoring, release, misuse, loss, destruction or corruption of confidential information, unauthorized access to relevant systems, compromises to networks or devices that the Fund and its service providers use to service the Fund’s operations, ransomware, operational disruption or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Fund and its service providers, or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber attacks affecting the Fund or the Adviser, the Fund’s distributor, custodian, or any other of the Fund’s intermediaries or service providers may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders, potentially resulting in, among other things, financial losses or the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes designed to mitigate or prevent the risk of cyber attacks. Such costs may be ongoing because threats of cyber attacks are constantly evolving as cyber attackers become more sophisticated and their techniques become more complex. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investments in such companies to lose value. There can be no assurance that the Fund, the Fund’s service providers, or the issuers of the securities in which the Fund invests will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches in the future.

 

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LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Fund may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from, or continue to be tied to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. Such instruments may include bank loans, derivatives, floating rate securities, and other assets or liabilities. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, has ceased publishing all LIBOR settings on a representative basis. In April 2023, however, the FCA announced that some USD LIBOR settings will continue to be published under a synthetic methodology until September 30, 2024 for certain legacy contracts.

 

The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market, has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. Under U.S. regulations that implement a statutory fallback mechanism to replace LIBOR, benchmark rates based on SOFR have replaced LIBOR in different categories of financial contracts.

 

Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. While some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities, or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The Fund may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.

 

General Market Risk. An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus designated as COVID-19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in international, national and local border closings and other significant travel restrictions and disruptions, significant disruptions to business operations, supply chains and customer activity, event cancellations and restrictions, service cancellations, reductions and other changes, significant challenges in healthcare service preparation and delivery, and quarantines, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. These impacts also have caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, which have caused losses for investors. Health crises caused by viral or bacterial outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social, economic, market and financial risks. The impact of this outbreak, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

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INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

Fundamental Policies

 

In addition to the investment objective of the Fund, the following investment limitations are fundamental, which means that the Fund cannot change them without approval by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The phrase “majority of the outstanding shares” means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Fund’s shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy; or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares, whichever is less.

 

The Fund may not:

 

1.Purchase securities of an issuer that would cause the Fund to fail to satisfy the diversification requirement for a diversified management company under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

2.Concentrate investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as concentration is defined under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

3.Borrow money or issue senior securities (as defined under the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

4.Make loans, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

5.Purchase or sell commodities or real estate, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

6.Underwrite securities issued by other persons, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

Non-Fundamental Policies

 

The following limitations are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.

 

The Fund may not:

 

1.Purchase securities of any issuer (except securities of other investment companies, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements involving such securities) if, as a result, more than 5% of the total assets of the Fund would be invested in the securities of such issuer; or acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. This restriction applies to 75% of the Fund’s total assets.

 

2.Purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the total assets of the Fund to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that this limitation does not apply to investments in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements involving such securities. For purposes of this limitation, (i) utility companies will be classified according to their services, for example, gas distribution, gas transmission, electric and telephone will each be considered a separate industry; and (ii) financial service companies will be classified according to the end users of their services, for example, automobile finance, bank finance and diversified finance will each be considered a separate industry.

 

S-18 

 

3.Borrow money in an amount exceeding 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets, provided that, for purposes of this limitation, investment strategies that either obligate the Fund to purchase securities or require the Fund to segregate assets are not considered to be borrowing. Asset coverage of at least 300% is required for all borrowing, except where the Fund has borrowed money for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of its total assets.

 

4.Make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that the Fund may (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) lend its securities.

 

5.Purchase or sell real estate, real estate limited partnership interests, physical commodities or commodities contracts except that the Fund may purchase commodities contracts relating to financial instruments, such as financial futures contracts and options on such contracts.

 

Further,

 

6.Under normal circumstances, the Fund shall invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities. This non-fundamental policy may be changed by the Board upon at least 60 days’ notice to Fund shareholders.

 

Except with respect to Fund policies concerning borrowing, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of an investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from changes in values or assets will not constitute a violation of such restriction. With respect to the limitation on borrowing, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances cause the Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitations within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays).

 

THE ADVISER

 

General. Haverford Financial Services, Inc., a Pennsylvania Corporation located at Three Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450, Radnor, PA 19087, is a professional investment management firm registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser, founded in 2003, is wholly owned by Drexel Morgan & Co. and is an affiliate of The Haverford Trust Company (“Haverford Trust”). Haverford Trust was founded in 1979 and offers investment management, trust and estate services and private banking. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $346 million in assets under management.

 

Advisory Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Adviser have entered into an investment advisory agreement, dated May 28, 2004 (the “Advisory Agreement”), with respect to the Fund. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser serves as the investment adviser and makes investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the investment program of the Fund, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Board.

 

After the initial two-year term, the continuance of the Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually: (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund or, by the Adviser, on not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ written notice to the Trust. As used in the Advisory Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested persons” and “assignment” have the same meaning as such terms in the 1940 Act.

 

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Advisory Fees Paid to the Adviser. For its services under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.60% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep the Fund’s net operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, extraordinary expenses, and amounts payable pursuant to any plan adopted in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended) (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 1.00% of the Fund’s average daily net assets until February 28, 2025. This agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board, for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee reductions or expense reimbursements made during the rolling three-year period preceding the date of the recoupment if at any point total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund paid the Adviser the following advisory fees with no fees waived by the Adviser:

 

Contractual Advisory Fees
2021 2022 2023
$1,744,408 $1,805,903 $1,766,444

 

THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

This section includes information about the Fund’s portfolio managers, including information about other accounts they manage, the dollar range of Fund shares they own and how they are compensated.

 

Compensation. The Adviser compensates the Fund’s portfolio managers for their management of the Fund. The portfolio managers’ compensation consists of a salary and bonus. The portfolio managers’ overall compensation is designed to be competitive with similar investment advisers and to compensate the portfolio managers for their contributions to the Adviser and its investment products. Compensation is not based upon Fund or account performance, but is based on quantitative and qualitative factors. These may include the Adviser’s and its affiliates’ profitability, investment ideas, teamwork, leadership and overall contributions.

 

S-20 

 

Fund Shares Owned by Portfolio Managers. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each portfolio manager’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Fund as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”).

 

Name Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned1
Joseph J. McLaughlin, Jr. Over $1,000,000
Keith P. Aleardi N/A
Henry B. Smith Over $1,000,000
John H. Donaldson $500,001 - $1,000,000
Timothy A. Hoyle $50,001 - $100,000
Maxine A. Cuffe $10,001 - $50,000
Halie W. O’Shea $10,001 - $50,000

 

1Valuation date is October 31, 2023.

 

Other Accounts. In addition to the Fund, certain portfolio managers may also be responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as indicated by the following table. None of these accounts are subject to a performance-based advisory fee. The information below is provided as of October 31, 2023.

 

Name Registered Investment Companies Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Other Accounts
Number of Accounts Total Assets (in millions) Number of Accounts Total Assets (in millions) Number of Accounts Total Assets (in millions)
Joseph J. McLaughlin, Jr. 0 $0 0 $0 37 $69
Keith P. Aleardi 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0
Henry B. Smith 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0
John H. Donaldson 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0
Timothy A. Hoyle 0 $0 0 $0 4 $148
Maxine A. Cuffe 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0
Halie W. O’Shea 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0

 

Conflicts of Interest. The portfolio managers’ management of “other accounts” may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The other accounts may have the same investment objective as the Fund. Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby a portfolio manager could favor one account over another. Another potential conflict could include the portfolio managers’ knowledge about the size, timing and possible market impact of Fund trades, whereby a portfolio manager could use this information to the advantage of other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Fund. However, the Adviser has established policies and procedures to ensure that the purchase and sale of securities among all accounts it manages are fairly and equitably allocated.

 

THE ADMINISTRATOR

 

General. SEI Investments Global Funds Services (the “Administrator”), a Delaware statutory trust, has its principal business offices at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. SEI Investments Management Corporation (“SIMC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company (“SEI Investments”), is the owner of all beneficial interest in the Administrator. SEI Investments and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including the Administrator, are leading providers of fund evaluation services, trust accounting systems, and brokerage and information services to financial institutions, institutional investors, and money managers. The Administrator and its affiliates also serve as administrator or sub-administrator to other mutual funds.

 

S-21 

 

Administration Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Administrator have entered into an amended and restated administration agreement dated November 13, 2018, as amended (the “Administration Agreement”). Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides the Trust with administrative services, including regulatory reporting and all necessary office space, equipment, personnel and facilities.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Administration Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Administrator in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

Administration Fees Paid to the Administrator. For its services under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator is paid a fee, which varies based on the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to certain minimums. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund paid the following amounts for these services:

 

Administration Fees Paid
2021 2022 2023
$340,682 $352,906 $344,410

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

General. The Trust and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments and an affiliate of the Administrator, are parties to a distribution agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 14, 2005 and as amended August 30, 2010 and November 13, 2018 (the “Distribution Agreement”) whereby the Distributor acts as principal underwriter for the Trust’s shares. The principal business address of the Distributor is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act), and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or by the Distributor, upon not less than 60 days’ written notice to the other party.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

Payments by the Fund. The Fund may enter into agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which the Fund may pay financial intermediaries for non-distribution-related sub-transfer agency, administrative, sub-accounting, and other shareholder services. Payments made pursuant to such agreements are generally based on either (1) a percentage of the average daily net assets of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary, or (2) the number of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary.

 

Payments by the Adviser. The Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments from their own resources and not from Fund assets to affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates, as incentives to help market and promote the Fund and/or in recognition of their distribution, marketing, administrative services, and/or processing support.

 

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These additional payments may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Fund, the Distributor or shareholders of the Fund through the financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel and/or fund supermarkets. Payments may also be made through the financial intermediary’s retirement, qualified tuition, fee-based advisory, wrap fee bank trust, or insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. These payments may include, but are not limited to, placing the Fund in a financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel or on a preferred or recommended fund list; providing business or shareholder financial planning assistance; educating financial intermediary personnel about the Fund; providing access to sales and management representatives of the financial intermediary; promoting sales of Fund shares; providing marketing and educational support; maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder transaction processing services. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services.

 

The Adviser and/or its affiliates may also make payments from their own resources to financial intermediaries for costs associated with the purchase of products or services used in connection with sales and marketing, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs, client and investor entertainment and other sponsored events. The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.

 

Revenue sharing payments may be negotiated based on a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the amount of Fund assets attributable to investments in the Fund by financial intermediaries’ customers, a flat fee or other measures as determined from time to time by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. A significant purpose of these payments is to increase the sales of Fund shares, which in turn may benefit the Adviser through increased fees as Fund assets grow.

 

Investors should understand that some financial intermediaries may also charge their clients fees in connection with purchases of shares or the provision of shareholder services.

 

THE TRANSFER AGENT

 

SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 333 W. 11th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105 (the “Transfer Agent”), serves as the Fund’s transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent under a transfer agency agreement with the Trust.

 

THE CUSTODIAN

 

U.S. Bank National Association, 800 Nicollett Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-4302 (the “Custodian”), acts as the custodian of the Fund. The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Fund as required by the 1940 Act.

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Ernst & Young LLP, One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 700, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. The financial statements and notes thereto incorporated by reference have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are incorporated by reference in reliance on the authority of their report as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 2222 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

 

SECURITIES LENDING

 

The Fund did not engage in securities lending activities during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023.

 

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

 

Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series, including the Fund described in this SAI, are overseen by the Board. The Board has approved contracts, as described above, under which certain companies provide essential management services to the Trust.

 

Like most mutual funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of risk, is performed by third party service providers, such as the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, have oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the funds. The funds and their service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust’s business (e.g., the Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the funds’ service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

 

The Trustees’ role in risk oversight begins before the inception of a fund, at which time certain of the fund’s service providers present the Board with information concerning the investment objective, strategies and risks of the fund as well as proposed investment limitations for the fund. Additionally, the fund’s adviser provides the Board with an overview of, among other things, its investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the adviser and other service providers, such as the fund’s independent accountants, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the funds may be exposed.

 

The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the funds by the adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the advisory agreement with the adviser, the Board meets with the adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the adviser’s adherence to the funds’ investment restrictions and compliance with various fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the funds’ investments, including, for example, reports on the adviser’s use of derivatives in managing the funds, if any, as well as reports on the funds’ investments in other investment companies, if any.

 

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues and fund and adviser risk assessments. At least annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the adviser. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report; any material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures; and any material compliance matters since the date of the last report.

 

S-24 

 

The Board receives reports from the funds’ service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. The Adviser makes regular reports to the Board concerning investments for which market quotations are not readily available. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of the funds’ financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the funds and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the funds’ internal controls. Additionally, in connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees fund management’s implementation of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with the SEC are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust’s internal controls over financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Trust’s financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust’s financial statements.

 

From their review of these reports and discussions with the adviser, the Chief Compliance Officer, the independent registered public accounting firm and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee learn in detail about the material risks of the funds, thereby facilitating a dialogue about how management and service providers identify and mitigate those risks.

 

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the funds can be identified and/or quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the funds’ goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the funds’ investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the funds’ adviser and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the funds’ and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s ability to monitor and manage risk, as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.

 

Members of the Board. There are seven members of the Board, five of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“independent Trustees”). Robert Nesher, an interested person of the Trust, serves as Chairman of the Board. Joseph T. Grause, Jr., an independent Trustee, serves as the lead independent Trustee. The Trust has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Trust made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the independent Trustees constitute more than two-thirds of the Board, the fact that the chairperson of each Committee of the Board is an independent Trustee, the amount of assets under management in the Trust, and the number of funds (and classes of shares) overseen by the Board. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the independent Trustees from fund management.

 

The Board has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and Governance Committee. The Audit Committee and Governance Committee are chaired by an independent Trustee and composed of all of the independent Trustees. In addition, the Board has a lead independent Trustee.

 

In his role as lead independent Trustee, Mr. Grause, among other things: (i) presides over Board meetings in the absence of the Chairman of the Board; (ii) presides over executive sessions of the independent Trustees; (iii) along with the Chairman of the Board, oversees the development of agendas for Board meetings; (iv) facilitates communication between the independent Trustees and management, and among the independent Trustees; (v) serves as a key point person for dealings between the independent Trustees and management; and (vi) has such other responsibilities as the Board or independent Trustees determine from time to time.

 

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Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations and other directorships held during at least the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee. There is no stated term of office for the Trustees. Nevertheless, an independent Trustee must retire from the Board as of the end of the calendar year in which such independent Trustee first attains the age of seventy-five years; provided, however, that, an independent Trustee may continue to serve for one or more additional one calendar year terms after attaining the age of seventy-five years (each calendar year a “Waiver Term”) if, and only if, prior to the beginning of such Waiver Term: (1) the Governance Committee (a) meets to review the performance of the independent Trustee; (b) finds that the continued service of such independent Trustee is in the best interests of the Trust; and (c) unanimously approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above; and (2) a majority of the Trustees approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each Trustee is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served

Principal Occupations

in the Past 5 Years

Other Directorships Held in the Past 5 Years
Interested Trustees

Robert Nesher

(Born: 1946)

 

Chairman of the Board of Trustees1

(since 1991)

SEI employee 1974 to present; currently performs various services on behalf of SEI Investments for which Mr. Nesher is compensated. President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. President and Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP. Vice Chairman of Winton Series Trust to 2017. Vice Chairman of Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund (closed-end investment company), The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Gallery Trust, Schroder Series Trust and Schroder Global Series Trust to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Catholic Responsible Investments Funds, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP, SEI Global Master Fund plc, SEI Global Assets Fund plc, SEI Global Investments Fund plc, SEI Investments—Global Funds Services, Limited, SEI Investments Global, Limited, SEI Investments (Europe) Ltd., SEI Investments—Unit Trust Management (UK) Limited, SEI Multi-Strategy Funds PLC and SEI Global Nominee Ltd.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

S-26 

 

N. Jeffrey Klauder

(Born: 1952)

 

Trustee1

(since 2018)

Senior Advisor of SEI Investments since 2018. Executive Vice President and General Counsel of SEI Investments, 2004 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds. Director of SEI Private Trust Company, SEI Global Fund Services Ltd., SEI Investments Global Limited, SEI Global Master Fund, SEI Global Investments Fund, SEI Global Assets Fund and SEI Investments - Guernsey Limited.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of SEI Investments Management Corporation, SEI Trust Company, SEI Investments (South Africa), Limited and SEI Investments (Canada) Company to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

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Independent Trustees

Kathleen Gaffney

(Born: 1961)

Trustee

(since 2022)

 

Retired since 2019. Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Eaton Vance Management from 2012 to 2019. Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

Joseph T. Grause, Jr.

(Born: 1952)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Lead Independent Trustee

(since 2018)

Self-Employed Consultant since 2012. Director of Endowments and Foundations, Morningstar Investment Management, Morningstar, Inc., 2010 to 2011. Director of International Consulting and Chief Executive Officer of Morningstar Associates Europe Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2007 to 2010. Country Manager – Morningstar UK Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2005 to 2007.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Director of The Korea Fund, Inc. to 2019. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

S-28 

 

Robert Mulhall

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2019)

Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, from 1998 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of Villanova University Alumni Board of Directors to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

Bruce Speca

(Born: 1956)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Global Head of Asset Allocation, Manulife Asset Management (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2010 to 2011. Executive Vice President – Investment Management Services, John Hancock Financial Services (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2003 to 2010.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022. Director of Stone Harbor Investments Funds (8 Portfolios), Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Income Fund (closed-end fund) and Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Total Income Fund (closed-end fund) to 2022.

Monica Walker

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2022)

Retired. Private Investor since 2017. Co-Founder (1991-2017), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (2009 to 2017) and Chief Investment Officer – Equity (2007 to 2017) of Holland Capital Management, LLC (Chicago). Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

1Denotes Trustees who may be deemed to be “interested” persons of the Fund as that term is defined in the 1940 Act by virtue of their affiliation with the Distributor and/or its affiliates.

 

Individual Trustee Qualifications

 

The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of their ability to review and understand information about the Fund provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the Fund, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on their own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.

 

S-29 

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Nesher should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 1974, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 1991.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Klauder should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 2004, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he gained serving as a partner of a large law firm.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Gaffney should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as a vice president and portfolio manager for a large asset management company, her experience in and knowledge of the asset management industry, and the experience she has gained serving in board and leadership positions in a variety of nonprofit and civic organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Grause should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with different financial institutions, his knowledge of the mutual fund and investment management industries, his past experience as an interested trustee and chair of the investment committee for a multi-managed investment company, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Mulhall Should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with an audit firm and various financial services firms, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and his experience serving in a variety of leadership capacities for non-profit organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Speca should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained serving as president of a mutual fund company and portfolio manager for a $95 billion complex of asset allocation funds, his over 25 years of experience working in a management capacity with mutual fund boards, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Walker should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained in a variety of leadership roles with an asset management company that she co-founded, her experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience she has gained in various other corporate accounting, finance and investment roles.

 

In its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the funds.

 

Board Committees. The Board has established the following standing committees:

 

Audit Committee. The Board has a standing Audit Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee include: (i) recommending which firm to engage as each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this relationship; (ii) reviewing the independent registered public accounting firm’s compensation, the proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firm’s independence; (iii) pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; (iv) serving as a channel of communication between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; (v) reviewing the results of each external audit, including any qualifications in the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion, any related management letter, management’s responses to recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the audit, reports submitted to the Committee by the internal auditing department of the Administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and management’s responses to any such reports; (vi) reviewing each fund’s audited financial statements and considering any significant disputes between the Trust’s management and the independent registered public accounting firm that arose in connection with the preparation of those financial statements; (vii) considering, in consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trust’s senior internal accounting executive, if any, the independent registered public accounting firms’ reports on the adequacy of the Trust’s internal financial controls; (viii) reviewing, in consultation with each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed when preparing each fund’s financial statements; and (ix) other audit related matters. Mses. Gaffney and Walker and Messrs. Grause, Mulhall and Speca currently serve as members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Mulhall serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met two (2) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

S-30 

 

Governance Committee. The Board has a standing Governance Committee (formerly the Nominating Committee) that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Governance Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Governance Committee include: (i) considering and reviewing Board governance and compensation issues; (ii) conducting a self-assessment of the Board’s operations; (iii) selecting and nominating all persons to serve as independent Trustees; and (iv) reviewing shareholder recommendations for nominations to fill vacancies on the Board if such recommendations are submitted in writing and addressed to the Committee at the Trust’s office. Mses. Gaffney and Walker and Messrs. Grause, Mulhall and Speca currently serve as members of the Governance Committee. Mr. Speca serves as the Chairman of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met one (1) time during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Fund Shares Owned by Board Members. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each Trustee’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Fund as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act. The Trustees and officers of the Trust own less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.

 

Name

Dollar Range of Fund Shares

(Fund)1

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares

(All Funds in the Family of Investment Companies)1,2

Interested Trustees
Nesher None None
Klauder None None
Independent Trustees
Gaffney None None
Grause None None
Mulhall None None
Speca None None
Walker None None

 

1Valuation date is December 31, 2023.
2The Fund is the only fund in the family of investment companies.

 

S-31 

 

Board Compensation. The Trust paid the following fees to the Trustees during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Name Aggregate Compensation from the Trust Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement Total Compensation from the Trust and Fund Complex1
Interested Trustees
Nesher $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Klauder $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Independent Trustees
Gaffney $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Grause $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Johnson2 $25,660 N/A N/A $25,660 for service on one (1) board
Krikorian3 $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Mulhall $114,666 N/A N/A $114,666 for service on one (1) board
Speca $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Walker $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board

 

1All funds in the Fund Complex are series of the Trust.
2In accordance with the Trust's retirement policy, Mr. Johnson retired from the Board effective December 31, 2022, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.
3In accordance with the Trust's retirement policy, Ms. Krikorian retired from the Board effective December 31, 2023, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.

 

Trust Officers. Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations for the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as executive officers of the Trust. There is no stated term of office for the officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each officer is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. The Chief Compliance Officer is the only officer who receives compensation from the Trust for his services.

 

Certain officers of the Trust also serve as officers of one or more mutual funds for which SEI Investments or its affiliates act as investment manager, administrator or distributor.

 

Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served Principal Occupations in Past 5 Years
Michael Beattie
(Born: 1965)

President

(since 2011)

Managing Director, SEI Investments, since 2021. Director of Client Service, SEI Investments, from 2004 to 2021.

 

S-32 

 

James Bernstein

(Born: 1962)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2017)

Attorney, SEI Investments, since 2017.

 

Prior Positions: Self-employed consultant, 2017. Associate General Counsel & Vice President, Nationwide Funds Group and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, from 2002 to 2016. Assistant General Counsel & Vice President, Market Street Funds and Provident Mutual Insurance Company, from 1999 to 2002.

John Bourgeois

(Born: 1973)

Assistant Treasurer

(since 2017)

Fund Accounting Manager, SEI Investments, since 2000.

Donald Duncan

(Born: 1964)

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer and Privacy Officer

(since 2023)

Chief Compliance Officer and Global Head of Anti-Money Laundering Strategy of SEI Investments Company since January 2023. Head of Global Anti-Money Laundering Program for Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC from August 2021 until December 2022. Senior VP and Supervising Principal of Hamilton Lane Securities, LLC from June 2016 to August 2021. Senior Director at AXA-Equitable from June 2011 until May 2016. Senior Director at PRUCO Securities, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. from October 2005 until December 2009.

Eric C. Griffith

(Born: 1969)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2019)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2019. Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co., from 2012 to 2018.

Matthew M. Maher

(Born: 1975)

Vice President

(since 2018)

 

Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2018. Attorney, Blank Rome LLP, from 2015 to 2018. Assistant Counsel & Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon, from 2013 to 2014. Attorney, Dilworth Paxson LLP, from 2006 to 2013.

 

S-33 

 

Andrew Metzger

(Born: 1980)

Treasurer, Controller and Chief Financial Officer

(since 2021)

Director of Fund Accounting, SEI Investments, since 2020. Senior Director, Embark, from 2019 to 2020. Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, from 2002 to 2019.

Robert Morrow

(Born: 1968)

Vice President

(since 2017)

Account Manager, SEI Investments, since 2007.

Stephen F. Panner

(Born: 1970)

Chief Compliance Officer

(since 2022)

Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds, SEI Structured Credit Fund LP, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds since September 2022. Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Alternative Income Fund since May 2023. Chief Compliance Officer of Symmetry Panoramic Trust since December 2023. Fund Compliance Officer of SEI Investments Company from February 2011 to September 2022. Fund Accounting Director and CFO and Controller for the SEI Funds from July 2005 to February 2011.

Alexander F. Smith

(Born: 1977)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2020. Associate Counsel & Manager, Vanguard, 2012 to 2020. Attorney, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, 2008 to 2012.

 

S-34 

 

PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES

 

Purchases and redemptions may be made through the Transfer Agent on any day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business. Shares of the Fund are offered and redeemed on a continuous basis. Currently, the NYSE is closed for business when the following holidays are observed: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

It is currently the Trust’s policy to pay all redemptions in cash. The Trust retains the right, however, to alter this policy to provide for redemptions in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of securities held by the Fund in lieu of cash. Shareholders may incur brokerage charges on the sale of any such securities so received in payment of redemptions. A shareholder will at all times be entitled to aggregate cash redemptions from all funds of the Trust up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Trust’s net assets during any 90-day period.

 

The Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption and/or to postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, for any period on which trading on the NYSE is restricted (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation), or during the existence of an emergency (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation) as a result of which disposal or valuation of the Fund’s securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC has by order permitted. The Trust also reserves the right to suspend sales of shares of the Fund for any period during which the NYSE, the Adviser, the Administrator, the Transfer Agent and/or the Custodian are not open for business.

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

General Policy. The Fund adheres to Section 2(a)(41), and Rules 2a-4 and 2a-5 thereunder, of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other securities are valued at fair value by the Adviser in good faith, and subject to the oversight of the Board. In complying with the 1940 Act, the Trust relies on guidance provided by the SEC and by the SEC staff in various interpretive letters and other guidance.

 

Equity Securities. Securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system for which quotations are readily available (except for securities traded on NASDAQ), including securities traded over the counter, are valued at the last quoted sale price on an exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on the valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time if such exchange is normally open at that time), or, if there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recent quoted bid price. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price will be used. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Money Market Securities and other Debt Securities. If available, money market securities and other debt securities are priced based upon valuations provided by recognized independent, third-party pricing agents. Such values generally reflect the last reported sales price if the security is actively traded. The third-party pricing agents may also value debt securities by employing methodologies that utilize actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations, or other methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities. Such methodologies generally consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. Money market securities and other debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less may be valued at their amortized cost, which approximates market value. If such prices are not available or are determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

S-35 

 

Foreign Securities. The prices for foreign securities are reported in local currency and converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates. Exchange rates are provided daily by recognized independent pricing agents.

 

Derivatives and Other Complex Securities. Exchange traded options on securities and indices purchased by the Fund generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last bid price. Exchange traded options on securities and indices written by the Fund generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last asked price. In the case of options traded in the over-the-counter market, if the OTC option is also an exchange traded option, the Fund will follow the rules regarding the valuation of exchange traded options. If the OTC option is not also an exchange traded option, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Futures and swaps cleared through a central clearing house (“centrally cleared swaps”) are valued at the settlement price established each day by the board of the exchange on which they are traded. The daily settlement prices for financial futures are provided by an independent source. On days when there is excessive volume or market volatility, or the future or centrally cleared swap does not end trading by the time the Fund calculates NAV, the settlement price may not be available at the time at which the Fund calculates its NAV. On such days, the best available price (which is typically the last sales price) may be used to value the Fund’s futures or centrally cleared swaps position.

 

Foreign currency forward contracts are valued at the current day’s interpolated foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day’s spot rate, and the thirty, sixty, ninety and one-hundred eighty day forward rates provided by an independent source.

 

If available, non-centrally cleared swaps, collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations and bank loans are priced based on valuations provided by an independent third party pricing agent. If a price is not available from an independent third party pricing agent, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Use of Third-Party Independent Pricing Services. Pursuant to contracts with the Administrator, prices for most securities held by the Fund with readily available market quotations are provided by third-party independent pricing agents. The valuations for these securities are reviewed by the Administrator. In accordance with the Adviser’s Valuation Procedures, the Adviser may also use third-party independent pricing agents (reviewed and approved by the Adviser) to fair value certain securities without readily available market quotations (or where market quotations are unreliable).

 

Fair Value Procedures. Securities for which market prices are not “readily available” or which cannot be valued using the methodologies described above are valued in accordance with Fair Value Procedures established by the Adviser and implemented through the Adviser's Valuation Committee. In establishing a fair value for an investment, the Adviser will use valuation methodologies established by the Adviser and may consider inputs and methodologies provided by, among others, third-party independent pricing agents, independent broker dealers and/or the Adviser’s own personnel (including investment personnel).

 

S-36 

 

Some of the more common reasons that may necessitate a security being valued using Fair Value Procedures include: the security’s trading has been halted or suspended; the security has been de-listed from a national exchange; the security’s primary trading market is temporarily closed at a time when under normal conditions it would be open; the security has not been traded for an extended period of time; the security’s primary pricing source is not able or willing to provide a price; trading of the security is subject to local government-imposed restrictions; or a significant event with respect to a security has occurred after the close of the market or exchange on which the security principally trades and before the time the Fund calculates NAV. When a security is valued in accordance with the Fair Value Procedures, the Adviser's Valuation Committee will determine the value after taking into consideration relevant information reasonably available to the Committee.

 

TAXES

 

The following is only a summary of certain additional U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that is intended to supplement the discussion contained in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. In particular, it does not address investors subject to special rules, such as investors who hold shares through an individual retirement account ("IRA"), 401(k) or other tax-advantaged accounts. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations, including their state, local, and foreign tax liabilities.

 

The following general discussion of certain federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.

 

Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company. The Fund has elected and intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”). By following such a policy, the Fund expects to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal taxes to which it may be subject. If the Fund qualifies as a RIC, it will generally not be subject to federal income taxes on the net investment income and net realized capital gains that the Fund timely distributes to its shareholders. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

In order to qualify as a RIC under the Code, the Fund must distribute annually to its shareholders at least 90% of its net investment income (which includes dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, less operating expenses) and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income, for each tax year, if any (the “Distribution Requirement”) and also must meet certain additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of the Fund’s gross income each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities, or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (the “Qualifying Income Test”); and (ii) at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year: (A) at least 50% of the value of the Fund's total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, including the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership, and (B) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of another RIC) of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Asset Test”).

 

S-37 

 

Although the Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and may distribute its capital gains for any taxable year, the Fund will be subject to federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed.

 

If the Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income or Asset Tests in any taxable year, the Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. If the Fund fails to maintain qualification as a RIC for a tax year, and the relief provisions are not available, the Fund will be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate (currently 21%) without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In such a case, its shareholders would be taxed as if they received ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits, although corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends received deduction (subject to certain limitations) and individuals may be able to benefit from the lower tax rates available to qualified dividend income. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC.

 

The Fund may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year. A “qualified late year loss” generally includes net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (commonly referred to as “post-October losses”) and certain other late-year losses.

 

The treatment of capital loss carryovers for the Fund is similar to the rules that apply to capital loss carryovers of individuals which provide that such losses are carried over indefinitely. If the Fund has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains), the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year. The carryover of capital losses may be limited under the general loss limitation rules if the Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Code.

 

Federal Excise Tax. Notwithstanding the Distribution Requirement described above, which generally requires the Fund to distribute at least 90% of its annual investment company taxable income and the excess of its exempt interest income (but does not require any minimum distribution of net capital gain), the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax to the extent it fails to distribute, by the end of the calendar year, at least 98% of its ordinary income and 98.2% of its capital gain net income (the excess of short- and long-term capital gains over short- and long-term capital losses) for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year (including any retained amount from the prior calendar year on which the Fund paid no federal income tax). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions to avoid liability for federal excise tax but can make no assurances that such tax will be completely eliminated. For example, the Fund may receive delayed or corrected tax reporting statements from its investments that cause the Fund to accrue additional income and gains after the Fund has already made its excise tax distributions for the year. In such a situation, the Fund may incur an excise tax liability resulting from such delayed receipt of such tax information statements. In addition, the Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate Fund investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal excise tax liability at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Fund to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.

 

S-38 

 

Distributions to Shareholders. The Fund receives income generally in the form of dividends and interest on investments. This income, plus net short-term capital gains, if any, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, constitutes the Fund’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. Any distributions by the Fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary income or at the lower capital gains rates that apply to individuals receiving qualified dividend income, whether you take them in cash or in additional shares.

 

Distributions by the Fund are currently eligible for the reduced maximum tax rate to individuals of 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets) to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income on the securities it holds and the Fund reports the distributions as qualified dividend income. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that: (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become “ex-dividend” (which is the day on which declared distributions (dividends or capital gains) are deducted from the Fund’s assets before it calculates the NAV) with respect to such dividend; (ii) the Fund has not satisfied similar holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder; (iii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property; or (iv) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Code. Therefore, if you lend your shares in the Fund, such as pursuant to a securities lending arrangement, you may lose the ability to treat dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. Distributions that the Fund receives from an underlying fund taxable as a RIC or from a REIT will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such underlying Fund or REIT.

 

Distributions by the Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Capital gain distributions consisting of the Fund’s net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains for individual shareholders currently set at a maximum rate of 20% regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Fund. Distributions from capital gains are generally made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards.

 

In the case of corporate shareholders, the Fund’s distributions (other than capital gain distributions) generally qualify for the dividends received deduction to the extent such distributions are so reported and do not exceed the gross amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund for the year. Generally, and subject to certain limitations (including certain holding period limitations), a dividend will be treated as a qualifying dividend if it has been received from a domestic corporation.

 

To the extent that the Fund makes a distribution of income received by the Fund in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

If the Fund’s distributions exceed its current and accumulated earnings and profits for the taxable year (as calculated for federal income tax purposes), all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholder’s cost basis in the Fund and result in a higher reported capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold.

 

A dividend or distribution received shortly after the purchase of shares reduces the NAV of the shares by the amount of the dividend or distribution and, although in effect a return of capital, will be taxable to the shareholder. If the NAV of shares were reduced below the shareholder’s cost by dividends or distributions representing gains realized on sales of securities, such dividends or distributions would be a return of investment though taxable to the shareholder in the same manner as other dividends or distributions.

 

S-39 

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, and will advise you of their tax status for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held your shares for a full year, the Fund may report and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gain, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Fund.

 

Dividends declared to shareholders of record in October, November or December and actually paid in January of the following year will be treated as having been received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which declared. Under this rule, therefore, a shareholder may be taxed in one year on dividends or distributions actually received in January of the following year.

 

Sales, Exchanges or Redemptions. Sales, exchanges and redemptions of Fund shares may be taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. Any gain or loss recognized on a sale, exchange, or redemption of shares of the Fund by a shareholder who holds Fund shares as a capital asset will generally be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months and otherwise will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss. However, if shares on which a shareholder has received a net capital gain distribution are subsequently sold, exchanged, or redeemed and such shares have been held for six months or less, any loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the long-term capital gain distribution. In addition, the loss realized on a sale or other disposition of shares will be disallowed to the extent a shareholder repurchases (or enters into a contract to or option to repurchase) shares within a period of 61 days (beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares). This loss disallowance rule will apply to shares received through the reinvestment of dividends during the 61-day period. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different fund is the same as a sale.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for purchases of Fund shares. In addition to the requirement to report the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as its default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by a Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. If your shares are held in a brokerage account, your broker may use a different method and you should contact your broker to determine which method it will use. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review the cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

Net Investment Income Tax. U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including any capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund).

 

Foreign Taxes. Dividends and interest received by the Fund may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions that would reduce the yield on the Fund’s stocks or securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these taxes. Foreign countries generally do not impose taxes on capital gains with respect to investments by foreign investors.

 

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Tax Treatment of Complex Securities. The Fund may invest in complex securities and these investments may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules. These rules could affect the Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC, affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Fund are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to the Fund and/or defer the Fund’s ability to recognize losses, and, in limited cases, subject the Fund to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of its foreign securities. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by the Fund and may require the Fund to sell securities to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

The Fund is required for federal income tax purposes to mark-to-market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures and options contracts subject to section 1256 of the Code (“Section 1256 Contracts”) as of the end of the year as well as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from Section 1256 Contracts on broad-based indexes required to be marked to market will be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. The Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on Section 1256 Contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the Fund. These provisions may also require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirement and for avoiding the excise tax discussed above. Accordingly, in order to avoid certain income and excise taxes, the Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

The Fund may invest in U.S. REITs. Investments in REIT equity securities may require the Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. The Fund’s investments in REIT equity securities may at other times result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to the Fund’s shareholders for federal income tax purposes. Dividends paid by a REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a REIT to the Fund will be treated as long-term capital gains by the Fund and, in turn, may be distributed by the Fund to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Dividends received by the Fund from a REIT generally will not constitute qualified dividend income or qualify for the dividends received deduction. If a REIT is operated in a manner such that it fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the REIT would be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits.

 

“Qualified REIT dividends” (i.e., ordinary REIT dividends other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income eligible for capital gain tax rates) are eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). Distributions by the Fund to its shareholders that are attributable to qualified REIT dividends received by the Fund and which the Fund properly reports as “section 199A dividends,” are treated as “qualified REIT dividends” in the hands of non-corporate shareholders. A section 199A dividend is treated as a qualified REIT dividend only if the shareholder receiving such dividend holds the dividend-paying RIC shares for at least 46 days of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. The Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as section 199A dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so. Unless later extended or made permanent, this 20% deduction will no longer be available for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

 

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REITs in which the Fund invests often do not provide complete and final tax information to the Fund until after the time that the Fund issues a tax reporting statement. As a result, the Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues your tax reporting statement. When such reclassification is necessary, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a corrected, final Form 1099-DIV to reflect the reclassified information. If you receive a corrected Form 1099-DIV, use the information on this corrected form, and not the information on the previously issued tax reporting statement, in completing your tax returns.

 

Backup Withholding. The Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold at a 24% withholding rate and remit to the U.S. Treasury the amount withheld on amounts payable to any shareholder who: (i) has provided the Fund either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all; (ii) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends; (iii) has failed to certify to the Fund that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding; or (iv) has failed to certify to the Fund that the shareholder is a U.S. person (including a resident alien). Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Any non-U.S. investors in the Fund may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in the Fund. Foreign shareholders (i.e., nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on distributions derived from taxable ordinary income. The Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Short-term capital gain dividends received by a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year are not exempt from this 30% withholding tax. Gains realized by foreign shareholders from the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Foreign shareholders who fail to provide an applicable IRS form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from the Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described in this paragraph. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.

 

Under legislation generally known as “FATCA” (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), the Fund is required to withhold 30% of certain ordinary dividends it pays to shareholders that fail to meet prescribed information reporting or certification requirements. In general, no such withholding will be required with respect to a U.S. person or non-U.S. person that timely provides the certifications required by the Fund or its agent on a valid IRS Form W-9 or applicable series of IRS Form W-8, respectively. Shareholders potentially subject to withholding include foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”), such as non-U.S. investment funds, and non-financial foreign entities (“NFFEs”). To avoid withholding under FATCA, an FFI generally must enter into an information sharing agreement with the IRS in which it agrees to report certain identifying information (including name, address, and taxpayer identification number) with respect to its U.S. account holders (which, in the case of an entity shareholder, may include its direct and indirect U.S. owners), and an NFFE generally must identify and provide other required information to the Fund or other withholding agent regarding its U.S. owners, if any. Such non-U.S. shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by regulations and other guidance. A non-U.S. shareholder resident or doing business in a country that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement.

 

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A non-U.S. entity that invests in the Fund will need to provide the Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity’s status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding. Non-U.S. investors in the Fund should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, IRAs, salary deferral arrangements, 401(k)s, and other tax-exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Tax-exempt entities are not permitted to offset losses from one trade or business against the income or gain of another trade or business. Certain net losses incurred prior to January 1, 2018 are permitted to offset gain and income created by an unrelated trade or business, if otherwise available. Under current law, the Fund generally serves to block UBTI from being realized by its tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, the tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of an investment in the Fund where, for example: (i) the Fund invests in residual interests of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”), (ii) the Fund invests in a REIT that is a taxable mortgage pool (“TMP”) or that has a subsidiary that is a TMP or that invests in the residual interest of a REMIC, or (iii) shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisor. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding these issues.

 

The Fund’s shares held in a tax-qualified retirement account will generally not be subject to federal taxation on income and capital gains distributions from the Fund until a shareholder begins receiving payments from their retirement account. Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, shareholders should consult their tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, generally, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC such as the Fund are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

State Taxes. Depending upon state and local law, distributions by the Fund to its shareholders and the ownership of such shares may be subject to state and local taxes. Rules of state and local taxation of dividend and capital gains distributions from RICs often differ from the rules for federal income taxation described above. It is expected that the Fund will not be liable for any corporate excise, income or franchise tax in Massachusetts if it qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes.

 

Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by the Fund. Investment in Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae securities, banker’s acceptances, commercial paper, and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities do not generally qualify for such tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding state and local taxes applicable to an investment in the Fund.

 

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FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Brokerage Transactions. Generally, equity securities, both listed and over-the-counter, are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Purchases from underwriters will include the underwriting commission or concession, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers will include a dealer’s mark-up or reflect a dealer’s mark-down. Money market securities and other debt securities are usually bought and sold directly from the issuer or an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Generally, the Fund will not pay brokerage commissions for such purchases. When a debt security is bought from an underwriter, the purchase price will usually include an underwriting commission or concession. The purchase price for securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealer’s mark up or reflect a dealer’s mark down. When the Fund executes transactions in the over-the-counter market, it will generally deal with primary market makers unless prices that are more favorable are otherwise obtainable.

 

In addition, the Adviser may place a combined order for two or more accounts it manages, including the Fund, engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, joint execution is in the best interest of each participant and will result in best price and execution. Transactions involving commingled orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account or fund. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or the Fund may obtain, it is the opinion of the Adviser that the advantages of combined orders outweigh the possible disadvantages of combined orders.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund paid the following aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions:

 

Aggregate Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions Paid
2021 2022 2023
$10,796 $20,257 $19,975

 

Brokerage Selection. The Trust does not expect to use one particular broker or dealer, and when one or more brokers is believed capable of providing the best combination of price and execution, the Adviser may select a broker based upon brokerage or research services provided to the Adviser. The Adviser may pay a higher commission than otherwise obtainable from other brokers in return for such services only if a good faith determination is made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.

 

Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause the Fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In addition to agency transactions, the Adviser may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). In the case of research services, the Adviser believes that access to independent investment research is beneficial to its investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Fund.

 

To the extent that research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the Adviser might utilize Fund commissions include research reports and other information on the economy, industries, sectors, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, political developments, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and other analysis. The Adviser may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used by the Adviser in connection with the Fund or any other specific client account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Adviser will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. Any advisory or other fees paid to the Adviser are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services.

 

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In some cases the Adviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a “research” and a “non-research” use. When this occurs, the Adviser makes a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions, while the Adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the Adviser believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.

 

From time to time, the Adviser may purchase new issues of securities for clients, including the Fund, in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the Adviser with research services. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will provide research “credits” in these situations at a rate that is higher than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid no commissions on brokerage transactions directed to brokers pursuant to an agreement or understanding whereby the broker provides research services to the Adviser.

 

Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. The Fund may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Fund or the Adviser for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act and rules promulgated by the SEC. The 1940 Act requires that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Fund for exchange transactions not exceed “usual and customary” brokerage commissions. The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” The Trustees, including those who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund did not pay brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions effected by affiliated brokers.

 

Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealers.” The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers and dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund held during its most recent fiscal year. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund did not hold any securities of its regular brokers or dealers.

 

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Portfolio Turnover Rates. Portfolio turnover is calculated by dividing the lesser of total purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. Excluded from both the numerator and denominator are amounts relating to securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less. Instruments excluded from the calculation of portfolio turnover generally would include the futures contracts in which the Fund may invest since such contracts generally have remaining maturities of less than one-year. The Fund may at times hold investments in other short-term instruments, such as repurchase agreements, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rates were as follows:

 

Portfolio Turnover Rates
2022 2023
12% 13%

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Board has approved policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances regarding the disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings information to shareholders and third parties. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that disclosure of information regarding the Fund’s portfolio securities is in the best interests of Fund shareholders, on the one hand, and include procedures to address conflicts between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and those of the Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Fund, the Adviser, or its principal underwriter, on the other. Pursuant to such procedures, the Board has authorized the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer (“Authorized Person”) to authorize the release of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, as necessary, in conformity with the foregoing principles. The Authorized Person, either directly or through reports by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, reports quarterly to the Board regarding the operation and administration of such policies and procedures.

 

Pursuant to applicable law, the Fund is required to disclose its complete portfolio holdings quarterly, within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (currently, each January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31). The Fund will disclose a complete or summary schedule of investments (which includes the Fund’s 50 largest holdings in unaffiliated issuers and each investment in unaffiliated issuers that exceeds one percent of the Fund’s NAV (“Summary Schedule”)) in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports which are distributed to Fund shareholders. The Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the first and third fiscal quarters is available in quarterly holdings reports filed with the SEC as exhibits to Form N-PORT, and the Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the second and fourth fiscal quarter is available in Semi-Annual and Annual Reports filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR.

 

Complete schedules of investments filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR and as exhibits to Form N-PORT are not distributed to Fund shareholders but are available, free of charge, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Should the Fund include only a Summary Schedule rather than a complete schedule of investments in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports, its complete schedule of investments will be available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-301-7212.

 

In addition, the Adviser’s website also provides information about the Fund’s ten largest portfolio holdings, as of the end of the most recent calendar month. The portfolio information can be found on the internet at www.haverfordfunds.com. This information is provided at the end of each calendar month generally within two days of the month end. The Adviser may exclude any portion of the Fund’s portfolio holdings from such publication when deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund. The portfolio holdings information placed on the website generally will remain there until such information is included in a filing on Form N-PORT or Form N-CSR as described above. The information on the Adviser’s website is publicly available to all categories of persons.

 

In addition to information provided to shareholders and the general public, portfolio holdings information may be disclosed as frequently as daily to the Fund’s Adviser, Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent, financial printer, pricing vendors, liquidity analytics vendors, class action reclaim vendors and foreign tax reclaim vendors and other vendors that provide the Adviser with various middle office, back office, client reporting and portfolio analytics services in connection with their services to the Fund. From time to time rating and ranking organizations, such as S&P, Lipper and Morningstar, Inc., may request non-public portfolio holdings information in connection with rating the Fund. Similarly, institutional investors, financial planners, pension plan sponsors and/or their consultants or other third-parties may request portfolio holdings information in order to assess the risks of the Fund’s portfolio along with related performance attribution statistics. The lag time for such disclosures will vary. The Fund believes that these third parties have legitimate objectives in requesting such portfolio holdings information.

 

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The Fund’s policies and procedures provide that the Authorized Person may authorize disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information to such parties at differing times and/or with different lag times. Prior to making any disclosure to a third party, the Authorized Person must determine that such disclosure serves a reasonable business purpose, is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders and that to the extent conflicts between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and those of the Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Fund exist, such conflicts are addressed. Portfolio holdings information may be disclosed no earlier than 10 days after each calendar quarter end to ratings agencies, consultants and other qualified financial professionals or individuals. The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer will regularly review these arrangements and will make periodic reports to the Board regarding disclosure pursuant to such arrangements.

 

With the exception of disclosures to rating and ranking organizations as described above, the Fund requires any third party receiving non-public holdings information to enter into a confidentiality agreement with the Adviser. The confidentiality agreement provides, among other things, that non-public portfolio holdings information will be kept confidential and that the recipient has a duty not to trade on the non-public information and will use such information solely to analyze and rank the Fund, or to perform due diligence and asset allocation, depending on the recipient of the information.

 

The Fund’s policies and procedures prohibit any compensation or other consideration from being paid to or received by any party in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information, including the Fund, the Adviser and its affiliates or recipients of the Fund’s portfolio holdings information.

 

The Adviser may manage other accounts that are not subject to these policies and procedures with investment objectives and strategies that are substantially similar to those of the Fund. Because the portfolio holdings of such accounts may be substantially similar, and in some cases nearly identical, to those of the Fund, an investor in such an account may be able to infer the portfolio holdings of the Fund from the portfolio holdings of the account.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of funds and shares of each fund. Each share of a fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that portfolio with each other share. Shares are entitled upon liquidation to a pro rata share in the net assets of the portfolio. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees may create additional series or classes of shares. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any funds and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that fund and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto. Share certificates representing shares will not be issued. The Fund’s shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY

 

The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a “Massachusetts business trust.” Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the trust. Even if, however, the Trust were held to be a partnership, the possibility of the shareholders incurring financial loss for that reason appears remote because the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees, and because the Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the Trust property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust.

 

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LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY

 

The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful defaults and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents, employees or investment advisers, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust unless it is determined in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. Nothing contained in this section attempts to disclaim a Trustee’s individual liability in any manner inconsistent with the federal securities laws.

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund to the Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which are included in Appendix B to this SAI.

 

The Trust is required to disclose annually the Fund’s complete proxy voting record during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 on Form N-PX. This voting record is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-301-7212; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

 

CODES OF ETHICS

 

The Board, on behalf of the Trust, has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Distributor have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 (each a “Code of Ethics” and together the “Codes of Ethics”). These Codes of Ethics apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers and certain employees (“Access Persons”). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by Access Persons. Under each Code of Ethics, Access Persons are permitted to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. In addition, certain Access Persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings or private placements or are prohibited from making such investments. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.

 

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PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS

 

As of February 6, 2024, the following persons were record owners (or to the knowledge of the Trust, beneficial owners) of 5% or more of the shares of the Fund. The Trust believes that most of the shares referred to below were held by the below persons in accounts for their fiduciary, agency or custodial customers. Persons beneficially owning more than 25% of the Fund’s outstanding shares may be deemed to “control” the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Shareholders controlling the Fund may have a significant impact on any shareholder vote of the Fund.

 

Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund  
Name and Address % of Fund

HTC & CO OMNIBUS ACCOUNT REINVEST

3 RADNOR CORPORATE CTR STE 450

RADNOR PA 19087-4580

72.00%

HTC & CO OMNIBUS ACCOUNT CASH

3 RADNOR CORPORATE CTR STE 450

RADNOR PA 19087-4580

20.45%

 

 

 

 

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APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

 

Description of Ratings

 

The following descriptions of securities ratings have been published by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), respectively.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Ratings

 

Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Long-Term Ratings

 

Aaa Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

Aa Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

A Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

Baa Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

Ba Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

B Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

Caa Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

Ca Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

C Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

Hybrid Indicator (hyb)

 

The hybrid indicator (hyb) is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms. By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.

 

A-1

 

Description of Moody’s Global Short-Term Ratings

 

P-1 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-2 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-3 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

NP Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Description of Moody’s U.S. Municipal Short-Term Obligation Ratings

 

The Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale is used to rate U.S. municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less. Under certain circumstances, the MIG scale is used to rate bond anticipation notes with maturities of up to five years.

 

Moody’s U.S. municipal short-term obligation ratings are as follows:

 

MIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

MIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

MIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

Description of Moody’s Demand Obligation Ratings

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), Moody’s assigns both a long-term rating and a short-term payment obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer’s ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term payment obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to meet any purchase price payment obligation resulting from optional tenders (“on demand”) and/or mandatory tenders of the VRDO. The short-term payment obligation rating uses the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (“VMIG”) scale. VMIG ratings with liquidity support use as an input the short-term counterparty risk assessment of the support provider, or the long-term rating of the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support. Transitions of VMIG ratings with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions of Prime ratings reflecting the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade. For VRDOs, Moody’s typically assigns a VMIG rating if the frequency of the payment obligation is less than every three years. If the frequency of the payment obligation is less than three years, but the obligation is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the VMIG short-term rating is not assigned and it is denoted as “NR”.

 

Moody’s demand obligation ratings are as follows:

 

A-2

 

VMIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or legal protections.

 

Description of S&P’s Issue Credit Ratings

 

An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term issue credit ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. S&P would typically assign a long-term issue credit rating to an obligation with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. However, the ratings S&P assigns to certain instruments may diverge from these guidelines based on market practices. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

 

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations:

 

• The likelihood of payment—the capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitments on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

 

• The nature and provisions of the financial obligation, and the promise S&P imputes; and

 

• The protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

 

An issue rating is an assessment of default risk but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

 

NR indicates that a rating has not been assigned or is no longer assigned.

 

Description of S&P’s Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings*

 

AAA An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

A-3

 

AA An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.

 

A An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.

 

BBB An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

BB; B; CCC; CC; and C Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.

 

BB An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CCC An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CC An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

C An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.

 

D An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

* Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.

 

Description of S&P’s Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

 

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

 

A-4

 

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

 

A-3 A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

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

 

D A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

Description of S&P’s Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings

 

An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

• Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

• Source of payment—the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

S&P’s municipal short-term note ratings are as follows:

 

SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

D ‘D’ is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.

 

Description of Fitch’s Credit Ratings

 

Fitch’s credit ratings relating to issuers are forward looking opinions on the relative ability of an entity or obligation to meet financial commitments. Credit ratings relating to securities and obligations of an issuer can include a recovery expectation. Credit ratings are used are indications of the likelihood of repayment in accordance with the terms of the issuance.

 

A-5

 

Fitch’s credit rating scale for issuers and issues is expressed using the categories ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’ (investment grade) and ‘BB’ to ‘D’ (speculative grade) with an additional +/- for AA through CCC levels indicating relative differences of probability of default or recovery for issues. The terms “investment grade” and “speculative grade” are market conventions and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the speculative grade categories signal either a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred.

 

Fitch may also disclose issues relating to a rated issuer that are not and have not been rated. Such issues are also denoted as ‘NR’ on its web page.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. Credit ratings do not deal with the risk of market value loss due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and/or other market considerations. However, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay or refinance a financial commitment. Ratings nonetheless do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, in the case of payments linked to performance of an index).

 

Credit ratings are indications of the likelihood of repayment in accordance with the terms of the issuance. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations (i.e. rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation’s documentation).

 

Description of Fitch’s Long-Term Corporate Finance Obligations Ratings

 

AAA Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

AA Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

A High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

BBB Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

BB Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

B Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

CCC Substantial credit risk. ‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.

 

CC Very high levels of credit risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.

 

C Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. ‘C’ ratings indicate exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

A-6

 

Ratings in the categories of ‘CCC’, ‘CC’ and ‘C’ can also relate to obligations or issuers that are in default. In this case, the rating does not opine on default risk but reflects the recovery expectation only.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned ‘RD’ or ‘D’ ratings, but are instead rated in the ‘CCC’ to ‘C’ rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Description of Fitch’s Short-Term Ratings

 

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

 

Fitch’s short-term ratings are as follows:

 

F1 Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

F2 Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

F3 Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

B Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

C High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

 

RD Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

D Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

A-7

 

APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

PROXY VOTING

Haverford’s investment management agreements include disclosure on proxy voting and provide clients the opportunity to select the firm to vote proxies on the client’s behalf. Haverford considers the power to vote on proposals presented to shareholders through the proxy solicitation process to be an integral part of an investment manager’s responsibility. Haverford recognizes that certain proposals, if implemented, may have a substantial impact on the market valuation of portfolio securities and that in such situations the right to vote is considered an asset. The Proxy Voting Policy is designed to ensure that:

 

Proxies for which Haverford has ultimate voting authority are voted consistently and solely in the best economic interests of the beneficiaries of these equity investments, and not in the interests of Haverford or any associated parties other than the clients.
Any real or perceived material conflicts that may arise between the interests of Haverford or any of its associated parties and those of the clients are properly addressed and resolved.

 

To assist the firm in voting proxies, Haverford has partnered with Egan-Jones Ratings Co. (“Egan- Jones”). Egan-Jones is an independent adviser that specializes in providing a variety of fiduciary- level proxy-related services to institutional investment managers, plan sponsors, custodians, consultants, and other institutional investors. The services provided to Haverford by Egan-Jones include in-depth research, voting recommendations (although Haverford is not obligated to follow such recommendations), vote execution, and record keeping. Egan-Jones also assists Haverford in fulfilling its reporting and record keeping obligations required by applicable law.

 

Specifically, Egan-Jones receives and votes all ballots on behalf of the firm’s Institutional and Mutual Fund clients. The firm is able to pull the voting records, at the account level, in order to have that information accessible to clients on a regular basis. Egan-Jones keeps all required records for as long as Haverford Trust remains a client of Egan-Jones. Records maintained include:

 

Egan-Jones maintains copies of all proxy voting policies and procedures;
Egan-Jones maintains a copy of each proxy voting statement received regarding client securities;
Egan-Jones maintains records of each vote cast;
Haverford maintains a copy of any document created by the adviser that was material to making a decision on how to vote proxies on behalf of a client or that memorializes the basis for that decision; and
Haverford maintains a copy of each written request for proxy voting records and any written response to any (written or oral) request for such information.

 

1.Haverford will typically vote client proxies in line with the recommendations made by Egan- Jones, except in circumstances detailed in item 2 of this section. Egan-Jones’ voting recommendations are designed to be in the best long-term financial interest of shareholders, and as such align well with the goals of Haverford’s clients. Egan-Jones’ proxy voting policies are available upon request.

 

B-1

 

2.Haverford’s Investment Selection Committee reserves the right to vote a proxy contrary to recommendation of Egan-Jones with a majority vote. Issues that may trigger a review by the Committee for the purpose of voting against Egan-Jones include, but are not limited to:

 

Mergers and acquisitions
Spin-offs, split-offs, or Initial Public Offerings (IPO)
Significant alterations of the capital structure of the company
Shareholder proposals regarding Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) matters
Other significant corporate actions

 

Should any real or perceived material conflict arise between the interests of Haverford, any of its associated parties, or its clients, Haverford will forego its right to vote a proxy contrary to Egan- Jones’s recommendation.

 

Haverford shall maintain all records required by applicable law, including the Policy Guidelines and amendments thereto. The Research Team shall retain documentation detailing the reasoning behind any proxy votes which differ from the recommendation of Egan Jones.

 

Upon request, clients can obtain proxy voting records, and more information on the proxy voting policies and procedures.

 

B-2

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

 

Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Institutional Securitized Fund

 

Institutional Class Shares

 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

March 1, 2024

 

 

Investment Adviser

 

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

 

 

about this prospectus

 

This prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this important information. For detailed information about the Fund, please see:

 

 

page

loomis sayles full discretion institutional securitized fund

1

Fund Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategies

2

Principal Risks

3

Performance Information

6

Investment Adviser

7

Portfolio Managers

7

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

7

Tax Information

7

more information about risk

8

more information about the fund’s objective and investments

10

Information about Portfolio Holdings

10

Investment Adviser

10

Portfolio Managers

11

Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares

12

Other Policies

14

Dividends and Distributions

16

Taxes

16

additional information

17

financial highlights

18

how to obtain more information about the fund

back cover

 

 

 

Institutional Class Shares

BofA Merrill Lynch US ABS & CMBS Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

loomis sayles full discretion institutional securitized fund

 

Fund Investment Objective

 

The investment objective of the Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Institutional Securitized Fund (the “Fund”) is to provide current income and the potential for total return.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

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

 

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

 

 

Institutional Class Shares

Management Fees1

None

Other Expenses

0.27%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

0.27%

Less Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements2

(0.07)%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements

0.20%

 

1

The Fund does not pay a management fee. Shares of the Fund are only available to institutional advisory clients of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (“Loomis Sayles” or the “Adviser”), the Fund’s Adviser. The institutional advisory clients of the Adviser pay the Adviser or its affiliates a fee for their investment advisory services.

2

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (“excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 0.20% of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average daily net assets. This Agreement may only be terminated by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”).

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses (including capped expenses described in the footnote to the fee table) remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

$20

$80

$145

$336

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 23% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

 

1

 

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The Fund primarily invests in asset-backed securities (including collateralized loan obligations), commercial mortgage-backed securities, agency mortgage-backed securities and non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities, which are not issued, guaranteed, or backed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. The Fund may invest in both fixed-rate and adjustable rate securities.

 

The securities the Fund invests in may be issued by U.S. or non-U.S. issuers, including corporations, partnerships and trusts, and governments, including their agencies, instrumentalities and sponsored entities. There is no limit to the amount of Fund assets which may be invested in non-U.S. issuers. Securities issued by non-U.S. issuers must be U.S. dollar denominated. The Fund may invest in securities of any maturity.

 

In addition to direct investments in securitized assets, the Fund may also invest in structured notes, which are instruments that are expected to provide economic exposure equivalent to securitized assets in which the Fund may invest directly. These investments are taken into account when determining compliance with the Fund’s 80% investment policy described above. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its assets, based on market value, in structured notes. The Fund may also invest up to 10% of its assets in cash and cash equivalents, including commercial paper, repurchase agreements and short-term fixed-income instruments.

 

The average duration and dollar weighted average maturity of the Fund will vary depending on the Adviser’s strategy for the Fund and its analysis of market and economic conditions.

 

The Fund may invest without limit in securities of any credit quality, including securities that are rated below investment grade (“high yield” or “junk” bonds) and those in default, but seeks to maintain a minimum dollar weighted average portfolio quality equivalent to B- or higher as determined at the time of purchase. The Fund uses the highest rating assigned by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch, Inc. If none of those ratings agencies assign ratings to a particular security or issuer, the Adviser will use its internal rating to determine credit quality. The Fund may continue to hold securities that are downgraded in credit rating subsequent to their purchase if the Adviser believes it would be advantageous to do so.

 

The portfolio management team will seek to identify and purchase securitized assets that offer a high level of income and/or capital appreciation potential. The return potential and relative attractiveness of each security will be assessed on a potential loss-adjusted basis, with particular emphasis on scenario analysis aimed at assessing the risk-return profile of each security. The credit rating assigned by a nationally recognized rating agency will not be a key consideration in the security selection process, except for the need to maintain the minimum rating requirement of the Fund.

 

The Adviser has full discretion in determining which investments to make and pursues a strategy of investing in securitized assets unconstrained with respect to sectors and ratings. In purchasing securities for the Fund, the Adviser uses a fundamental, top down approach to evaluate each sector in the securitized market, and then determines the sector allocation within each sector and the capital structure allocations for the Fund’s portfolio. The Adviser utilizes a bottom up approach to the individual security selection process, aimed at assigning an independent credit rating to a security and determining its risk/return profile. In evaluating a security, the Adviser utilizes a mix of third party and proprietary research models to generate performance expectations for the collateral backing the security (e.g., pooled mortgages in a mortgage-backed security) and the risks associated with such collateral. Qualitative factors such as the originator of the collateral, the servicer of the pool of assets and other key corporate connections of the security are also evaluated. The Adviser then compares the collateral performance expectations with the security’s structure to determine its ability to make interest and principal payments to its holders, and stress-tests the security across a broad range of scenarios to determine an internal credit rating and a risk/return profile for a security.

 

The Adviser may sell a security when there is a change in the relative valuation of a security, the Adviser’s assessment of a particular sector, and/or the Adviser’s analysis of the credit or risk/return of a security.

 

The Fund has adopted a policy to concentrate its investments (invest at least 25% of its assets) in the asset-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and residential mortgage-backed securities group of industries. Due to its investment strategies, the Fund may buy and sell securities frequently. This may result in higher transaction costs and additional capital gains tax liabilities than a fund with a buy and hold strategy.

 

 

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Principal Risks

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund (in alphabetical order after the first five risks) are set forth below.

 

Credit Risk. The credit rating or financial condition of an issuer may affect the value of a fixed-income debt security. Generally, the lower the quality rating of a security, the greater the perceived risk that the issuer will fail to pay interest fully and return principal in a timely manner. If an issuer defaults or becomes unable to honor its financial obligations, the security may lose some or all of its value. The issuer of an investment-grade security is considered by the ratings agency to be more likely to pay interest and repay principal than an issuer of a lower rated bond. Adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances, however, may weaken the capacity of the issuer to pay interest and repay principal.

 

High Yield Bond Risk. High yield, or “junk,” bonds are highly speculative securities that are usually issued by smaller, less credit worthy and/or highly leveraged (indebted) companies. Compared with investment-grade bonds, high yield bonds are considered to carry a greater degree of risk and are considered to be less likely to make payments of interest and principal. Some may even be in default. Market developments and the financial and business conditions of the corporation issuing these securities generally influence their price and liquidity more than changes in interest rates, when compared to investment-grade debt securities. Insufficient liquidity in the high yield bond market may make it more difficult to dispose of high yield bonds and may cause the Fund to experience sudden and substantial price declines. A lack of reliable, objective data or market quotations may make it more difficult to value high yield bonds accurately.

 

Generally, the lower rated the security, as determined by rating agencies, the more vulnerable the security is to nonpayment. Securities rated below “B” are often dependent upon favorable financial and business conditions to meet their financial obligations, or may lack the capacity to make payments regardless of financial and business conditions. Default becomes more likely over the long or short term the lower rated the security.

 

Inflation/Deflation Risk. The value of assets or income from investments may be worth less in the future as inflation decreases the present value of future payments. Conversely, prices throughout the economy may decline over time due to deflation. Deflation may have an adverse effect on the creditworthiness of issuers and may make issuer default more likely, which may result in a decline in the value of the Fund’s portfolio.

 

Liquidity Risk. Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the Fund from selling these illiquid securities at an advantageous price or at the time desired. A lack of liquidity also may cause the value of investments to decline. Illiquid investments also may be difficult to value.

 

Interest Rate Risk. As with most funds that invest in fixed-income securities, changes in interest rates are one of the most important factors that could affect the value of your investment. Rising interest rates tend to cause the prices of fixed-income securities (especially those with longer maturities and durations) and the Fund’s share price to fall.

 

A related risk is basis risk, which is the risk that a change in prevailing interest rates will change the price of a company’s interest-bearing liabilities disproportionately to the price of interest-bearing assets. This would have the effect of increasing liabilities and decreasing assets, resulting in a loss.

 

Agency Securities Risk. Certain obligations issued by U.S. government-sponsored agencies are backed solely by that agency’s own resources. As a result, investments in securities issued by the government sponsored agencies that are not backed by the U.S. Treasury are subject to higher credit risk than those that are.

 

Collateralized Loan Obligations (“CLOs”) Risk. CLOs are securities backed by an underlying portfolio of debt and loan obligations, respectively. CLOs issue classes or “tranches” that vary in risk and yield and may experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, decrease in market value due to collateral defaults and removal of subordinate tranches, market anticipation of defaults and investor aversion to CLO securities as a class. The risks of investing in CLOs depend largely on the tranche invested in and the type of the underlying debts and loans in the tranche of the CLO, respectively, in which the Fund invests. CLOs also carry risks including, but not limited to, interest rate risk and credit risk, which are described above. For example, a liquidity crisis in the global credit markets could cause substantial fluctuations in prices for leveraged loans and high-yield debt securities and limited liquidity for such instruments. When the Fund invests in CLOs, in addition to directly bearing the expenses associated with its own operations, it may bear a pro rata portion of the CLO’s expenses.

 

Concentration Risk. Due to the Fund’s concentration in the asset-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and residential mortgage-backed securities group of industries, events that affect an industry or industries within this group will have a greater effect on the Fund than they would on a fund that is more widely diversified among a number of unrelated industries. While the Fund will invest more than 25% of its assets in, collectively, the asset-backed, commercial mortgage-backed and residential mortgage-backed securities industries, it is expected that the Fund’s investments in any one or more of these industries may, from time to time, be significantly greater than 25%.

 

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Credit Crisis Liquidity Risk. Certain types of credit instruments, such as investments in high-yield bonds, debt issued in leveraged buyout transactions (acquisition of a company using a substantial amount of debt and loans), mortgage- and asset-backed securities, and short-term asset-backed commercial paper, became very illiquid in the latter half of 2007. General market uncertainty and consequent re-pricing of risk led to market imbalances of sellers and buyers, which in turn resulted in significant valuation uncertainties in mortgage and credit-related securities and other instruments. These conditions resulted, and in many cases continue to result in, greater volatility, less liquidity, widening credit spreads and a lack of price transparency, with many instruments remaining illiquid and of uncertain value. Such market conditions, and the above factors, may make valuation uncertain and/or result in sudden and significant valuation declines.

 

Foreign Security Risk. Investing in securities of foreign issuers and governments poses additional risks since political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect foreign securities markets and their issuers. Political events (civil unrest, national elections, changes in political conditions and foreign relations, imposition of exchange controls and repatriation restrictions), social and economic events (labor strikes, rising inflation) and natural disasters occurring in a country where the Fund invests could cause the Fund’s investments in that country to experience gains or losses. These risks will not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or similar issuers located in the United States. Securities of foreign companies may not be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and foreign companies are generally not subject to the regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign securities than is available about domestic securities. Income from foreign securities owned by the Fund may be reduced by a withholding tax at the source, which tax would reduce income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Foreign securities may also be more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers. In addition, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may require the Fund to sell such investments at inopportune times, which could result in losses to the Fund.

 

LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Fund may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from, or continue to be tied to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, has ceased publishing all LIBOR settings on a representative basis. In April 2023, however, the FCA announced that some USD LIBOR settings will continue to be published under a synthetic methodology until September 30, 2024 for certain legacy contracts. The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market, has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. It remains uncertain how such changes would be implemented and the effects such changes would have on the Fund, including any negative effects on the Fund’s liquidity and valuation of the Fund’s investments, issuers of instruments in which the Fund invests and financial markets generally.

 

Market Risk. The prices of and the income generated by the Fund’s securities may decline in response to, among other things, investor sentiment, general economic and market conditions, regional or global instability, and currency and interest rate fluctuations. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

Mortgage-Backed and Asset-Backed Securities Risk. The Fund may invest in both residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities. A mortgage-backed security represents an interest in a pool of assets such as mortgage loans and matures when all the mortgages in the pool mature or are prepaid. While mortgage-backed securities do have fixed maturities, their expected durations may vary when interest rates rise or fall. Because the timing and speed of principal payments may vary, the cash flow on mortgage-backed securities is irregular. The value of mortgage-backed securities generally is more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of fixed-income securities. Rising interest rates tend to extend the maturities of mortgage-backed securities, causing the securities to exhibit additional volatility and their value to decrease more significantly. This is known as extension risk. In addition, mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk. When interest rates decline, borrowers may pay off their mortgages sooner than expected. This can reduce the returns of the Fund because the Fund will have to reinvest that money at the lower prevailing interest rates. While residential mortgagors in the United States have the option to pay more principal than required at each payment interval, commercial mortgages are often set for a fixed term and therefore experience a lower degree of prepayment risk.

 

The Fund may invest in residential mortgage-backed securities that represent interests in pools of adjustable rate mortgages (“ARMs”), including payment option ARMs. Payment option ARMs give the borrower the option to pay less than the interest only amount, resulting in an increase in the principal balance of a loan as interest owed is added to the principal (known as “negative amortization payments”). While such instruments permit the borrower to avoid paying currently a portion of the interest accruing on the instrument and make the instrument more affordable to the borrower in the short term, they increase the risk that the borrower will be unable to make the resulting higher payment or payments that become due at the maturity of the loan.

 

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The Fund may invest a substantial amount of its assets in privately issued mortgage-backed securities that are not issued, guaranteed, or backed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities and may bear a greater risk of nonpayment than securities that are backed by the U.S. Treasury.

 

An asset-backed security is a security backed by non-mortgage assets such as company receivables, truck and auto loans, leases and credit card receivables. Asset-backed securities are subject to risks similar to those associated with mortgage-backed securities, including extension and prepayment risks, as well as additional risks associated with the nature of the assets and the servicing of those assets. Some asset-backed securities present credit risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. This is because some asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that is comparable in quality to mortgage assets. Other asset-backed securities, such as credit card receivables, may not have the benefit of an underlying physical asset or security interest in collateral at all. If the issuer of an asset-backed security defaults on its payment obligations, there is the possibility that, in some cases, the Fund will be unable to possess and sell the underlying collateral and that the Fund’s recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on the security. In the event of a default, the Fund may suffer a loss if it cannot sell collateral quickly and receive the amount it is owed. The value of the collateral may also be insufficient to cover the principal amount.

 

During periods of declining asset value, difficult or frozen credit markets, interest rate changes, or deteriorating economic conditions, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may decline in value, face valuation difficulties, become more volatile and/or become illiquid. Additionally, the value of these securities may fluctuate in response to the market’s perception of the credit worthiness of the issuers. Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities are subject to the risk that an issuer will fail to make timely payments of interest or principal, or will default on payments. Such a risk is generally higher in the case of mortgage-backed securities that include so-called ‘sub-prime’ or “Alt-A” loans, which are loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their loans. There is also a risk that the value of the underlying asset (e.g., a home) securing an obligation may not be sufficient to cover the amount of the obligation. Residential mortgage-backed securities in which the Fund may invest may have a loan to value ratio which exceeds 100%, meaning that the mortgage amount is greater than the appraised value of the underlying property. Certain commercial mortgage-backed securities may be backed by pools of mortgages of properties that have special purposes, which may be difficult to sell or liquidate.

 

Portfolio Turnover Risk. The Fund may buy and sell investments frequently. Such a strategy often involves higher expenses, including brokerage commissions, and may increase the amount of capital gains (in particular, short term gains) realized by the Fund. Shareholders may pay tax more frequently on capital gains and will indirectly incur additional expenses related to a fund with a higher portfolio turnover.

 

Rating Agencies Risk. Ratings are not an absolute standard of quality, but rather general indicators that reflect only the view of the originating rating agencies from which an explanation of the significance of such ratings may be obtained. There is no assurance that a particular rating will continue for any given period of time or that any such rating will not be revised downward or withdrawn entirely if, in the judgment of the agency establishing the rating, circumstances so warrant. A downward revision or withdrawal of such ratings, or either of them, may have an effect on the liquidity or market price of the securities in which the Fund invests. The ratings of securitized assets may not adequately reflect the credit risk of those assets due to their structure. Rating agencies may fail to make timely changes in credit ratings and an issuer’s current financial condition may be better or worse than a rating indicates. In addition, rating agencies are subject to an inherent conflict of interest because they are often compensated by the same issuers whose securities they grade.

 

State-Specific Risk. While the Fund does not expect to invest in single state pools of mortgages, underlying properties of mortgages of certain states may represent a significant percentage of the underlying mortgages in which the Fund invests as a whole. When the Fund invests in this manner, it is subject to the risk that the economy of the states in which it invests, and the value of properties within the states, may decline. Investing significantly in securities whose values are economically tied to a single state means that the Fund is more exposed to negative political or economic events affecting that state than a fund that invests more widely. Certain states have experienced significant declines in property values in recent years.

 

It is anticipated that the Fund will invest more than 25% of its assets in mortgage-backed securities with underlying properties in California. Investing in such a manner subjects the Fund to economic conditions and government policies within California. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to factors that adversely affect the California property, housing and mortgage markets than a mutual fund that does not have as great a concentration in California.

 

Structured Notes Risk. Structured notes are debt obligations issued by industrial corporations, financial institutions or governmental or international agencies that obligate the issuer to pay amounts of principal or interest that are determined by reference to changes in some external factor or factors, or may vary from the stated rate because of changes in these factors. Investment in structured notes involves certain risks, including the risk that the issuer may be unable or unwilling to satisfy its obligations to pay principal or interest, which is separate from the risk that the note’s reference instruments may move in a manner that is disadvantageous to the holder of the note. Structured notes, which are often illiquid, are also subject to additional risk such as market risk, liquidity

 

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risk and interest rate risk. The terms of certain structured notes may provide that a decline in the reference instrument may result in the interest rate or principal amount being reduced to zero. Structured notes may be more volatile than the underlying reference instruments or traditional debt instruments. In addition, structured notes may charge fees and administrative expenses.

 

A credit-linked note is a type of structured note whose value is linked to an underlying reference asset. Credit-linked notes typically provide periodic payments of interest as well as payment of principal upon maturity, the value of which is tied to the underlying reference asset. Like structured notes generally, investments in credit-linked notes are subject to the risk of loss of the principal investment and/or periodic interest payments expected to be received from an investment in a credit-linked note in the event that one or more of the underlying obligations of a note default or otherwise become non-performing. To the extent the Fund invests in a credit-linked note that represents an interest in a single issuer or limited number of issuers, a credit event with respect to that issuer or limited number of issuers presents a greater risk of loss to the Fund than if the credit-linked note represented an interest in underlying obligations of multiple issuers.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk. The Fund’s investment in U.S. government obligations may include securities issued or guaranteed as to principal and interest by the U.S. government, or its agencies or instrumentalities. Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”) pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency, while other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. There can be no assurance that the U.S. government would provide financial support to its agencies or instrumentalities (including government-sponsored enterprises) where it is not obligated to do so. In addition, U.S. government securities are not guaranteed against price movements due to changing interest rates.

 

Performance Information

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for 1, 5 and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-800-343-2029.

 

 

 

BEST QUARTER

WORST QUARTER

3.92%

(9.64)%

12/31/2023

3/31/2020

 

 

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Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average annual total returns for periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”).

 

Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Institutional Securitized Fund
Institutional Class

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since Inception
(12/15/2011)

Fund Return Before Taxes

10.11%

3.43%

4.64%

6.46%

Fund Return After Taxes on Distributions

6.97%

1.04%

2.17%

3.83%

Fund Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

5.90%

1.61%

2.50%

3.94%

BofA Merrill Lynch US ABS & CMBS Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

5.55%

1.77%

2.00%

2.29%

 

 

Investment Adviser

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.

 

Portfolio Managers

Mr. Alessandro Pagani, CFA, Head of the Mortgage and Structured Finance team, and Co-Portfolio Manager for Securitized Investment Strategies, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2011.

 

Mr. Stephen C. L’Heureux, CFA, Global Commercial Real Estate and Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Strategist for the Mortgage and Structured Finance team, and Co-Portfolio Manager for Select Securitized Credit Investment Strategies, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2011.

 

Mr. Stephen M. LaPlante, CFA, Co-Portfolio Manager, Securitized Strategist and Senior Analyst for the Mortgage & Structured Finance team, and Co-Portfolio Manager for the Investment Grade Securitized Credit and Opportunistic Securitized Credit Strategies, has managed the Fund since 2021.

 

Ms. Jennifer M. Thomas, Co-Portfolio Manager for the Mortgage & Structured Finance team, and Co-Portfolio Manager for the Investment Grade Securitized Credit and the Opportunistic Securitized Credit Strategies, and Senior Analyst, specializing in asset-backed securities (“ABS”) with a focus on consumer ABS, has managed the Fund since 2021.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

There is no minimum initial investment to purchase shares of the Fund for the first time. There is also no minimum for subsequent investments. The Fund reserves the right to create investment minimums at its sole discretion.

 

Shares of the Fund are offered exclusively to institutional advisory clients of the Adviser or its affiliates and employees of the Adviser. Shares normally can be redeemed only by contacting your client service manager or calling 1-800-343-2029.

 

Tax Information

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distribution will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

 

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more information about risk

 

Investing in the Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goals. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good of a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund, just as you could with similar investments.

 

The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the value of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets in which it trades. The effect on the Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings.

 

Credit Risk. Credit risk involves the risk that an issuer or guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to an over-the-counter transaction, may be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal or to otherwise honor its obligations. The Fund may be subject to credit risk to the extent that it invests in fixed-income securities or is a party to over-the-counter transactions. A fund that invests in lower-rated fixed-income securities (“junk bonds”) is subject to greater credit risk (because such securities are subject to a greater risk of default) and market risk than a fund that invests in higher-quality fixed-income securities. Lower rated fixed-income securities are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the ability of the issuer to make timely principal and interest payments. A fund that invests in fixed-income securities issued in connection with corporate restructurings by highly-leveraged issuers or in fixed-income securities that are not current in the payment of interest or principal (i.e., in default) will be subject to greater credit risk. A fund that invests in non-U.S. securities is subject to increased credit risk, for example, because of the difficulties of requiring non-U.S. entities to honor their contractual commitments and because financial reporting and other standards are often less robust in foreign countries.

 

High Yield (“Junk”) Bond Risk. High yield, or “junk,” bonds involve greater risks of default or downgrade and are more volatile than investment grade securities. High yield bonds involve greater risk of price declines than investment grade securities due to actual or perceived changes in an issuer’s creditworthiness. In addition, issuers of high yield bonds may be more susceptible than other issuers to economic downturns. High yield bonds are subject to the risk that the issuer may not be able to pay interest or dividends and ultimately to repay principal upon maturity. Discontinuation of these payments could substantially adversely affect the market value of the security. The volatility of high yield bonds is even greater since the prospects for repayment of principal and interest of many of these securities is speculative. Some may even be in default.

 

Interest Rate Risk. Changes in interest rates will affect the value of the Fund’s investments in fixed-income securities, such as bonds, notes, asset-backed securities and other income producing securities. Fixed-income securities are obligations of the issuer to make payments of principal and/or interest on future dates. During periods of rising interest rates, the values of outstanding fixed-income securities generally decrease. A rise in interest rates may also increase volatility and reduce liquidity in the fixed income markets, and result in a decline in the value of the fixed income investments held by the Fund. In addition, reductions in dealer market-making capacity as a result of structural or regulatory changes could further decrease liquidity and/or increase volatility in the fixed income markets. As a result of these market conditions, the Fund’s value may fluctuate and/or the Fund may experience increased redemptions from shareholders, which may impact the Fund’s liquidity or force the Fund to sell securities into a declining or illiquid market.

 

Even funds that generally invest a significant portion of their assets in high quality fixed-income securities are subject to interest rate risk. Interest rate risk is greater for funds, such as the Fund, that generally invest a significant portion of their respective assets in lower rated fixed-income securities or comparable unrated securities (commonly known as “junk bonds”). The Fund will be subject to increased interest rate risk to the extent that it invests in fixed-income securities with longer maturities or durations, as compared to if it invested in fixed-income securities with shorter maturities or durations. Interest rate risk is compounded for funds that invest a significant portion of their assets in mortgage-related or other asset-backed securities because the value of mortgage-related securities and asset-backed securities generally is more sensitive to changes in interest rates than other types of fixed-income securities. When interest rates rise, the maturities of mortgage-related and asset-backed securities tend to lengthen, and the value of the securities decreases more significantly. In addition, these types of securities are subject to the risk of prepayment when interest rates fall, which generally results in lower returns because funds that hold these types of securities must reinvest assets previously invested in these types of securities in fixed-income securities with lower interest rates. The Fund also faces increased interest rate risk when it invests in interest-only securities or fixed-income securities paying no current interest, such as zero-coupon securities, principal-only securities and fixed-income securities paying non-cash interest in the form of other fixed-income securities.

 

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Collateralized Loan Obligations (“CLOs”) Risk. CLO securities are non-recourse obligations of their issuer payable solely from the related underlying collateral or its proceeds. Therefore, as a holder of CLOs, the Fund must rely only on distributions on the underlying collateral or related proceeds for payment. If distributions on the underlying collateral are insufficient to make payments on the CLO securities, no other assets will be available for payment of the deficiency. As a result, the amount and timing of interest and principal payments in respect of CLO securities will depend on the performance and characteristics of the related underlying collateral.

 

Legislation such as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which was signed into law on July 21, 2010, together with uncertainty about the nature and timing of regulations that will be promulgated to implement such legislation, may continue to create uncertainty in the credit and other financial markets. Given that all applicable final implementing rules and regulations have not yet been published or are not yet in effect, the potential impact of these actions on CLOs that may be owned by the Fund is unknown. If existing transactions are not exempted from the new rules or regulations, compliance with those rules and regulations could impose significant costs on the issuers of CLOs and ultimately adversely impact the holders (including the Fund) of those types of securities.

 

LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Fund may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from, or continue to be tied to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, has ceased publishing all LIBOR settings on a representative basis. In April 2023, however, the FCA announced that some USD LIBOR settings will continue to be published under a synthetic methodology until September 30, 2024 for certain legacy contracts. The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market, has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. While some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Parties to contracts, securities, or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The utilization of an alternative reference rate, or the transition process to an alternative reference rate, may adversely affect the Fund’s performance. It remains uncertain how such changes would be implemented and the effects such changes would have on the Fund, including any negative effects on the Fund’s liquidity and valuation of the Fund’s investments, issuers of instruments in which the Fund invests and financial markets generally.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk. Mortgage-backed securities differ from traditional fixed-income securities. Among the major differences are that interest and principal payments are made more frequently, usually monthly, and that principal may be prepaid at any time because the underlying mortgage loans generally may be prepaid at any time. As a result, if the Fund purchases these assets at a premium, a faster than expected prepayment rate will reduce yield to maturity and a slower-than-expected prepayment rate will increase yield to maturity. If the Fund purchases mortgage-related securities at a discount, faster-than-expected prepayments will increase and slower-than-expected prepayments will reduce, yield to maturity. Prepayments and resulting amounts available for reinvestment by the Fund, are likely to be greater during a period of declining interest rates and, as a result, are likely to be reinvested at lower interest rates. Accelerated prepayments on securities purchased at a premium may result in a loss of principal if the premium has not been fully amortized at the time of prepayment. These securities will decrease in value as a result of increases in interest rates generally, and they are likely to appreciate less than other fixed-income securities when interest rates decline because of the risk of prepayments.

 

The value of some mortgage-backed securities in which the Fund invests may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and the ability of the Fund to successfully utilize these instruments may depend in part upon the ability of the Adviser to forecast interest rates and other economic factors correctly. The risk of non-payment is greater for mortgage-related securities that are backed by mortgage pools that contain “subprime” or “Alt-A” loans (loans made to borrowers with weakened credit histories or with a lower capacity to make timely payments on their loans), but a level of risk exists for all loans. Market factors adversely affecting mortgage loan repayments may include a general economic turndown, high unemployment, a general slowdown in the real estate market, a drop in the market prices of real estate or an increase in interest rates resulting in higher mortgage payments by holders of adjustable-rate mortgages. The market for mortgage-backed securities (and other asset-backed securities) has experienced high volatility and a lack of liquidity. As a result, the value of many of these securities has significantly declined. There can be no assurance that these markets will become more liquid or less volatile, and it is possible that the value of these securities could decline further.

 

Market Risk. The risk that the market value of an investment may move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. The Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) per share will fluctuate with the market prices of its portfolio securities. Market risk may affect a single issuer, an industry, a sector or the equity or bond market as a whole. Markets for securities in which the Fund invests may decline significantly in response to adverse issuer, political, regulatory, market, economic or other developments that may cause broad changes in market value, public perceptions concerning these developments, and adverse investor sentiment or publicity. Similarly, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors,

 

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and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations, and by businesses, including changes to operations and reducing staff.

 

more information about the fund’s objective and investments

 

The investment objective of the Fund is to provide current income and the potential for total return. The investment objective of the Fund may be changed without shareholder approval.

 

The investments and strategies described in this prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive or liquidity purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in short-term, liquid, high-grade debt instruments, which may include U.S. government securities, bank deposits, money market instruments and other short-term debt instruments, including notes and bonds, or the Fund may hold its assets in cash. If the Fund invests in this manner, it may not achieve its investment objective. The Fund will only do so if the Adviser believes that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity to pursue its investment objective.

 

This prospectus describes the Fund’s principal investment strategies and principal risks, and the Fund will normally invest in the types of securities and other investments described in this prospectus. In addition to the securities and other investments described in this prospectus, the Fund also may invest to a lesser extent in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and strategies, as well as those described in this prospectus, are described in detail in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) (for information on how to obtain a copy of the SAI see the back cover of this prospectus).

 

The Fund may receive instruments not contemplated herein through the conversion or exchange of an investment or as a result of the reorganization or bankruptcy of the issuer of an otherwise permissible investment and may create wholly- or substantially owned entities to hold such instruments. The Adviser may hold or dispose of these investments at its discretion.

 

Of course, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment goal.

 

Information about Portfolio Holdings

A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the circumstances under which the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings is available in the SAI.

 

Investment Adviser

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. The Adviser’s principal place of business is located at One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2621. As of December 31, 2023 the Adviser had approximately $335.2 billion in assets under management. Loomis Sayles was founded in 1926. Loomis Sayles is a Delaware limited partnership. Loomis Sayles’ sole general partner, Loomis Sayles & Company, Inc. is directly owned by Natixis Investment Managers, LLC. (“Natixis LLC”). Natixis LLC is an indirect subsidiary of Natixis Investment Managers, an international asset management group based in Paris, France, that is in turn owned by Natixis, a French investment banking and financial services firm. Natixis is wholly-owned by BPCE, France’s second largest banking group. BPCE is owned by banks comprising two autonomous and complementary retail banking networks consisting of the Caisse d’Epargne regional savings banks and the Banque Populaire regional cooperative banks. The registered address of Natixis is 30, avenue Pierre Mendès France, 75013 Paris, France. The registered address of BPCE is 50, avenue Pierre Mendès France, 75013 Paris, France.

 

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The Adviser makes investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Fund’s investment program. The Board oversees the Adviser and establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its management activities.

 

An investor in the Fund will pay a fee to the Adviser or its affiliates under a separate client agreement for advisory services. The Fund does not pay the Adviser for investment advisory services, but does pay other expenses of the Fund such as administration fees, custody fees and general operating expenses. The Adviser has contractually agreed to reimburse expenses in order to keep total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 0.20% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement is available in the Fund’s Annual Report to Shareholders dated October 31, 2023, which covers the period from November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2023.

 

Portfolio Managers

The Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals. The following portfolio managers are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Alessandro Pagani, CFA, is a Portfolio Manager and Head of the Mortgage and Structured Finance team at the Adviser. Mr. Pagani leads the group in developing investment strategies for mortgage pass-through, asset-backed, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities across all fixed income products. Mr. Pagani also co-manages the Adviser’s securitized investment strategies. With 26 years of investment industry experience, Mr. Pagani joined the Adviser in 2008 from Cambridge Place Investment Management, a specialty manager of credit sensitive structured securities, where he was co-head of global research and credit. Mr. Pagani was also a director of asset-backed securities research at Banc One Capital Markets. Mr. Pagani earned a doctoral degree in economics and commerce from the University of Brescia in Italy.

 

Stephen L’Heureux, CFA, is the Global Commercial Real Estate and CMBS Strategist for the Mortgage and Structured Finance team at the Adviser. Mr. L’Heureux is also a Co-Portfolio Manager for Select Securitized Credit Investment Strategies. He has 38 years of investment industry experience. Mr. L’Heureux joined the Adviser in 2008 from Cambridge Place Investment Management, where he was the senior credit analyst for US commercial real estate, commercial mortgage-backed securities (“CMBS”) and ABS, responsible for approving high-capacity acquisitions of floating rate CMBS, business loans and aircraft ABS, developing loan-level asset and structured liability models, sourcing and underwriting acquisitions, direct equity investment for global real estate assets, and building a credit score model of default rates for sub prime residential borrowers. He spent eight years at AEW Capital Management in various capacities, including portfolio manager specializing in structured debt and responsible for trading and management of CMBS, produced transaction oversight, developing proprietary analytics for real estate and mortgage underwriting, supervising CMBS performance accounting, structuring high-yield investment vehicles and providing institutional marketing of investment programs. Previously, Mr. L’Heureux was at Hancock Real Estate Advisors supporting direct equity real estate investment programs, and at DRI/FW Dodge building econometric models of the nation’s real estate markets. Mr. L’Heureux earned a BA from McGill University and an MA from the University of Toronto.

 

Stephen M. LaPlante, CFA, is a Portfolio Manager and Securitized Strategist on the Mortgage and Structured Finance team at the Adviser. He is a Securitized Strategist for the Full Discretion team, working directly with portfolio managers to structure the allocation to the sector. He is also a Co-Portfolio Manager and Senior Analyst on the Mortgage and Structured Finance team, responsible for co-managing the Investment Grade Securitized Credit and Opportunistic Securitized Credit Strategies. Mr. LaPlante joined the Adviser in 2017 as a Mortgage and Structured Finance Analyst and has 14 years of investment industry experience. Previously, he was a senior analyst at Manulife, responsible for the mortgage credit sector including non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”) and agency risk transfer securities. Prior to this, Mr. LaPlante was a senior analyst at Income Research and Management, serving as the primary analyst in commercial mortgage credit, including CMBS and agency CMBS securities. Before this, he was at White Mountains Advisors as a portfolio analyst, maintaining portfolio level analytics, evaluating pricing models, and monitoring exposures across the firm’s portfolios, which included ABS, CMBS, RMBS holdings as well as Agency, Sovereign and Corporate securities. Mr. LaPlante earned a BS from Union College and an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University.

 

Jennifer Thomas, is a Co-Portfolio Manager on the Mortgage and Structured Finance team at the Adviser, where she co-manages the Investment Grade Securitized Credit and Opportunistic Securitized Credit Strategies. She is also a Senior Analyst, specializing in ABS with a focus on consumer ABS. Ms. Thomas is responsible for generating relative value trade ideas to help enhance portfolios and achieve investment objectives, and collaborating on structured product-related initiatives with client services and marketing. In addition, she has also supported the credit and research efforts in CMBS. Ms. Thomas joined the Adviser in 2007 and has 22 years of investment industry experience. Previously, Jennifer worked at Sun Capital Advisers, LLC where she began as an associate investment analyst and trading assistant on the mortgage backed securities and corporate bond trading desk, responsible for trading, compliance and ad-hoc portfolio management reporting, executing trades and maintaining portfolios, and assisting with detailed investigations for trade discrepancies or fails. Later she was a fixed income investment analyst responsible for performing analysis

 

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and trade recommendations for transportation, environmental services and provincial services sectors, and providing analysis and recommendations of high grade corporate bonds and agency MBS. Ms. Thomas earned a BS from Bryant University and an MBA from Clark University.

 

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

 

Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares

This section tells you how to purchase and sell (sometimes called “redeem”) Institutional Class Shares of the Fund. Institutional Class Shares are for individual and institutional investors.

 

For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Taxes.”

 

How to Purchase Fund Shares

 

Shares of the Fund are offered exclusively to institutional advisory clients of the Adviser or its affiliates and employees of the Adviser.

 

Additional shares can be purchased if authorized by the Adviser and payment must be wired in federal funds to the Fund’s transfer agent, SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. except when shares are purchased in exchange for securities acceptable to the Fund.

 

Purchases of Fund shares will normally be made only in full shares, but may be made in fractional shares under certain circumstances. Certificates for shares will not be issued. The payment for shares to be purchased shall be wired to SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject any specific purchase order for any reason. The Fund is not intended for short-term trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For more information about the Fund’s policy on short-term trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

The Fund does not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Fund subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Fund for more information.

 

Purchases In-Kind

 

Subject to the approval of the Fund, an investor may purchase shares of the Fund with liquid securities and other assets that are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an appropriate investment for the Fund. Assets purchased by the Fund in such a transaction will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

 

General Information

 

You may purchase shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business (a “Business Day”). Shares cannot be purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days that either the NYSE or the Federal Reserve is closed. The Fund’s price per share will be the next determined net asset value per share (“NAV”) after the Fund or authorized institution receives and accepts your purchase order in good order. “Good order” means that the Fund was provided a complete and signed account application, including the investor’s social security number or tax identification number, and other identification required by law or regulation, as well as sufficient purchase proceeds. Purchase orders that are not in good order cannot be accepted and processed even if money to purchase shares has been submitted by wire, check or ACH.

 

The Fund calculates its NAV once each Business Day as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day’s NAV, the Fund or authorized institution must receive and accept your purchase order in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE. If your purchase order is not received and accepted in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV calculated on the subsequent Business Day on which your order is received and accepted in good order. If the NYSE closes early, the Fund reserves the right to calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. The Fund will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or any other special conditions. Shares will only be priced on Business Days. Since securities that are traded on foreign exchanges may trade on days that are not Business Days, the value of the Fund’s assets may change on days when you are unable to purchase or redeem shares.

 

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How the Fund Calculates NAV

 

The NAV of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding. In calculating NAV, the Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price. If market prices are not readily available or are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that is assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

When valuing fixed-income securities with remaining maturities of more than 60 days, the Adviser may use the value of the security provided by pricing services. The values provided by a pricing service may be based upon market quotations for the same security, securities expected to trade in a similar manner or a pricing matrix. When valuing fixed-income securities with remaining maturities of 60 days or less, the Adviser may use the security’s amortized cost. Amortized cost and the use of a pricing matrix in valuing fixed-income securities are forms of fair value pricing.

 

With respect to any non-U.S. securities held by the Fund, the Adviser may take factors influencing specific markets or issuers into consideration in determining the fair value of a non-U.S. security. International securities markets may be open on days when the U.S. markets are closed. In such cases, the value of any international securities owned by the Fund may be significantly affected on days when investors cannot buy or sell shares. In addition, due to the difference in times between the close of the international markets and the time the Fund prices its shares, the value the Adviser assigns to securities generally will not be the same as the quoted or published prices of those securities on their primary markets or exchanges. In determining fair value prices, the Adviser may consider the performance of securities on their primary exchanges, foreign currency appreciation/depreciation, securities market movements in the United States, or other relevant information as related to the securities.

 

Other assets for which market quotations are not readily available will be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Minimum Purchases

 

There is no minimum initial investment to purchase shares of the Fund for the first time. There is also no minimum for subsequent investments. The Fund reserves the right to create investment minimums at its sole discretion.

 

Fund Codes

 

The reference information listed below will be helpful to you when you contact the Fund to purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund, check daily NAV or obtain additional information.

 

Fund Name

CUSIP

Fund Code

Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Institutional Securitized Fund

00769G774

3456

 

How to Sell Your Fund Shares

 

Shares normally can be redeemed only by contacting your client service manager or calling 1-800-343-2029.

 

The sale price will be the next determined NAV after the Fund receives and accepts your request in good order.

 

Receiving Your Money

 

Normally, the Fund will send your sale proceeds within one Business Day after it receives your redemption request. The Fund, however, may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds. Redemption proceeds will be sent by wire only.

 

The Fund typically expects to sell portfolio assets and/or hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. On a less regular basis, the Fund may also meet redemption requests by using short-term borrowings from its custodian and/or redeeming shares in-kind (as described below). These methods may be used during both normal and stressed market conditions.

 

Redemptions In-Kind

 

The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders, the Fund might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in-kind). It is highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in-kind, but if they were, you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes

 

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on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption. In addition, you would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in-kind until they are sold. The Fund agrees to redeem shares solely in cash up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Fund’s net assets during any 90-day period for any one shareholder.

 

Suspension of Your Right to Sell Your Shares

 

The Fund may suspend your right to sell your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC. More information about this is in the SAI.

 

Other Policies

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourages shareholders from engaging in “market timing” or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Fund may present risks to the Fund’s long-term shareholders and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests, and experiencing increased transaction costs. However, the Fund is also mindful that shareholders may have valid reasons for periodically purchasing and redeeming fund shares.

 

Because the Fund is designed to be a component of a separate institutional advisory client account that also invests in individual securities and other investments, its shares may be purchased or redeemed on a frequent basis for rebalancing purposes, to invest new monies, or to accommodate reductions in account size. The Fund is managed in a manner that is consistent with its role in the separate institutional advisory account. Because all purchase and redemption orders are initiated by the Adviser, separate institutional advisory account clients are not in a position to effect purchase or redemption orders and are, therefore, unable to directly trade in shares of the Fund.

 

The Fund’s service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Fund’s policies and procedures described in this prospectus and approved by the Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Fund’s service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control.

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

The Fund and/or its service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. The Fund does not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders. Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in the Fund will occur.

 

In addition, because the Fund may invest in foreign securities traded primarily on markets that close prior to the time the Fund determines its NAV, the risks posed by frequent trading may have a greater potential to dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders than funds investing exclusively in U.S. securities. In instances where a significant event that affects the value of one or more foreign securities held by the Fund takes place after the close of the primary foreign market, but before the time that the Fund determines its NAV, certain investors may seek to take advantage of the fact that there will be a delay in the adjustment of the market price for a security caused by this event until the foreign market reopens (sometimes referred to as “price” or “time zone” arbitrage). Shareholders who attempt this type of arbitrage may dilute the value of the Fund’s shares if the prices of the Fund’s foreign securities do not reflect their fair value. Although the Adviser has procedures designed to determine the fair value of foreign securities for purposes of calculating the Fund’s NAV when such an event has occurred, fair value pricing, because it involves judgments which are inherently subjective, may not always eliminate the risk of price arbitrage.

 

Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Fund has entered into “information sharing agreements” with these financial intermediaries, which permit the Fund to obtain, upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary’s customers that invest in the Fund. If the Fund or its service providers identify omnibus account level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Fund, the Fund or its service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Fund or its service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Fund, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Fund by that customer. If the Fund is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Fund may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Fund’s shares is requested by the Fund and such information is in the possession of a person

 

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that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Fund on behalf of other persons.

 

The Fund and its service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Fund to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary’s customers. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

What this means to you: When you open an account, the Fund will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Fund to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.

 

The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

 

In certain instances, the Fund is required to collect documents to fulfill its legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.

 

Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker. If this information cannot be obtained within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund, your application will be rejected.

 

Upon receipt of your application in good order (or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application), your investment will be accepted and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV.

 

The Fund reserves the right to close or liquidate your account at the next-determined NAV and remit proceeds to you via check if it is unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund. Further, the Fund reserves the right to hold your proceeds until your original check clears the bank, which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

Customer identification and verification is part of the Fund’s overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Fund has adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Fund reserves the right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; and/or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund or in cases when the Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Fund is required to withhold such proceeds.

 

Unclaimed Property

 

Each state has unclaimed property rules that generally provide for escheatment (or transfer) to the state of unclaimed property under various circumstances. Such circumstances include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or “RPO,” as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once it flags property as unclaimed, the Fund will attempt to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state.

 

Shareholders that reside in the state of Texas may designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that can be found on the website of the Texas Comptroller. While the designated representative does not have any rights to claim or access the shareholder’s account or assets, the escheatment period will cease if the representative communicates knowledge of the shareholder’s location and confirms that the shareholder has not abandoned his or her property. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Fund (if shares are held directly with the Fund) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if shares are not held directly with the Fund).

 

More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-800-343-2029.

 

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Dividends and Distributions

The Fund distributes its net investment income, if any, at least monthly and makes distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Fund shares on the Fund’s record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.

 

You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. Dividends and distributions are generally taxable to you whether you receive them in the form of cash or in additional Fund shares. To elect cash payment, you must notify the Fund in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Fund receives your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Fund written notice.

 

Taxes

Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific questions about U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax issues that affect the Fund and its shareholders. This summary is based on current tax laws, which may change. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future.

 

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) under the meaning of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable whether you receive them in cash or you reinvest them in additional shares of the Fund. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Fund as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain foreign countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). It is not anticipated that any distributions by the Fund will be eligible for the reduced tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income. Once a year the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year.

 

A RIC that receives business interest income may pass through its net business interest income for purposes of the tax rules applicable to the interest expense limitations under Section 163(j) of the Code. A RIC’s total “Section 163(j) Interest Dividend” for a tax year is limited to the excess of the RIC’s business interest income over the sum of its business interest expense and its other deductions properly allocable to its business interest income. A RIC may, in its discretion, designate all or a portion of ordinary dividends as Section 163(j) Interest Dividends, which would allow the recipient shareholder to treat the designated portion of such dividends as interest income for purposes of determining such shareholder’s interest expense deduction limitation under Section 163(j). This can potentially increase the amount of a shareholder’s interest expense deductible under Section 163(j). In general, to be eligible to treat a Section 163(j) Interest Dividend as interest income, you must have held your shares in the Fund for more than 180 days during the 361-day period beginning on the date that is 180 days before the date on which the share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend. Section 163(j) Interest Dividends, if so designated by the Fund, will be reported to your financial intermediary or otherwise in accordance with the requirements specified by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the IRS and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information for Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares have a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the first-in, first-out method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review any cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

16

 

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

Each sale of Fund shares may be a taxable event. Assuming a shareholder holds Fund shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for 12 months or less or as a long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale of shares of the Fund).

 

The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest that the Fund receives from sources in foreign countries. If more than 50% of the total assets of the Fund consist of foreign securities, the Fund will be eligible to elect to treat some of those taxes as a distribution to shareholders, which would allow shareholders to offset some of their U.S. federal income tax. The Fund (or its administrative agent) will notify you if it makes such an election and provide you with the information necessary to reflect foreign taxes paid on your income tax return.

 

Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

More information about taxes is included in the SAI.

 

additional information

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

 

17

 

 

financial highlights

 

The table that follows presents performance information about the Fund. The information is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Some of this information reflects financial information for a single Fund share. The total return in the table represents the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund, assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. The information provided below has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund whose unqualified audit report, along with the Fund’s financial statements, is included in the Fund’s 2023 Annual Report. You can obtain the Annual Report, which contains more performance information, at no charge by calling 1-800-343-2029.

 

For a share outstanding throughout the years
Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Institutional Securitized Fund

 

 

Net asset
value,
beginning
of the year

   

Net
investment
income
(a)

   

Net
realized
and
unrealized
gain/(loss)

   

Total from
investment
operations

   

Dividends
from net
investment
income

   

Distributions
from net
realized
capital gains

   

Return of
capital

   

Total
distributions

   

Net asset
value,
end of the
year

   

Total
return
(%)
(b)

   

Net assets,
end of
the year
(000’s)

   

Ratio of
expenses
to average
net assets
(%)

   

Ratio of
expenses
to average
net assets
(excluding
waivers,
reimbursements
and fees paid
indirectly)
(%)

   

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

   

Portfolio
turnover
rate (%)

 

Institutional Class

                                                                                                               

10/31/23

  $ 9.31     $ 0.64     $ 0.07     $ 0.71     $ (0.65 )   $     $     $ (0.65 )   $ 9.37       7.81     $ 312,261       0.20       0.27       6.76       23  

10/31/22

  10.55     0.46     (1.11 )   (0.65 )   (0.49 )   (0.10 )       (0.59 )   9.31       (6.36 )   277,830       0.20       0.27       4.67       19  

10/31/21

    10.12       0.55       0.44       0.99       (0.47 )     (0.09 )           (0.56 )     10.55       10.01       254,802       0.20       0.26       5.28       42  

10/31/20

    11.03       0.54       (0.87 )     (0.33 )     (0.56 )     (0.02 )           (0.58 )     10.12       (3.00 )     235,775       0.20       0.26       5.20       32  

10/31/19

    10.89       0.57       0.13       0.70       (0.56 )                 (0.56 )     11.03       6.62       310,258       0.20       0.20       5.23       19  

 

(a)

Per share net investment income has been calculated using the average shares outstanding during the year.

(b)

Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Had certain expenses not been waived/reimbursed during the year, if applicable, total returns would have been lower.

Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

18

 

 

THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND

 

LOOMIS SAYLES FULL DISCRETION INSTITUTIONAL SECURITIZED FUND

 

 

Investment Adviser

 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.
One Financial Center
Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2621

 

Distributor

 

SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

 

Legal Counsel

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

 

More information about the Fund is available, without charge, through the following:

 

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI, dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time, includes detailed information about the Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Institutional Securitized Fund and The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund. The SAI is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this prospectus.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports: These reports list the Fund’s holdings and contain information from the Adviser about investment strategies, and recent market conditions and trends and their impact on Fund performance. The reports also contain detailed financial information about the Fund.

 

To Obtain an SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report, or More Information:

 

By Telephone:

1-800-343-2029

By Mail:

Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Institutional Securitized Fund
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

By Internet:

The Fund does not have a website, but you can obtain the SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report by mail or telephone.

 

From the SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: https://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund’s Investment Company Act registration number is 811-06400.

  

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

LOOMIS SAYLES FULL DISCRETION INSTITUTIONAL SECURITIZED FUND

 

a series of THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND

 

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

LOOMIS, SAYLES & COMPANY, L.P.

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”) and the Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Institutional Securitized Fund (the “Fund”). This SAI is incorporated by reference into and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s prospectus dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Prospectus. The most recent Annual Report for the Fund, which includes the Fund’s audited financial statements dated October 31, 2023, is incorporated by reference into this SAI. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Prospectus or Annual Report free of charge by calling the Fund at 1-800-343-2029.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE TRUST S-1
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS S-2
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS S-30
THE ADVISER S-32
THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS S-33
THE ADMINISTRATOR S-35
THE DISTRIBUTOR S-35
THE TRANSFER AGENT S-36
THE CUSTODIAN S-36
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM S-36
LEGAL COUNSEL S-36
SECURITIES LENDING S-36
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST S-36
PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES S-47
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE S-47
TAXES S-49
FUND TRANSACTIONS S-56
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS S-58
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES S-59
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY S-60
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY S-60
PROXY VOTING S-60
CODES OF ETHICS S-62
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS S-62
APPENDIX A – DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS A-1
APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES B-1

 

March 1, 2024

 

 

THE TRUST

 

General. The Fund is a separate series of the Trust. The Trust is an open-end investment management company established under Massachusetts law as a Massachusetts voluntary association (commonly known as a business trust) under a Declaration of Trust dated July 18, 1991, as amended and restated February 18, 1997 and amended May 15, 2012 and August 18, 2020 (the “Declaration of Trust”). The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series (“funds”) of shares of beneficial interest (“shares”). The Trust reserves the right to create and issue shares of additional funds. Each fund is a separate mutual fund or exchange traded fund ("ETF"), and each share of each fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund and all assets of such fund belong solely to that fund and would be subject to liabilities related thereto. Each fund of the Trust pays its: (i) operating expenses, including fees of its service providers, expenses of preparing prospectuses, proxy solicitation material and reports to shareholders, costs of custodial services and registering its shares under federal and state securities laws, pricing and insurance expenses, brokerage costs, interest charges, taxes and organization expenses; and (ii) pro rata share of the fund’s other expenses, including audit and legal expenses. Expenses attributable to a specific fund shall be payable solely out of the assets of that fund. Expenses not attributable to a specific fund are allocated across all of the funds on the basis of relative net assets. The other funds of the Trust are described in one or more separate statements of additional information.

 

Voting Rights. Each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote for each share held on the record date for the meeting. The Fund will vote separately on matters relating solely to it. As a Massachusetts voluntary association, the Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Approval of shareholders will be sought, however, for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (each a “Trustee” and together, the “Board”) under certain circumstances. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to liquidate the Fund without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they may do so if the Fund fails to reach a viable size within a reasonable amount of time or for such other reasons as may be determined by the Board.

 

In addition, a Trustee may be removed by the remaining Trustees or by shareholders at a special meeting called upon written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.

 

Any series of the Trust created on or after November 11, 1996 may reorganize or merge with one or more other series of the Trust or of another investment company. Any such reorganization or merger shall be pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization authorized and approved by the Trustees and entered into by the relevant series in connection therewith. In addition, such reorganization or merger may be authorized by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office and, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the Declaration of Trust, without the approval of shareholders of any series.

 

S-1 

 

DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS

 

The Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies are described in the Prospectus. The Fund is diversified, as that term is defined under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). This means that with respect to 75% of its total assets, the Fund may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer’s voting securities would be held by the Fund. Under applicable federal securities laws, the diversification of a mutual fund’s holdings is measured at the time a fund purchases a security. If the Fund holds securities that perform well on a relative basis, the value of those securities could appreciate such that the value of the Fund’s securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, in the aggregate, might exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets. In these circumstances, the Adviser might determine that it is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders not to reduce one or more of the Fund’s holdings in securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. If the Adviser makes such a determination, the Fund’s holdings in such securities would continue to exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets, and the Fund would not purchase any additional shares of securities that constituted more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. The Fund would continue to qualify as a diversified fund under applicable federal securities laws. If more than 25% of the Fund’s assets were invested, in the aggregate, in securities of issuers that individually represented more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, the Fund would be subject to the risk that its performance could be disproportionately affected by the performance of such securities.

 

The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus. The following are descriptions of the permitted investments and investment practices of the Fund and the associated risk factors. The Fund may invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices unless such investment or activity is inconsistent with or is not permitted by the Fund’s stated investment policies, including those stated below.

 

Equity Securities

 

Types of Equity Securities:

 

Preferred Stocks - Preferred stocks are also units of ownership in a company. Preferred stocks normally have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of the company. However, in all other respects, preferred stocks are subordinated to the liabilities of the issuer. Unlike common stocks, preferred stocks are generally not entitled to vote on corporate matters. Types of preferred stocks include adjustable-rate preferred stock, fixed dividend preferred stock, perpetual preferred stock, and sinking fund preferred stock. Generally, the market value of preferred stock with a fixed dividend rate and no conversion element varies inversely with interest rates and perceived credit risk.

 

Convertible Securities - Convertible securities are securities that may be exchanged for, converted into, or exercised to acquire a predetermined number of shares of the issuer’s common stock at the Fund’s option during a specified time period (such as convertible preferred stocks, convertible debentures and warrants). A convertible security is generally a fixed income security that is senior to common stock in an issuer’s capital structure, but is usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. In exchange for the conversion feature, many corporations will pay a lower rate of interest on convertible securities than debt securities of the same corporation. In general, the market value of a convertible security is at least the higher of its “investment value” (i.e., its value as a fixed income security) or its “conversion value” (i.e., its value upon conversion into its underlying common stock).

 

Convertible securities are subject to the same risks as similar securities without the convertible feature. The price of a convertible security is more volatile during times of steady interest rates than other types of debt securities. The price of a convertible security tends to increase as the market value of the underlying stock rises, whereas it tends to decrease as the market value of the underlying common stock declines.

 

S-2 

 

A synthetic convertible security is a combination investment in which the Fund purchases both (i) high-grade cash equivalents or a high grade debt obligation of an issuer or U.S. government securities and (ii) call options or warrants on the common stock of the same or different issuer with some or all of the anticipated interest income from the associated debt obligation that is earned over the holding period of the option or warrant.

 

While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar non-convertible security), a convertible security also affords an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation attendant upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock. A synthetic convertible position has similar investment characteristics, but may differ with respect to credit quality, time to maturity, trading characteristics, and other factors. Because the Fund will create synthetic convertible positions only out of high grade fixed income securities, the credit rating associated with the Fund’s synthetic convertible investments is generally expected to be higher than that of the average convertible security, many of which are rated below high grade. However, because the options used to create synthetic convertible positions will generally have expirations between one month and three years of the time of purchase, the maturity of these positions will generally be shorter than average for convertible securities. Since the option component of a convertible security or synthetic convertible position is a wasting asset (in the sense of losing “time value” as maturity approaches), a synthetic convertible position may lose such value more rapidly than a convertible security of longer maturity; however, the gain in option value due to appreciation of the underlying stock may exceed such time value loss, the market price of the option component generally reflects these differences in maturities, and Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (the "Adviser") takes such differences into account when evaluating such positions. When a synthetic convertible position “matures” because of the expiration of the associated option, the Fund may extend the maturity by investing in a new option with longer maturity on the common stock of the same or different issuer. If the Fund does not so extend the maturity of a position, it may continue to hold the associated fixed income security.

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) - A U.S. REIT is a corporation or business trust (that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation) which meets the definitional requirements of Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct from taxable income the dividends paid, thereby effectively eliminating corporate level federal income tax. To meet the definitional requirements of the Code, a REIT must, among other things: invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate (including mortgages and other REITs), cash and government securities; derive most of its income from rents from real property or interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property; and distribute annually 90% or more of its otherwise taxable income to shareholders.

 

REITs are sometimes informally characterized as Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs. An Equity REIT invests primarily in the fee ownership or leasehold ownership of land and buildings; a Mortgage REIT invests primarily in mortgages on real property, which may secure construction, development or long-term loans.

 

REITs in which the Fund invests may be affected by changes in underlying real estate values, which may have an exaggerated effect to the extent that REITs in which the Fund invests may concentrate investments in particular geographic regions or property types. Additionally, rising interest rates may cause investors in REITs to demand a higher annual yield from future distributions, which may in turn decrease market prices for equity securities issued by REITs. Rising interest rates also generally increase the costs of obtaining financing, which could cause the value of the Fund’s investments to decline. During periods of declining interest rates, certain Mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by such Mortgage REITs. In addition, Mortgage REITs may be affected by the ability of borrowers to repay when due the debt extended by the REIT and Equity REITs may be affected by the ability of tenants to pay rent.

 

Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalization, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of securities issued by such REITs. Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders.

 

S-3 

 

In addition to these risks, Equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the trusts, while Mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. Further, Equity and Mortgage REITs are dependent upon management skills and generally may not be diversified. Equity and Mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency defaults by borrowers and self-liquidation. In addition, U.S. Equity and Mortgage REITs could possibly fail to qualify for tax free pass-through of income under the Code or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act. The above factors may also adversely affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments.

 

Rights and Warrants - A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life of usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price. Warrants are freely transferable and are traded on major exchanges. Unlike rights, warrants normally have a life that is measured in years and entitles the holder to buy common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. Corporations often issue warrants to make the accompanying debt security more attractive.

 

An investment in warrants and rights may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. Investing in rights and warrants increases the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities.

 

Risks of Investing in Equity Securities:

 

General Risks of Investing in Stocks - While investing in stocks allows investors to participate in the benefits of owning a company, such investors must accept the risks of ownership. Unlike bondholders, who have preference to a company’s earnings and cash flow, preferred stockholders, followed by common stockholders in order of priority, are entitled only to the residual amount after a company meets its other obligations. For this reason, the value of a company’s stock will usually react more strongly to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects than its debt obligations. Stockholders of a company that fares poorly can lose money.

 

Stock markets tend to move in cycles with short or extended periods of rising and falling stock prices. The value of a company’s stock may fall because of:

 

Factors that directly relate to that company, such as decisions made by its management or lower demand for the company’s products or services;

 

Factors affecting an entire industry, such as increases in production costs; and

 

Changes in general financial market conditions that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates or inflation rates.

 

S-4 

 

Because preferred stock is generally junior to debt securities and other obligations of the issuer, deterioration in the credit quality of the issuer will cause greater changes in the value of a preferred stock than in a more senior debt security with similar stated yield characteristics.

 

Fixed Income Securities

 

Fixed income securities, otherwise known as “debt securities”, consist primarily of debt obligations issued by governments, corporations, municipalities and other borrowers, and also include structured securities that provide for participation interests in debt obligations. Issuers use debt securities to borrow money from investors. Most debt securities promise a variable or fixed rate of return and repayment of the amount borrowed at maturity. Some debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay current interest and are purchased at a discount from their face value.

 

Types of Debt Securities:

 

U.S. Government Securities - The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years. U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi-annually and repay the principal at maturity. Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (“Farmer Mac”).

 

Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency. Additionally, some obligations are issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, which are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so, since the U.S. government is not so obligated by law. Guarantees of principal by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Fund’s shares.

 

On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), placing the two federal instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the takeover, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and obtained warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality (the “Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement” or “Agreement”). Under the Agreement, the U.S. Treasury pledged to provide up to $200 billion per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. This was intended to ensure that the instrumentalities maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was amending the Agreement to allow the $200 billion cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in net worth through the end of 2012. The unlimited support the U.S. Treasury extended to the two companies expired at the beginning of 2013 – Fannie Mae’s support is now capped at $125 billion and Freddie Mac has a limit of $149 billion.

 

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On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to terminate the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each pay a 10 percent annual dividend. Instead, the companies will transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceed a capital reserve amount. The capital reserve amount was $3 billion in 2013, and decreased by $600 million in each subsequent year through 2017. It is believed that this amendment put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a better position to service their debt because it eliminated the need for the companies to have to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to make fixed dividend payments. As part of the new terms, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also will be required to reduce their investment portfolios over time. On December 21, 2017, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to reinstate the $3 billion capital reserve amount. On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was further amending the Agreement, now permitting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to retain earnings beyond the $3 billion capital reserves previously allowed through the 2017 amendment. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now permitted to maintain capital reserves of $25 billion and $20 billion, respectively.

 

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the subject of several continuing class action lawsuits and investigations by federal regulators over certain accounting, disclosure or corporate governance matters, which (along with any resulting financial restatements) may adversely affect the guaranteeing entities. Importantly, the future of the entities is in serious question as the U.S. government reportedly is considering multiple options, ranging from nationalization, privatization, consolidation, or abolishment of the entities.

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations - U.S. Treasury obligations consist of direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, including Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations, including those transferable through the Federal book-entry system known as Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities (“STRIPS”). The STRIPS program lets investors hold and trade the individual interest and principal components of eligible Treasury notes and bonds as separate securities. Under the STRIPS program, the principal and interest components are separately issued by the U.S. Treasury at the request of depository financial institutions, which then trade the component parts separately.

 

Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (“TIPS”) - TIPS are fixed income securities whose principal value is periodically adjusted according to the rate of inflation. The interest rate on TIPS is fixed at issuance, but over the life of the bond this interest may be paid on an increasing or decreasing principal value that has been adjusted for inflation. Although repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity is guaranteed, the market value of TIPS is not guaranteed, and will fluctuate.

 

Government National Mortgage Association - Ginnie Mae is the principal governmental guarantor of mortgage-related securities. Ginnie Mae is a wholly owned corporation of the U.S. government within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Securities issued by Ginnie Mae are treasury securities, which means the full faith and credit of the U.S. government backs them. Ginnie Mae guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by institutions approved by Ginnie Mae and backed by pools of Federal Housing Administration-insured or Veterans Administration-guaranteed mortgages. Ginnie Mae does not guarantee the market value or yield of mortgage-backed securities or the value of the Fund’s shares. To buy Ginnie Mae securities, the Fund may have to pay a premium over the maturity value of the underlying mortgages, which the Fund may lose if prepayment occurs.

 

Federal National Mortgage Association - Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. Fannie Mae is regulated by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Fannie Mae purchases conventional mortgages from a list of approved sellers and service providers, including state and federally-chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Securities issued by Fannie Mae are agency securities, which means Fannie Mae, but not the U.S. government, guarantees their timely payment of principal and interest.

 

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Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation - Freddie Mac is stockholder-owned corporation established by the U.S. Congress to create a continuous flow of funds to mortgage lenders. Freddie Mac supplies lenders with the money to make mortgages and packages the mortgages into marketable securities. The system is designed to create a stable mortgage credit system and reduce the rates paid by homebuyers. Freddie Mac, not the U.S. government, guarantees timely payment of principal and interest.

 

Corporate Bonds - Corporations issue bonds and notes to raise money for working capital or for capital expenditures such as plant construction, equipment purchases and expansion. In return for the money loaned to the corporation by investors, the corporation promises to pay investors interest, and repay the principal amount of the bond or note.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities - The Fund may invest in mortgage-backed securities, including commercial and non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities. Mortgage-backed securities are interests in pools of mortgage loans that various governmental, government-related and private organizations assemble as securities for sale to investors. Unlike most debt securities, which pay interest periodically and repay principal at maturity or on specified call dates, mortgage-backed securities make monthly payments that consist of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Since homeowners usually have the option of paying either part or all of the loan balance before maturity, the effective maturity of a mortgage-backed security is often shorter than is stated. Investing in mortgage-backed securities involves the risks typically associated with investing in traditional fixed income securities (including interest rate and credit risk) and certain additional risks and special considerations (including the risk of principal prepayment and the risk of investing in real estate). Further, non-agency mortgage-backed securities are issued by private banks and financial companies, and are not associated with a government agency.

 

Governmental entities, private insurers and mortgage poolers may insure or guarantee the timely payment of interest and principal of these pools through various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. The Adviser will consider such insurance and guarantees and the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof in determining whether a mortgage-related security meets its investment quality standards. It is possible that the private insurers or guarantors will not meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements.

 

Risks of Mortgage-Backed Securities - Yield characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from those of traditional debt securities in a variety of ways. The most significant differences of mortgage-backed securities are:

 

Payments of interest and principal are more frequent (usually monthly); and

 

Falling interest rates generally cause individual borrowers to pay off their mortgage earlier than expected, which results in prepayments of principal on the securities, thus forcing the Fund to reinvest the money at a lower interest rate.

 

In addition to risks associated with changes in interest rates described in “Factors Affecting the Value of Debt Securities,” a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors, such as the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, can cause investors to repay the loans underlying a mortgage-backed security sooner than expected. The rate of prepayments on underlying mortgages affects the price and volatility of a mortgage-backed security, and may have the effect of shortening or extending the effective maturity beyond what was anticipated. If the prepayment rates increase, the Fund may have to reinvest its principal at a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on existing mortgage-backed securities. Conversely, in a rising interest rate environment, a declining prepayment rate will extend the average life of many mortgage-backed securities, which in turn lengthens their duration, known as extension risk.

 

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CMBX – The Fund may invest in CMBX with the Fund’s gross exposure to CMBX being limited to a maximum of 5% of the Fund’s portfolio measured at the time of purchase. CMBX is a derivative instrument that tracks the commercial mortgage-backed securities market and can be an effective and efficient tool for implementing market exposures that are consistent with the Fund’s objective. The Adviser believes that using CMBX will be valuable to facilitate the management of the Fund’s exposure to commercial mortgage/commercial real estate related assets.

 

CMBX are indices made up of tranches of commercial mortgage-backed securities, each with different credit ratings. CMBX is a type of credit default swap index, which is a credit derivative used to hedge credit risk or to take a position on a basket of credit entities. Unlike other credit default swap indices where credit events are intended to capture an event of default, CMBX involves a pay-as-you-go settlement process designed to capture non-default events that affect the cash flow of the reference obligation. Pay-as-you-go involves ongoing, two-way payments over the life of a contract between the buyer and the seller of protection and is designed to closely mirror the cash flow of a portfolio of cash commercial mortgage-backed securities. The size of the credit event payment is equal to what would have been paid on a single name credit default swap with respect to such security scaled down by that security’s weighting in the credit default swap index.

 

Utilizing CMBX, one can either gain synthetic risk exposure to a portfolio of commercial mortgage-backed securities by “selling protection” or take a short position by “buying protection.” The protection buyer pays a monthly premium to the protection seller, and the seller agrees to cover any principal losses and interest shortfalls of the referenced underlying mortgage-backed securities.

 

Investments in CMBX are subject to the risks associated with mortgage-backed securities, which are described elsewhere in this section, as well as the risks associated with the types of properties tied to the underlying mortgages (e.g., apartment properties, retail shopping centers, office and industrial properties, hotels, health-care facilities, manufactured housing and mixed-property types) and adverse economic or market events with respect to these property types.

 

Credit default swap indices are indices that reflect the performance of a basket of credit default swaps and are thus subject to the same risks as credit default swaps, which may involve greater risks than if the Fund invested in the reference obligation (the underlying debt upon which a credit derivative is based). In addition to the risks relating to the reference obligation, credit default swaps are subject to the risks inherent in the use of swaps, including illiquidity risk and counterparty risk. If the counterparty under a credit default swap defaults on its obligation to make payments thereunder, as a result of its bankruptcy or otherwise, the Fund may lose such payments altogether, or collect only a portion thereof, which collection could involve costs or delays.

 

The Fund’s return from investment in a credit default swap index may not match the return of the referenced index. Further, investment in a credit default swap index could result in losses if the referenced index does not perform as expected. Unexpected changes in the composition of the index may also affect performance of the credit default swap index. If a referenced index has a dramatic intraday move that causes a material decline in the Fund’s net assets, the terms of the Fund’s credit default swap index may permit the counterparty to immediately close out the transaction. In that event, the Fund may be unable to enter into another credit default swap index or otherwise achieve desired exposure, even if the referenced index reverses all or a portion of its intraday move.

 

Certain standardized swaps, including certain credit default swaps, are subject to mandatory clearing, and more are expected to be subject to mandatory clearing in the future. In addition, there may be disputes between the buyer and seller of a credit default swap agreement, or within the swaps market as a whole, as to whether a credit event has occurred or what the payment should be. Such disputes could result in litigation or other delays, and the outcome could be adverse for the buyer or seller.

 

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CMBX is also subject to the risks of derivatives generally, and therefore, the Fund’s use of derivative instruments may be speculative and involves the following risks:

 

Correlation of Prices - Derivative prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the characteristics of the underlying instruments are very similar to the derivative. Derivatives based upon a narrower index of securities, such as those of a particular industry group, may present greater risk than derivatives based on a broad market index. Since narrower indices are made up of a smaller number of securities, they are more susceptible to rapid and extreme price fluctuations because of changes in the value of those securities.

 

Lack of Liquidity - If there is no secondary market for a contract, or the market is illiquid, the Fund may not be able to close out its position. In an illiquid market, the Fund may have to sell securities to meet its daily margin requirements at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so; it may have to purchase or sell the instrument underlying the contract; it may not be able to hedge its investments; and/or may not be able to realize profits or limit its losses.

 

Management Risk - Successful use of CMBX by the Fund is subject to the ability of the Adviser to manage exposure to a variety of commercial real estate and CMBS risk exposures to maximize risk adjusted returns to the Fund. If the Adviser incorrectly allocates capital among the possible CMBX series exposures, the Fund may lose money.

 

Pricing Risk - At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the Fund has valued its securities too high, shareholders may end up paying too much for Fund shares when they buy into the Fund. If the Fund underestimates its price, shareholders may not receive the full market value for their Fund shares when they sell.

 

Margin Risk - Because of the low margin deposits required upon the opening of a derivative position, such transactions may involve an extremely high degree of leverage. Consequently, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to the Fund and it may lose more than it originally invested in the derivative.

 

Volatility and Leverage Risk -The Fund’s use of derivatives may have a leveraging effect. Leverage generally magnifies the effect of any increase or decrease in value of an underlying asset and results in increased volatility, which means the Fund will have the potential for greater gains, as well as the potential for greater losses, than if the Fund does not use derivative instruments that have a leveraging effect. The prices of derivatives are volatile (i.e., they may change rapidly, substantially and unpredictably) and are influenced by a variety of factors, including actual and anticipated changes in interest rates, fiscal and monetary policies, and national and international political events.

 

Government Regulation - The regulation of derivatives markets in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. For example, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law in 2010, granted significant new authority to the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”) to impose comprehensive regulations on the over-the-counter and cleared derivatives markets. These regulations include, but are not limited to, mandatory clearing of certain derivatives and requirements relating to disclosure, including margin and trade reporting. The law and regulations may negatively impact the Fund by increasing transaction and/or regulatory compliance costs, limiting the availability of certain derivatives or otherwise adversely affecting the value or performance of the derivatives the Fund trades.

 

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On October 28, 2020, the SEC adopted Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (the "Derivatives Rule"). Since its compliance date of August 19, 2022, the Derivatives Rule has replaced prior SEC and staff guidance with an updated, comprehensive framework for registered funds’ use of derivatives. The Derivatives Rule permits a registered investment company, subject to various conditions described below, to enter into derivatives transactions and certain other transactions notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior securities” under Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other things, prohibits open-end funds, including the Fund, from issuing or selling any “senior security,” other than borrowing from a bank (subject to a requirement to maintain 300% “asset coverage”).

 

Registered investment companies that don’t qualify as “limited derivatives users” as defined below, are required by the Derivatives Rule to, among other things, (i) adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program (“DRMP”) and new testing requirements; (ii) comply with a relative or absolute limit on fund leverage risk calculated based on value-at-risk (“VaR”); and (iii) comply with new requirements related to Board and SEC reporting. The DRMP is administered by a “derivatives risk manager,” who is appointed by the Board and periodically reviews the DRMP and reports to the Board.

 

The Derivatives Rule provides an exception from the DRMP, VaR limit and certain other requirements for a registered investment company that limits its “derivatives exposure” to no more than 10% of its net assets (as calculated in accordance with the Derivatives Rule) (a “limited derivatives user”), provided that the registered investment company establishes appropriate policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage derivatives risks, including the risk of exceeding the 10% “derivatives exposure” threshold.

 

The requirements of the Derivatives Rule may limit the Fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may also increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments and/or the performance of the Fund. The rule also may not be effective to limit the Fund’s risk of loss. In particular, measurements of VaR rely on historical data and may not accurately measure the degree of risk reflected in the Fund’s derivatives or other investments. There may be additional regulation of the use of derivatives transactions by registered investment companies, which could significantly affect their use. The ultimate impact of the regulations remains unclear. Additional regulation of derivatives transactions may make them more costly, limit their availability or utility, otherwise adversely affect their performance or disrupt markets.

 

CFTC Regulations - Pursuant to rules adopted under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) by the CFTC, the Fund must either operate within certain guidelines and restrictions with respect to the Fund’s use of futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps, or the Adviser will be subject to registration with the CFTC as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”).

 

Consistent with the CFTC’s regulations, the Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, has filed a notice of exclusion from the definition of the term CPO under the CEA pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 with respect to the Fund's operation. Therefore, the Fund is not subject to regulation as a commodity pool under the CEA and the Adviser is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA with respect to the Fund. As a result, the Fund will be limited in its ability to use futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps. Complying with the limitations may restrict the Adviser’s ability to implement the Fund’s investment strategies and may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

 

Credit Crisis Liquidity Risk - Certain types of credit instruments, such as investments in collateralized debt obligations, high-yield bonds, debt issued in leveraged buyout transactions, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, and short-term asset-backed commercial paper, became very illiquid in the latter half of 2007. General market uncertainty and consequent re-pricing of risk led to market imbalances of sellers and buyers, which in turn resulted in significant valuation uncertainties in mortgage and credit-related securities and other instruments. These conditions resulted, and in many cases continue to result in, greater volatility, less liquidity, widening credit spreads and a lack of price transparency, with many instruments remaining illiquid and of uncertain value. Such market conditions, and the above factors, may make valuation uncertain and/or result in sudden and significant valuation declines.

 

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Adjustable Rate Mortgage Securities (“ARMs”) - An ARM, like a traditional mortgage security, is an interest in a pool of mortgage loans that provides investors with payments consisting of both principal and interest as mortgage loans in the underlying mortgage pool are paid off by the borrowers. ARMs have interest rates that are reset at periodic intervals, usually by reference to some interest rate index or market interest rate. Although the rate adjustment feature may act as a buffer to reduce sharp changes in the value of adjustable rate securities, these securities are still subject to changes in value based on changes in market interest rates or changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Since the interest rates are reset only periodically, changes in the interest rate on ARMs may lag behind changes in prevailing market interest rates. In addition, some ARMs (or the underlying mortgages) are subject to caps or floors that limit the maximum change in interest rate during a specified period or over the life of the security. As a result, changes in the interest rate on an ARM may not fully reflect changes in prevailing market interest rates during certain periods. Because of the resetting of interest rates, ARMs are less likely than non-adjustable rate securities of comparable quality and maturity to increase significantly in value when market interest rates fall. In addition, the Fund will not benefit from increases in interest rates to the extent that interest rates rise to the point where they cause the current coupon of the underlying ARM to exceed a cap rate for a particular mortgage.

 

Mortgage Pass-Through Securities - The Fund may invest in mortgage pass-through securities. In the basic mortgage pass-through structure, mortgages with similar issuer, term and coupon characteristics are collected and aggregated into a “pool” consisting of multiple mortgage loans. The pool is assigned a CUSIP number and undivided interests in the pool are traded and sold as pass-through securities. The holder of the security is entitled to a pro rata share of principal and interest payments (including unscheduled prepayments) from the pool of mortgage loans.

 

An investment in a specific pool of pass-through securities requires an analysis of the specific prepayment risk of mortgages within the covered pool (since mortgagors typically have the option to prepay their loans). The level of prepayments on a pool of mortgage securities is difficult to predict and can impact the subsequent cash flows and value of the mortgage pool. In addition, when trading specific mortgage pools, precise execution, delivery and settlement arrangements must be negotiated for each transaction. These factors combine to make trading in mortgage pools somewhat cumbersome.

 

Most transactions in mortgage pass-through securities occur through the use of “to-be-announced” or “TBA transactions.” “TBA” refers to a commonly used mechanism for the forward settlement of U.S. agency mortgage pass-through securities, and not to a separate type of mortgage-backed security. TBA transactions generally are conducted in accordance with widely-accepted guidelines which establish commonly observed terms and conditions for execution, settlement and delivery. In a TBA transaction, the buyer and seller decide on general trade parameters, such as agency, settlement date, par amount, and price. The actual pools delivered generally are determined two days prior to settlement date. The Fund may use TBA transactions in several ways. For example, the Fund may enter into TBA agreements and “roll over” such agreements prior to the settlement date stipulated in such agreements. This type of TBA transaction is sometimes known as a “TBA roll.” In a “TBA roll” the Fund generally will sell the obligation to purchase the pools stipulated in the TBA agreement prior to the stipulated settlement date and will enter into a new TBA agreement for future delivery of pools of mortgage pass-through securities. In addition, the Fund may enter into TBA agreements and settle such transactions on the stipulated settlement date by accepting actual receipt or delivery of the pools of mortgage pass-through securities stipulated in the TBA agreement.

 

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Default by or bankruptcy of a counterparty to a TBA transaction would expose the Fund to possible loss because of adverse market action, expenses or delays in connection with the purchase or sale of the pools of mortgage pass-through securities specified in the TBA transaction. To minimize this risk, the Fund will enter into TBA transactions only with established counterparties (such as major broker-dealers) and the Adviser will monitor the creditworthiness of such counterparties. The Fund’s use of “TBA rolls” may cause the Fund to experience higher portfolio turnover, higher transaction costs and to pay higher capital gain distributions to shareholders (which may be taxable).

 

The Fund intends to invest cash pending settlement of any TBA transactions in money market instruments, repurchase agreements, commercial paper (including asset-backed commercial paper) or other high-quality, liquid short-term instruments, which may include money market funds affiliated with the Adviser.

 

Stripped Mortgage-Backed Securities - Stripped mortgage-backed securities are derivative multiple-class mortgage-backed securities. Stripped mortgage-backed securities usually have two classes that receive different proportions of interest and principal distributions on a pool of mortgage assets. Typically, one class will receive some of the interest and most of the principal, while the other class will receive most of the interest and the remaining principal. In extreme cases, one class will receive all of the interest (“interest only” or “IO” class) while the other class will receive the entire principal (“principal only” or “PO” class). The cash flow and yields on IOs and POs are extremely sensitive to the rate of principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying mortgage loans or mortgage-backed securities. A rapid rate of principal payments may adversely affect the yield to maturity of IOs and could cause the total loss of investment. Slower than anticipated prepayments of principal may adversely affect the yield to maturity of a PO. The yields and market risk of interest only and principal only stripped mortgage-backed securities, respectively, may be more volatile than those of other fixed income securities, including traditional mortgage-backed securities.

 

Asset-Backed Securities - These securities are interests in pools of a broad range of assets other than mortgages, such as automobile loans, computer leases and credit card receivables. Like mortgage-backed securities, these securities are pass-through. In general, the collateral supporting these securities is of shorter maturity than mortgage loans and is less likely to experience substantial prepayments with interest rate fluctuations, but may still be subject to prepayment risk. Asset-backed securities are also subject to extension risk.

 

Asset-backed securities present certain risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. Primarily, these securities may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets, which raises the possibility that recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on these securities. For example, credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which allow debtors to reduce their balances by offsetting certain amounts owed on the credit cards. Most issuers of asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables permit the servicers of such receivables to retain possession of the underlying obligations. If the servicer were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the related asset-backed securities. Due to the quantity of vehicles involved and requirements under state laws, asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables may not have a proper security interest in all of the obligations backing such receivables.

 

To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments, the entity administering the pool of assets may agree to ensure the receipt of payments on the underlying pool occurs in a timely fashion (“liquidity protection”). In addition, asset-backed securities may obtain insurance, such as guarantees, policies or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties, for some or all of the assets in the pool (“credit support”). Delinquency or loss more than that anticipated or failure of the credit support could adversely affect the return on an investment in such a security.

 

The Fund may also invest in residual interests in asset-backed securities, which is the excess cash flow remaining after making required payments on the securities and paying related administrative expenses. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a particular issue of asset-backed securities depends in part on the characteristics of the underlying assets, the coupon rates on the securities, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the actual prepayment experience on the underlying assets.

 

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As with mortgage-backed securities, the market for asset-backed securities has recently experienced high volatility and a lack of liquidity. As a result, the value of many of these securities has significantly declined. There can be no assurance that these markets will become more liquid or less volatile, and it is possible that the value of these securities could decline further.

 

Collateralized Bond Obligations, Collateralized Loan Obligations and other Collateralized Debt Obligations - The Fund may invest in each of collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”), other collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”) and other similarly structured securities. CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are types of asset-backed securities. A CBO is a trust which is often backed by a diversified pool of high risk, below investment grade fixed income securities. The collateral can be from many different types of fixed income securities such as high yield debt, residential privately issued mortgage-related securities, commercial privately issued mortgage related securities, trust preferred securities and emerging market debt. A CLO is a trust typically collateralized by a pool of loans, which may include, among others, domestic and foreign senior secured loans, senior unsecured loans, and subordinate corporate loans, including loans that may be rated below investment grade or equivalent unrated loans. Other CDOs are trusts backed by other types of assets representing obligations of various parties. CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs may charge management fees and administrative expenses

 

For CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs, the cash flows from the trust are split into two or more portions, called tranches, varying in risk and yield. The riskiest portion is the “equity” tranche which bears the bulk of defaults from the bonds or loans in the trust and serves to protect the other, more senior tranches from default in all but the most severe circumstances. Since they are partially protected from defaults, senior tranches from a CBO trust, CLO trust or trust of another CDO typically have higher ratings and lower yields than their underlying securities, and can be rated investment grade. Despite the protection from the equity tranche, CBO, CLO or other CDO tranches can experience substantial losses due to actual defaults, increased sensitivity to defaults due to collateral default and disappearance of protecting tranches, market anticipation of defaults, as well as aversion to CBO, CLO or other CDO securities as a class

 

The risks of an investment in a CBO, CLO or other CDO depend largely on the type of the collateral securities and the class of the instrument in which the Fund invests. Normally, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs are privately offered and sold, and thus, are not registered under the securities laws. As a result, investments in CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs may be characterized by the Fund as illiquid securities, however an active dealer market may exist for CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs allowing them to qualify for Rule 144A transactions. In addition to the normal risks associated with fixed income securities discussed elsewhere in this SAI and the Prospectus, CBOs, CLOs and other CDOs carry additional risks including, but not limited to: (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest or other payments; (ii) the quality of the collateral may decline in value or default; (iii) the risk that the Fund may invest in CBOs, CLOs or other CDOs that are subordinate to other classes; and (iv) the complex structure of the security may not be fully understood at the time of investment and may produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results.

 

General Considerations Relating to Investments in Underlying Properties in a Single State - While the Fund does not expect to invest in single state pools of mortgages, underlying properties of mortgages of certain states may represent a significant percentage of the underlying mortgages in which the Fund invests as a whole. When the Fund invests in this manner, it is subject to the risk that the economy of the states in which it invests, and the value of properties within the states, may decline. Investing significantly in securities the values of which are economically tied to a single state means that the Fund is more exposed to negative political or economic events affecting that state than a fund that invests more widely. Certain states have experienced significant declines in property values in recent years.

 

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Special Considerations Relating to Investment in Underlying Properties in California - The Fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in pools of mortgages the underlying properties of which are located in California. As a result, the Fund may be more vulnerable to unfavorable developments in California than funds that invest a lesser percent of their assets in securities with exposure to the California housing, property and mortgage markets, and the economy as a whole. After hitting a low of approximately 200,000 units (seasonally-adjusted and annualized) in the middle of 2007, sales of existing single-family homes have rebounded to above 400,000 units annually, and by December 2015, the year-over-year rise in home sales was 10.7%. Home prices continued to climb in 2014 and 2015, and were up 7.8% relative to prices during the same period one year earlier. California issued nearly 94,000 residential building permits during fiscal year 2014-15, approximately 10% more than were issued during the previous fiscal year. The number of permits for new residential units increased to an annual pace of 95,000 units as of December 2015, an increase of 11.9% compared to the same period last year. During fiscal year 2014-15, nonresidential construction increased by 4.1%, and the value of nonresidential permits gained 6.5%.

 

Commercial Banks, Savings and Loan Institutions, Private Mortgage Insurance Companies, Mortgage Bankers and other Secondary Market Issuers - Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional mortgage loans. In addition to guaranteeing the mortgage-related security, such issuers may service and/or have originated the underlying mortgage loans. Pools created by these issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than pools created by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac because they are not guaranteed by a government agency.

 

Short-Term Investments - To earn a return on uninvested assets, meet anticipated redemptions, or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in the short-term securities listed below, U.S. government securities and investment-grade corporate debt securities. Unless otherwise specified, a short-term debt security has a maturity of one year or less.

 

Bank Obligations

 

The Fund may invest in obligations issued by banks and other savings institutions. Investments in bank obligations include obligations of domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks. Such investments in domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks may involve risks that are different from investments in securities of domestic branches of U.S. banks. These risks may include future unfavorable political and economic developments, possible withholding taxes on interest income, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations, or other governmental restrictions which might affect the payment of principal or interest on the securities held by the Fund. Additionally, these institutions may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements and to different accounting, auditing, reporting and recordkeeping requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks. Bank obligations include the following:

 

Bankers’ Acceptances - Bankers’ acceptances are bills of exchange or time drafts drawn on and accepted by a commercial bank. Corporations use bankers’ acceptances to finance the shipment and storage of goods and to furnish dollar exchange. Maturities are generally six months or less.

 

Certificates of Deposit - Certificates of deposit are interest-bearing instruments with a specific maturity. They are issued by banks and savings and loan institutions in exchange for the deposit of funds and normally can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Certificates of deposit with penalties for early withdrawal will be considered illiquid.

 

Time Deposits - Time deposits are non-negotiable receipts issued by a bank in exchange for the deposit of funds. Like a certificate of deposit, it earns a specified rate of interest over a definite period of time; however, it cannot be traded in the secondary market. Time deposits with a withdrawal penalty or that mature in more than seven days are considered to be illiquid investments.

 

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Commercial Paper - Commercial paper is a short-term obligation with a maturity ranging from one to 270 days issued by banks, corporations and other borrowers. Such investments are unsecured and usually discounted. The Fund may invest in commercial paper rated A-1 or A-2 by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Prime-1 or Prime-2 by Moody’s Investors Service (“Moody’s”) or, if not rated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated A or better by Moody’s or by S&P. See “Appendix A – Description of Ratings” for a description of commercial paper ratings.

 

Yankee Bonds - Yankee bonds are dollar-denominated bonds issued inside the United States by foreign entities. Investments in these securities involve certain risks that are not typically associated with investing in domestic securities. See “Foreign Securities.”

 

Step-Coupon Securities - The Fund may invest in step-coupon securities. Step-coupon securities trade at a discount from their face value and pay coupon interest. The coupon rate is low for an initial period and then increases to a higher coupon rate thereafter. Market values of these types of securities generally fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates to a greater degree than conventional interest-paying securities of comparable term and quality. Under many market conditions, investments in such securities may be illiquid, making it difficult for the Fund to dispose of them or determine their current value.

 

Zero Coupon Bonds - These securities are sold at a (usually substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal. When held to maturity, their entire income, which consists of accretion of discount, comes from the difference between the issue price and their value at maturity. The amount of the discount rate varies depending on factors including the time remaining until maturity, prevailing interest rates, the security’s liquidity and the issuer’s credit quality. The market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay interest periodically. Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar maturity and credit qualities. The Fund’s investments in pay-in-kind, delayed and zero coupon bonds may require it to sell certain of its securities to generate sufficient cash to satisfy certain income distribution requirements.

 

These securities may include treasury securities, such as STRIPS, that have had their interest payments (“coupons”) separated from the underlying principal (“corpus”) by their holder, typically a custodian bank or investment brokerage firm. Once the holder of the security has stripped or separated corpus and coupons, it may sell each component separately. The principal or corpus is then sold at a deep discount because the buyer receives only the right to receive a future fixed payment on the security and does not receive any rights to periodic interest (cash) payments. Typically, the coupons are sold separately or grouped with other coupons with like maturity dates and sold bundled in such form. The underlying treasury security is held in book-entry form at the Federal Reserve Bank or, in the case of bearer securities (i.e., unregistered securities which are owned ostensibly by the bearer or holder thereof), in trust on behalf of the owners thereof. Purchasers of stripped obligations acquire, in effect, discount obligations that are economically identical to the zero coupon securities that the U.S. Treasury sells itself.

 

Terms to Understand:

 

Maturity - Every debt security has a stated maturity date when the issuer must repay the amount it borrowed (principal) from investors. Some debt securities, however, are callable, meaning the issuer can repay the principal earlier, on or after specified dates (call dates). Debt securities are most likely to be called when interest rates are falling because the issuer can refinance at a lower rate, similar to a homeowner refinancing a mortgage. The effective maturity of a debt security is usually its nearest call date.

 

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Mutual funds that invest in debt securities have no real maturity. Instead, they calculate their weighted average maturity. This number is an average of the stated maturity of each debt security held by the fund, with the maturity of each security weighted by the percentage of the assets of the fund it represents.

 

Duration - Duration is a calculation that seeks to measure the price sensitivity of a debt security, or of a mutual fund that invests in debt securities, to changes in interest rates. Duration measures sensitivity more accurately than maturity because it takes into account the time value of cash flows generated over the life of a debt security. Future interest payments and principal payments are discounted to reflect their present value and then are multiplied by the number of years they will be received to produce a value expressed in years – the duration. Effective duration takes into account call features and sinking fund prepayments that may shorten the life of a debt security.

 

An effective duration of four years, for example, would suggest that for each 1% reduction in interest rates at all maturity levels, the price of a security is estimated to increase by 4%. An increase in rates by the same magnitude is estimated to reduce the price of the security by 4%. Thus, the higher the duration, the more volatile the security. By knowing the yield and the effective duration of a debt security, one can estimate total return based on an expectation of how much interest rates, in general, will change. While serving as a good estimator of prospective returns, effective duration is an imperfect measure.

 

Factors Affecting the Value of Debt Securities - The total return of a debt instrument is composed of two elements: the percentage change in the security’s price and interest income earned. The yield to maturity of a debt security estimates its total return only if the price of the debt security remains unchanged during the holding period and coupon interest is reinvested at the same yield to maturity. The total return of a debt instrument, therefore, will be determined not only by how much interest is earned, but also by how much the price of the security and interest rates change.

 

Interest Rates

 

The price of a debt security generally moves in the opposite direction from interest rates (i.e., if interest rates go up, the value of the bond will go down, and vice versa).

 

Prepayment Risk

 

This risk affects mainly mortgage-backed securities. Unlike other debt securities, falling interest rates can adversely affect the value of mortgage-backed securities, which may cause your share price to fall. Lower rates motivate borrowers to pay off the instruments underlying mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities earlier than expected, resulting in prepayments on the securities. The Fund may then have to reinvest the proceeds from such prepayments at lower interest rates, which can reduce its yield. The unexpected timing of mortgage and asset-backed prepayments caused by the variations in interest rates may also shorten or lengthen the average maturity of the Fund. If left unattended, drifts in the average maturity of the Fund can have the unintended effect of increasing or reducing the effective duration of the Fund, which may adversely affect the expected performance of the Fund.

 

Extension Risk

 

The other side of prepayment risk occurs when interest rates are rising. Rising interest rates can cause the Fund’s average maturity to lengthen unexpectedly due to a drop in mortgage prepayments. This relationship would increase both the sensitivity of the Fund to rising rates as well as the potential for price declines. Extending the average life of a mortgage-backed security increases the risk of depreciation due to future increases in market interest rates. For these reasons, mortgage-backed securities may be less effective than other types of U.S. government securities as a means of “locking in” interest rates.

 

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Credit Rating

 

Coupon interest is offered to investors of debt securities as compensation for assuming risk, although short-term treasury securities, such as three-month treasury bills, are considered “risk free.” Corporate securities offer higher yields than treasury securities because their payment of interest and complete repayment of principal is less certain. The credit rating or financial condition of an issuer may affect the value of a debt security. Generally, the lower the quality rating of a security, the greater the risks that the issuer will fail to pay interest and return principal. To compensate investors for taking on increased risk, issuers with lower credit ratings usually offer their investors a higher “risk premium” in the form of higher interest rates than those available from comparable treasury securities.

 

Changes in investor confidence regarding the certainty of interest and principal payments of a corporate debt security will result in an adjustment to this “risk premium.” Since an issuer’s outstanding debt carries a fixed coupon, adjustments to the risk premium must occur in the price, which affects the yield to maturity of the bond. If an issuer defaults or becomes unable to honor its financial obligations, the bond may lose some or all of its value.

 

A security rated within the four highest rating categories by a rating agency is called investment-grade because its issuer is more likely to pay interest and repay principal than an issuer of a lower rated bond. Adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances, however, may weaken the capacity of the issuer to pay interest and repay principal. If a security is not rated or is rated under a different system, the Adviser may determine that it is of investment-grade. The Adviser may retain securities that are downgraded, if it believes that keeping those securities is warranted.

 

Debt securities rated below investment-grade (“junk bonds”) are highly speculative securities that are usually issued by smaller, less credit worthy and/or highly leveraged (indebted) companies. A corporation may issue a junk bond because of a corporate restructuring or other similar event. Compared with investment-grade bonds, junk bonds carry a greater degree of risk and are less likely to make payments of interest and principal. Market developments and the financial and business condition of the corporation issuing these securities influence their price and liquidity more than changes in interest rates, when compared to investment-grade debt securities. Insufficient liquidity in the junk bond market may make it more difficult to dispose of junk bonds and may cause the Fund to experience sudden and substantial price declines. A lack of reliable, objective data or market quotations may make it more difficult to value junk bonds accurately.

 

The Fund may invest in securities of any credit quality, including securities that are rated below investment grade, but seeks to maintain a minimum average portfolio quality of B- or higher as determined at the time of purchase. When assessing the credit quality of the Fund’s portfolio, the Fund uses ratings from S&P, Moody’s and Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”), each a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recognized Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (“NRSRO”). If the ratings assigned to a security are not the same, the highest rating of S&P, Moody’s and/or Fitch will be used. If a security is not rated by S&P, Moody’s or Fitch, an equivalent rating determined by the Adviser will be used. No more than 30% of the Fund’s market value determined at the time of purchase may be invested in investments not rated by any SEC recognized NRSRO.

 

A rating agency may change its credit ratings at any time. The Adviser monitors the rating of the securities and will take such action, if any, it believes appropriate when it learns that a rating agency has reduced a security’s rating. The Fund is not obligated to dispose of securities whose issuers subsequently are in default or which are downgraded below the above-stated ratings.

 

Rating agencies are organizations that assign ratings to securities based primarily on the rating agency’s current assessment of the issuer’s financial strength. Credit ratings are only an agency’s opinion, not an absolute standard of quality, and they do not reflect an evaluation of market risk. Ratings assigned by the rating agencies are based upon an analysis completed at the time of the rating of the obligor’s ability to pay interest and repay principal, typically relying to a large extent on historical data, which may not accurately represent present or future circumstances. A credit rating is not a statement of fact or a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold a debt obligation. Also, credit quality can change suddenly and unexpectedly, and credit ratings may not reflect the issuer’s current financial condition or events since the security was last rated. Rating agencies may have a financial interest in generating business, including from the arranger or issuer of the security that normally pays for that rating, and providing a low rating might affect the rating agency’s prospects for future business. While rating agencies have policies and procedures to address this potential conflict of interest, there is a risk that these policies will fail to prevent a conflict of interest from impacting the rating. Additionally, legislation has recently been enacted in an effort to reform rating agencies. Rules have also recently been adopted by the SEC to require rating agencies to provide additional disclosure and reduce conflicts of interest, and further reform has been proposed. It is uncertain how such legislation or additional regulation might impact the ratings agency business and the Adviser’s use of ratings in its investment process.

 

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The section “Appendix A – Description of Ratings” contains further information concerning the ratings of certain rating agencies and their significance.

 

Foreign Securities

 

Types of Foreign Securities:

 

Foreign securities are debt and equity securities that are traded or issued in markets outside of the U.S. The markets in which these securities are located can be developed or emerging. The Fund can invest in foreign securities in a number of ways, including:

 

The Fund can invest directly in foreign securities denominated in a foreign currency;

 

The Fund can invest in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and other similar global instruments; and

 

The Fund can invest in investment funds.

 

American Depositary Receipts - ADRs as well as other “hybrid” forms of ADRs, including EDRs and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. A custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer’s home country holds the underlying shares in trust. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. ADRs are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. EDRs are similar to ADRs, except that they are typically issued by European banks or trust companies.

 

ADRs can be sponsored or unsponsored. While these types are similar, there are differences regarding a holder’s rights and obligations and the practices of market participants. A depository may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or acquiescence of) the underlying issuer; typically, however, the depository requests a letter of non-objection from the underlying issuer prior to establishing the facility. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of the facility. The depository usually charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the underlying securities, the conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars or other currency, the disposition of non-cash distributions, and the performance of other services. Sponsored depositary receipt facilities are created in generally the same manner as unsponsored facilities, except that sponsored depositary receipts are established jointly by a depository and the underlying issuer through a deposit agreement. The deposit agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of the underlying issuer, the depository, and the depositary receipt holders. With sponsored facilities, the underlying issuer typically bears some of the costs of the depositary receipts (such as dividend payment fees of the depository), although most sponsored depositary receipts holders may bear costs such as deposit and withdrawal fees. Depositories of most sponsored depositary receipts agree to distribute notices of shareholder meetings, voting instructions, and other shareholder communications and information to the depositary receipt holders at the underlying issuer’s request. The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

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Emerging Markets - An “emerging market country” is generally a country that the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) and the International Finance Corporation would consider to be an emerging or developing country. Typically, emerging markets are in countries that are in the process of industrialization, with lower gross national products (“GNP”) than more developed countries. There are currently over 150 countries that the international financial community generally considers to be emerging or developing countries, approximately 50 of which currently have stock markets.

 

Sovereign Debt Obligations - Sovereign debt obligations are issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or their agencies. Sovereign debt may be in the form of conventional securities or other types of debt instruments such as loans or loan participations. Governmental entities responsible for repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal and pay interest when due, and may require renegotiation or reschedule of debt payments. In addition, prospects for repayment of principal and payment of interest may depend on political as well as economic factors. Although some sovereign debt, such as Brady Bonds, is collateralized by U.S. government securities, repayment of principal and payment of interest is not guaranteed by the U.S. government.

 

Investment Funds - Some emerging countries currently prohibit direct foreign investment in the securities of their companies. Certain emerging countries, however, permit indirect foreign investment in the securities of companies listed and traded on their stock exchanges through investment funds that they have specifically authorized. Investments in these investment funds are subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act. If the Fund invests in such investment funds, shareholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund (including operating expenses and the fees of the Adviser), but also will indirectly bear similar expenses of the underlying investment funds. In addition, these investment funds may trade at a premium over their net asset value.

 

Risks of Foreign Securities:

 

Foreign securities, foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.

 

Political and Economic Factors - Local political, economic, regulatory, or social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments may affect the value of foreign investments. Listed below are some of the more important political and economic factors that could negatively affect an investment in foreign securities:

 

The economies of foreign countries may differ from the economy of the United States in such areas as growth of GNP, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, budget deficits and national debt;

 

Foreign governments sometimes participate to a significant degree, through ownership interests or regulation, in their respective economies. Actions by these governments could significantly influence the market prices of securities and payment of dividends;

 

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The economies of many foreign countries are dependent on international trade and their trading partners and they could be severely affected if their trading partners were to enact protective trade barriers and economic conditions;

 

The internal policies of a particular foreign country may be less stable than in the United States. Other countries face significant external political risks, such as possible claims of sovereignty by other countries or tense and sometimes hostile border clashes;

 

A foreign government may act adversely to the interests of U.S. investors, including expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation and other restrictions on U.S. investment. A country may restrict or control foreign investments in its securities markets. These restrictions could limit the Fund’s ability to invest in a particular country or make it very expensive for the Fund to invest in that country. Some countries require prior governmental approval, limit the types or amount of securities or companies in which a foreigner can invest, or may restrict the ability of foreign investors to repatriate their investment income and capital gains; and

 

Periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in the Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. Government designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses.

 

Given the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, region or market might adversely affect financial conditions or issuers in other countries, regions or markets. For example, on January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) formally withdrew from the EU (commonly referred to as “Brexit”). Following a transition period, the UK and the EU signed a post-Brexit trade agreement governing their future economic relationship on December 30, 2020. This agreement became effective on a provisional basis on January 1, 2021 and formally entered into force on May 1, 2021. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets. The effects of Brexit on the UK and EU economies and the broader global economy could be significant, resulting in negative impacts, such as business and trade disruptions, increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth of markets in the UK, EU and globally, which could negatively impact the value of the Fund's investments. Brexit could also lead to legal uncertainty and politically divergent national laws and regulations while the new relationship between the UK and EU is further defined and the UK determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Additionally, depreciation of the British pound sterling and/or the euro in relation to the U.S. dollar following Brexit could adversely affect Fund investments denominated in the British pound sterling and/or the euro, regardless of the performance of the investment.

 

In addition, on February 24, 2022, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia, Ukraine, Europe, NATO, and the West. Following Russia’s actions, various countries, including the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, as well as the European Union, issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia. The sanctions consist of the prohibition of trading in certain Russian securities and engaging in certain private transactions, the prohibition of doing business with certain Russian corporate entities, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs, and the freezing of Russian assets. The extent and duration of the war in Ukraine and the longevity and severity of sanctions remain unknown, but they could have a significant adverse impact on the European economy as well as the price and availability of certain commodities, including oil and natural gas, throughout the world. These sanctions, and the resulting disruption of the Russian economy, may cause volatility in other regional and global markets and may negatively impact the performance of various sectors and industries, as well as companies in other countries, which could have a negative effect on the performance of the Fund, even if the Fund does not have direct exposure to securities of Russian issuers.

 

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Whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments due to the interconnected nature of the global economy and capital markets.

 

Information and Supervision - There is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than companies based in the United States. For example, there are often no reports and ratings published about foreign companies comparable to the ones written about U.S. companies. Foreign companies are typically not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. The lack of comparable information makes investment decisions concerning foreign companies more difficult and less reliable than those concerning domestic companies.

 

Stock Exchange and Market Risk - The Adviser anticipates that in most cases an exchange or over-the-counter market located outside of the United States will be the best available market for foreign securities. Foreign stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as the markets in the United States. Foreign stock markets tend to differ from those in the United States in a number of ways.

 

Foreign stock markets:

 

Are generally more volatile than, and not as developed or efficient as, those in the United States;

 

Have substantially less volume;

 

Trade securities that tend to be less liquid and experience rapid and erratic price movements;

 

Have generally higher commissions and are subject to set minimum rates, as opposed to negotiated rates;

 

Employ trading, settlement and custodial practices less developed than those in U.S. markets; and

 

May have different settlement practices, which may cause delays and increase the potential for failed settlements.

 

Foreign markets may offer less protection to shareholders than U.S. markets because:

 

Foreign accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements may render a foreign corporate balance sheet more difficult to understand and interpret than one subject to U.S. law and standards.

 

Adequate public information on foreign issuers may not be available, and it may be difficult to secure dividends and information regarding corporate actions on a timely basis.

 

In general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the United States.

 

Over-the-counter markets tend to be less regulated than stock exchange markets and, in certain countries, may be totally unregulated.

 

Economic or political concerns may influence regulatory enforcement and may make it difficult for shareholders to enforce their legal rights.

 

Restrictions on transferring securities within the United States or to U.S. persons may make a particular security less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions.

 

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Foreign Currency Risk - If the Fund invests in foreign securities denominated in foreign currencies, it will be subject to foreign currency risk. While the Fund denominates its net asset value in U.S. dollars, the securities of foreign companies are frequently denominated in foreign currencies. Thus, a change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in value of securities denominated in that currency. Some of the factors that may impair the investments denominated in a foreign currency are:

 

It may be expensive to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa;

 

Complex political and economic factors may significantly affect the values of various currencies, including the U.S. dollar, and their exchange rates;

 

Government intervention may increase risks involved in purchasing or selling foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts, since exchange rates may not be free to fluctuate in response to other market forces;

 

There may be no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies or regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis;

 

Available quotation information is generally representative of very large round-lot transactions in the inter-bank market and thus may not reflect exchange rates for smaller odd-lot transactions (less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable; and

 

The inter-bank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that a market is closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, certain markets may not always reflect significant price and rate movements.

 

Taxes - Certain foreign governments levy withholding taxes on dividend and interest income. Although in some countries it is possible for the Fund to recover a portion of these taxes, the portion that cannot be recovered will reduce the income the Fund receives from its investments.

 

Emerging Markets - Investing in emerging markets may magnify the risks of foreign investing. Security prices in emerging markets can be significantly more volatile than those in more developed markets, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, countries with emerging markets may:

 

Have relatively unstable governments;

 

Present greater risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets;

 

Offer less protection of property rights than more developed countries; and

 

Have economies that are based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates.

 

Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times.

 

Money Market Securities - Money market securities include short-term U.S. government securities; custodial receipts evidencing separately traded interest and principal components of securities issued by the U.S. Treasury; commercial paper rated in the highest short-term rating category by a NRSRO, such as S&P or Moody’s, or determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase; short-term bank obligations (certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances) of U.S. commercial banks with assets of at least $1 billion as of the end of their most recent fiscal year; U.S. dollar denominated money market obligations of foreign banks or of foreign branches or subsidiaries of U.S. banks; and repurchase agreements involving such securities. Each of these money market securities are described in this SAI. For a description of ratings, see “Appendix A – Description of Ratings” to this SAI.

 

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Structured Notes - The Fund may invest in a broad category of instruments known as “structured notes.” These instruments are debt obligations issued by industrial corporations, financial institutions or governmental or international agencies. Traditional debt obligations typically obligate the issuer to repay the principal plus a specified rate of interest. Structured notes, by contrast, obligate the issuer to pay amounts of principal or interest that are determined by reference to changes in some external factor or factors, or the principal and interest rate may vary from the stated rate because of changes in these factors. For example, the issuer’s obligations could be determined by reference to changes in the value of a commodity (such as gold or oil) or commodity index, a foreign currency, an index of securities (such as the S&P 500 Index) or an interest rate (such as the U.S. Treasury bill rate). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations are determined by reference to changes over time in the difference (or “spread”) between two or more external factors (such as the U.S. prime lending rate and the total return of the stock market in a particular country, as measured by a stock index). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations may fluctuate inversely with changes in an external factor or factors (for example, if the U.S. prime lending rate goes up, the issuer’s interest payment obligations are reduced). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations may be determined by some multiple of the change in an external factor or factors (for example, three times the change in the U.S. Treasury bill rate). In some cases, the issuer’s obligations remain fixed (as with a traditional debt instrument) so long as an external factor or factors do not change by more than the specified amount (for example, if the value of a stock index does not exceed some specified maximum), but if the external factor or factors change by more than the specified amount, the issuer’s obligations may be sharply reduced.

 

Structured notes can serve many different purposes in the management of the Fund. For example, they can be used to increase the Fund’s exposure to changes in the value of assets that the Fund would not ordinarily purchase directly (such as currencies traded in a market that is not open to U.S. investors). They can also be used to hedge the risks associated with other investments the Fund holds. For example, if a structured note has an interest rate that fluctuates inversely with general changes in a country’s stock market index, the value of the structured note would generally move in the opposite direction to the value of holdings of stocks in that market, thus moderating the effect of stock market movements on the value of the Fund’s portfolio as a whole.

 

Structured notes involve special risks. As with any debt obligation, structured notes involve the risk that the issuer will become insolvent or otherwise default on its payment obligations. This risk is in addition to the risk that the issuer’s obligations (and thus the value of the Fund’s investment) will be reduced because of adverse changes in the external factor or factors to which the obligations are linked. The value of structured notes will in many cases be more volatile (that is, will change more rapidly or severely) than the value of traditional debt instruments. Volatility will be especially high if the issuer’s obligations are determined by reference to some multiple of the change in the external factor or factors. Many structured notes have limited or no liquidity, so that the Fund would be unable to dispose of the investment prior to maturity. As with all investments, successful use of structured notes depends in significant part on the accuracy of the Adviser’s analysis of the issuer’s creditworthiness and financial prospects, and of the Adviser’s forecast as to changes in relevant economic and financial market conditions and factors. In instances where the issuer of a structured note is a foreign entity, the usual risks associated with investments in foreign securities (described above) apply. Structured notes may be considered derivative securities.

 

Credit Linked Notes - A credit linked note (“CLN”) is a type of structured note issued by a special purpose entity (the “Note Issuer”) whose value is linked to an underlying reference asset (the “Reference Instrument”). CLNs typically provide periodic payments of interest as well as payment of principal upon maturity, the value of which is tied to the underlying reference asset. The purchaser of the CLN (the “Note Purchaser”) invests a par amount and receives a payment during the term of the CLN that equals a fixed or floating rate of interest equivalent to a high rated funded asset (such as a bank certificate of deposit) plus an additional premium that relates to taking on the credit risk of the Reference Instrument. Upon maturity of the CLN, the Note Purchaser will receive a payment equal to (i) the original par amount paid to the Note Issuer, if there is neither a designated event of default (an “Event of Default”) with respect to the Reference Instrument nor a restructuring of the issuer of the Reference Instrument (a “Restructuring Event”) or (ii) the value of the Reference Instrument, if an Event of Default or Restructuring Event has occurred. Depending upon the terms of the CLN, it is also possible that the Note Purchaser may be required to take physical delivery of the Reference Instrument in the event of an Event of Default or a Restructuring Event. Most CLNs use a corporate bond (or a portfolio of corporate bonds) as the Reference Instrument(s). However, almost any type of fixed income security (including foreign government securities) or derivative contract (such as a credit default swap) can be used as the Reference Instrument.

 

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Investments in CLNs are subject to the risk of loss of the principal investment and/or periodic interest payments expected to be received from an investment in a CLN in the event that one or more of the underlying obligations of a note default or otherwise become non-performing. To the extent the Fund invests in a CLN that represents an interest in a single issuer or limited number of issuers, a credit event with respect to that issuer or limited number of issuers presents a greater risk of loss to the Fund than if the CLN represented an interest in underlying obligations of multiple issuers.

 

Repurchase Agreements - The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which a fund acquires a fixed income security (generally a security issued by the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a banker’s acceptance, or a certificate of deposit) from a commercial bank, broker, or dealer, and simultaneously agrees to resell such security to the seller at an agreed upon price and date (normally, the next business day). Because the security purchased constitutes collateral for the repurchase obligation, a repurchase agreement may be considered a loan that is collateralized by the security purchased. The acquisition of a repurchase agreement may be deemed to be an acquisition of the underlying securities as long as the obligation of the seller to repurchase the securities is collateralized fully. The Fund follows certain procedures designed to minimize the risks inherent in such agreements. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with creditworthy financial institutions whose condition will be continually monitored by the Adviser. The repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund may provide that the underlying collateral at all times shall have a value at least equal to 102% of the resale price stated in the agreement and consist only of securities permissible under Section 101(47)(A)(i) of the Bankruptcy Code (the Adviser monitors compliance with this requirement). Under all repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund, the custodian or its agent must take possession of the underlying collateral. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Fund’s right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. The Fund may enter into “tri-party” repurchase agreements. In “tri-party” repurchase agreements, an unaffiliated third party custodian maintains accounts to hold collateral for the Fund and its counterparties and, therefore, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of those custodians. The investments of the Fund in repurchase agreements, at times, may be substantial when, in the view of the Adviser, liquidity or other considerations so warrant. The Fund will not invest more than 33 1/3% of its assets in repurchase agreements.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements - The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements, which involve the sale of securities with an agreement to repurchase the securities at an agreed-upon price, date and interest payment and have the characteristics of borrowing. Generally, the effect of such a transaction is that the Fund can recover all or most of the cash invested in the portfolio securities involved during the term of the reverse repurchase agreement, while the Fund will be able to keep the interest income associated with those portfolio securities. Such transactions are advantageous only if the interest cost to the Fund of the reverse repurchase transaction is less than the cost of obtaining the cash otherwise. Opportunities to achieve this advantage may not always be available, and the Fund intends to use the reverse repurchase technique only when it will be advantageous to the Fund. The Fund will not invest more than 33 1/3% of its assets in reverse repurchase agreements.

 

Securities Lending - The Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial organizations that meet capital and other credit requirements or other criteria established by the Board. These loans, if and when made, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the total asset value of the Fund (including the loan collateral). The Fund will not lend portfolio securities to the Adviser or its affiliates unless permissible under the 1940 Act and the rules and promulgations thereunder. Loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized by cash, letters of credit or U.S. government securities, and the collateral will be maintained in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities by marking to market daily. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the account of the Fund. The Fund may pay a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral, or other fee, to an unaffiliated third party for acting as the Fund’s securities lending agent, but will bear all of any losses from the investment of collateral.

 

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By lending its securities, the Fund may increase its income by receiving payments from the borrower that reflect the amount of any interest or any dividends payable on the loaned securities as well as by either investing cash collateral received from the borrower in short-term instruments or obtaining a fee from the borrower when U.S. government securities or letters of credit are used as collateral. The Fund will adhere to the following conditions whenever its portfolio securities are loaned: (i) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral or equivalent securities of the type discussed above from the borrower; (ii) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (iii) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan on demand; (iv) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in market value; (v) the Fund may pay only reasonable fees in connection with the loan (which fees may include fees payable to the lending agent, the borrower, the Fund’s administrator and the custodian); and (vi) voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, provided, however, that if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs, the Fund must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities. In such instances, the Adviser will vote the securities in accordance with its proxy voting policies and procedures. The Board has adopted procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the foregoing criteria will be met. Loan agreements involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the borrower, including possible delays or restrictions upon the Fund’s ability to recover the loaned securities or dispose of the collateral for the loan, which could give rise to loss because of adverse market action, expenses and/or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying securities.

 

Direct Lending Risk - The Fund may make direct loans and engage in direct lending with unaffiliated third parties. This practice involves certain risks. Direct loans between the Fund and a borrower may not be administered by an underwriter or agent bank. The terms of the direct loans are negotiated with borrowers in private transactions. Furthermore, a direct loan may be secured or unsecured.

 

There are no restrictions on the credit quality of the Fund’s loans. Loans may be deemed to have substantial vulnerability to default in payment of interest and/or principal. There can be no assurance as to the levels of defaults and/or recoveries that may be experienced on loans in which the Fund has invested. Certain of the loans in which the Fund may invest have large uncertainties or major risk exposures to adverse conditions, and may be considered to be predominantly speculative. Generally, such loans offer a higher return potential than better quality loans, but involve greater volatility of price and greater risk of loss of income and principal. The market values of certain of these loans also tend to be more sensitive to changes in economic conditions than better quality loans.

 

In determining whether to make a direct loan, the Fund will rely primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower and/or any collateral for payment of interest and repayment of principal. In making a direct loan, the Fund is exposed to the risk that the borrower may default or become insolvent and, consequently, that the Fund will lose money on the loan. Furthermore, direct loans may subject the Fund to liquidity and interest rate risk (each of which is discussed elsewhere in this SAI) and certain direct loans may be deemed illiquid. Direct loans are not publicly traded and may not have a secondary market. The lack of a secondary market for direct loans may have an adverse impact on the ability of the Fund to dispose of a direct loan and/or to value the direct loan.

 

If a loan is foreclosed, the Fund could become part owner of any collateral and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. As a result, the Fund may be exposed to losses resulting from default and foreclosure. Any costs or delays involved in the effectuation of a foreclosure of the loan or a liquidation of the underlying assets will further reduce the proceeds and thus increase the loss. Different types of assets may be used as collateral for the Fund’s loans and, accordingly, the valuation of and risks associated with such collateral will vary by loan. There is no assurance that the Fund will correctly evaluate the value of the assets collateralizing the Fund’s loans or the prospects for a successful reorganization or similar action. In any reorganization or liquidation proceeding relating to a company that the Fund funds, the Fund may lose all or part of the amounts advanced to the borrower or may be required to accept collateral with a value less than the amount of the loan advanced by the Fund to the borrower. Further, there is no assurance that the protection of the Fund’s interests will be adequate, including the validity or enforceability of the loan and the maintenance of the anticipated priority and perfection of the applicable security interests. In addition, there is no assurance that claims will not be asserted that might interfere with enforcement of the Fund’s rights.

 

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Securities of Other Investment Companies - The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies, to the extent permitted by applicable law, subject to certain restrictions. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund. The Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying the Fund’s expenses.

 

Generally, the federal securities laws limit the extent to which the Fund can invest in securities of other investment companies, subject to certain exceptions. For example, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act prohibits a fund from (i) acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any one investment company, (ii) investing more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, and (iii) investing more than 10% of its total assets in all investment companies combined, including its ETF investments.

 

The Fund may rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, which provides an exemption from Section 12(d)(1) that allows the Fund to invest all of its assets in other registered funds, including ETFs, if, among other conditions, the Fund, together with its affiliates, acquires no more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any acquired fund. The Fund may also rely on Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 12d1-4, which became effective on January 19, 2021, permits the Fund to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions specified in the Rule including, among other conditions, that the Fund and its advisory group will not control (individually or in the aggregate) an acquired fund (e.g., hold more than 25% of the outstanding voting securities of an acquired fund that is a registered open-end management investment company). In addition, the Fund may be able to rely on certain other rules under the 1940 Act to invest in shares of money market funds or other investment companies beyond the statutory limits noted above, but subject to certain conditions.

 

For hedging or other purposes, the Fund may invest in investment companies that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific indexes or portions of specific indexes. Certain of these investment companies, known as ETFs, are traded on a securities exchange. (See “Exchange-Traded Funds” above). The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with changes in the underlying portfolio securities of the investment company and also due to supply and demand of the investment company’s shares on the exchange upon which the shares are traded. Index-based investments may not replicate or otherwise match the composition or performance of their specified index due to transaction costs, among other things.

 

Restricted and Illiquid Investments - The Fund may invest in investments that are not readily marketable and investments that are not registered (“restricted securities”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), but which can be offered and sold to “qualified institutional buyers” under Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. The Fund may not acquire an illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. Illiquid investments are investments that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment.

 

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Illiquid investments may include a wide variety of investments, such as repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, over-the-counter options contracts and certain other derivatives (including certain swap agreements), fixed time deposits that are not subject to prepayment or do not provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits), participation interests in loans, commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act), and securities whose disposition is restricted under the federal securities laws. Illiquid investments include restricted, privately placed securities that, under the federal securities laws, generally may be resold only to qualified institutional buyers. If a substantial market develops for a restricted security (or other illiquid investment) held by the Fund, it may be treated as a liquid security, in accordance with procedures and guidelines approved by the Board.

 

Variable and Floating Rate Instruments - Certain of the obligations purchased by the Fund may carry variable or floating rates of interest, may involve a conditional or unconditional demand feature and may include variable amount master demand notes. Such instruments bear interest at rates that are not fixed, but which vary with changes in specified market rates or indices. The interest rates on these securities may be reset daily, weekly, quarterly or some other reset period, and may have a floor or ceiling on interest rate changes. There is a risk that the current interest rate on such obligations may not accurately reflect existing market interest rates. A demand instrument with a demand notice exceeding seven days may be considered illiquid if there is no secondary market for such securities.

 

When-Issued, Delayed-Delivery and Forward Delivery Transactions - A when-issued security is one whose terms are available and for which a market exists, but which have not been issued. In a forward delivery transaction, the Fund contracts to purchase securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary settlement time. “Delayed-delivery” refers to securities transactions on the secondary market where settlement occurs in the future. In each of these transactions, the parties fix the payment obligation and the interest rate that they will receive on the securities at the time the parties enter the commitment; however, they do not pay money or deliver securities until a later date. Typically, no income accrues on securities the Fund has committed to purchase before the securities are delivered. The Fund will only enter into these types of transactions with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but may sell them before the settlement date.

 

The Fund uses when-issued, delayed-delivery and forward delivery transactions to secure what it considers an advantageous price and yield at the time of purchase. When the Fund engages in when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward delivery transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the sale. If the other party fails to complete the sale, the Fund may miss the opportunity to obtain the security at a favorable price or yield.

 

When purchasing a security on a when-issued, delayed-delivery, or forward delivery basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield changes. At the time of settlement, the market value of the security may be more or less than the purchase price. The yield available in the market when the delivery takes place also may be higher than those obtained in the transaction itself. Because the Fund does not pay for the security until the delivery date, these risks are in addition to the risks associated with its other investments.

 

The Derivatives Rule permits the Fund to enter into when-issued or delayed delivery basis securities notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the 1940 Act, provided that the Fund intends to physically settle the transaction and the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date. If a when-issued or delayed delivery basis security entered into by the Fund does not satisfy those requirements, the Fund would need to comply with the Derivatives Rule with respect to its when issued or delayed delivery transactions, which are considered derivatives transactions under the Derivatives Rule. See "Derivatives — Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act" above.

 

Special Risks of Cyber Attacks - As with any entity that conducts business through electronic means in the modern marketplace, the Fund, and its service providers, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber attacks. Cyber attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized monitoring, release, misuse, loss, destruction or corruption of confidential information, unauthorized access to relevant systems, compromises to networks or devices that the Fund and its service providers use to service the Fund’s operations, ransomware, operational disruption or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Fund and its service providers, or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber attacks affecting the Fund or the Adviser, the Fund’s distributor, custodian, or any other of the Fund’s intermediaries or service providers may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders, potentially resulting in, among other things, financial losses or the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its net asset value, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes designed to mitigate or prevent the risk of cyber attacks. Such costs may be ongoing because threats of cyber attacks are constantly evolving as cyber attackers become more sophisticated and their techniques become more complex. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investments in such companies to lose value. There can be no assurance that the Fund, the Fund’s service providers, or the issuers of the securities in which the Fund invests will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches in the future.

 

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LIBOR Replacement Risk - The Fund may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from, or continue to be tied to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. Such instruments may include bank loans, derivatives, floating rate securities, and other assets or liabilities. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, has ceased publishing all LIBOR settings on a representative basis. In April 2023, however, the FCA announced that some USD LIBOR settings will continue to be published under a synthetic methodology until September 30, 2024 for certain legacy contracts.

 

The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market, has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. Under U.S. regulations that implement a statutory fallback mechanism to replace LIBOR, benchmark rates based on SOFR have replaced LIBOR in different categories of financial contracts.

 

Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. While some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities, or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The Fund may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.

 

General Market Risk - An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus designated as COVID-19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in international, national and local border closings and other significant travel restrictions and disruptions, significant disruptions to business operations, supply chains and customer activity, event cancellations and restrictions, service cancellations, reductions and other changes, significant challenges in healthcare service preparation and delivery, and quarantines, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. These impacts also have caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, which have caused losses for investors. Health crises caused by viral or bacterial outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social, economic, market and financial risks. The impact of this outbreak, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

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Investments in China - China is an emerging market, and as a result, investments in securities of companies organized and listed in China may be subject to liquidity constraints and significantly higher volatility, from time to time, than investments in securities of more developed markets. China may be subject to considerable government intervention and varying degrees of economic, political and social instability. These factors may result in, among other things, a greater risk of stock market, interest rate, and currency fluctuations, as well as inflation. Accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards in China are different from U.S. standards and, therefore, disclosure of certain material information may not be made, may be less available, or may be less reliable. It may also be difficult or impossible for the Fund to obtain or enforce a judgment in a Chinese court. In addition, periodically there may be restrictions on investments in Chinese companies. For example, on November 12, 2020, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order (the “November 2020 Executive Order”) prohibiting U.S. persons from purchasing or investing in publicly-traded securities of companies identified by the U.S. Government as “Communist Chinese military companies” or in instruments that are derivative of, or are designed to provide investment exposure to, those companies. In addition, on August 9, 2023, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order (the “August 2023 Executive Order” and, together with the November 2020 Executive Order, the “Executive Orders”) directing the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) to promulgate regulations requiring notification of, or restricting, investments in China in certain categories of national security technologies, including semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information, and certain artificial intelligence technologies. Concurrent with the August 2023 Executive Order, the Treasury issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which contemplates the possibility that the regulations adopted would not apply to investments made by collectively offered funds such as the Fund. These regulations have not yet been proposed or adopted by the Treasury and their scope and impact therefore are unclear, but if they were adopted in a way that applies to the Fund, the regulations could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to make certain outbound investments.

 

The universe of securities affected by the Executive Orders can change from time to time. As a result of an increase in the number of investors looking to sell such securities, or because of an inability to participate in an investment that the Adviser otherwise believes is attractive, the Fund may incur losses. Certain securities that are or become designated as prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, potentially causing losses to the Fund. In addition, the market for securities of other Chinese-based issuers may also be negatively impacted, resulting in reduced liquidity and price declines.

 

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INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

Fundamental Policies

 

The following investment limitations are fundamental, which means that the Fund cannot change them without approval by the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Fund. The phrase “majority of the outstanding shares” means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Fund’s shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares, whichever is less.

 

The Fund may not:

 

1.Concentrate investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as concentration is defined under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time; provided, however, that the Fund will concentrate its investments in the asset-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and residential mortgage-backed securities group of industries.

 

2.Borrow money or issue senior securities (as defined under the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

3.Make loans, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

4.Purchase or sell commodities or real estate, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

5.Underwrite securities issued by other persons, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

6.Purchase securities of an issuer that would cause the Fund to fail to satisfy the diversification requirement for a diversified management company under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

Non-Fundamental Policies

 

In addition to the investment objective of the Fund, the following limitations are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.

 

1.The Fund may not borrow money in an amount exceeding 33 1/3% of the value of its total assets (including the amount borrowed), provided that investment strategies which either obligate the Fund to purchase securities or require the Fund to cover a position by segregating assets or entering into an offsetting position shall not be subject to this limitation. To the extent that its borrowings exceed 5% of its assets: (i) all borrowings will be repaid before the Fund makes additional investments; and (ii) asset coverage of at least 300% is required.

 

2.The Fund will concentrate its investments in the asset-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and residential mortgage-backed securities group of industries. This means the Fund will invest more than 25% of its assets, collectively, in this group. The Fund’s investments in any single industry in the group, however, may, at any time, be less than 25% of assets, provided that its investments in any one or more of the industries in the group, in the aggregate, continues to represent at least 25% of assets.

 

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3.The Fund may not make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that the Fund may: (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) engage in securities lending.

 

4.The Fund will not purchase or sell real estate, except that the Fund may purchase: (i) marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in real estate (including REITs).

 

5.The Fund will not purchase or sell physical commodities or commodities contracts, except that the Fund may purchase: (i) marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in commodities or commodities contracts; and (ii) commodities contracts relating to financial instruments, such as financial futures contracts and options on such contracts.

 

6.The Fund may not change its investment strategy to invest at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities, without 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. For purposes of compliance with this policy, the Fund takes in account investments in structured notes that are expected to provide economic exposure equivalent to securitized assets in which the Fund may invest directly.

 

Except with respect to Fund policies concerning borrowing, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of an investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from changes in values or assets will not constitute a violation of such restriction. With respect to the limitation on borrowing, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances cause the Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitations within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays).

 

The following descriptions of certain provisions of the 1940 Act may assist investors in understanding the above policies and restrictions:

 

Diversification. Under the 1940 Act and the rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder, a “diversified company,” as to 75% of its total assets, may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government or its agencies, or instrumentalities or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer’s voting securities would be held by the fund.

 

Concentration. The SEC staff has defined concentration as investing 25% or more of an investment company’s total assets in an industry or group of industries, with certain exceptions. For purposes of the Fund’s concentration policy, the Fund may classify and re-classify companies in a particular industry and define and re-define industries in any reasonable manner, consistent with SEC and SEC staff guidance.

 

Borrowing. The 1940 Act presently allows a fund to borrow from any bank in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) and to borrow for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of its total assets.

 

Senior Securities. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although the 1940 Act does provide allowances for certain borrowings. In addition, Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act permits a fund to enter into derivatives transactions, notwithstanding the prohibitions and restrictions on the issuance of senior securities under the 1940 Act, provided that the fund complies with the conditions of Rule 18f-4.

 

Lending. Under the 1940 Act, a fund may only make loans if expressly permitted by its investment policies.

 

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Underwriting. Under the 1940 Act, underwriting securities involves a fund purchasing securities directly from an issuer for the purpose of selling (distributing) them or participating in any such activity either directly or indirectly. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified fund may not make any commitment as underwriter, if immediately thereafter the amount of its outstanding underwriting commitments, plus the value of its investments in securities of issuers (other than investment companies) of which it owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities, exceeds 25% of the value of its total assets.

 

Real Estate. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company’s ability to invest in real estate, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments.

 

Commodities. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company’s ability to invest in commodities, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments.

 

THE ADVISER

 

General. Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership formed in 1926, located at One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111-2621, is a professional investment management firm registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser is a Delaware limited partnership. Loomis Sayles’ sole general partner, Loomis Sayles & Company, Inc. is directly owned by Natixis Investment Managers, LLC. (“Natixis LLC”). Natixis LLC is an indirect subsidiary of Natixis Investment Managers, an international asset management group based in Paris, France, that is in turn owned by Natixis, a French investment banking and financial services firm. Natixis is wholly-owned by BPCE, France’s second largest banking group. BPCE is owned by banks comprising two autonomous and complementary retail banking networks consisting of the Caisse d’Epargne regional savings banks and the Banque Populaire regional cooperative banks. The registered address of Natixis is 30, avenue Pierre Mendès France, 75013 Paris, France. The registered address of BPCE is 50, avenue Pierre Mendès France, 75013 Paris, France. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $335.2 billion in assets under management.

 

Advisory Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Adviser have entered into an investment advisory agreement, dated June 20, 2011 (the “Advisory Agreement”). Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser serves as the investment adviser and makes investment decisions for the Fund rand continuously reviews, supervises and administers the investment program of the Fund, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Trustees.

 

After the initial two-year term, the continuance of the Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually: (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or, by the Adviser, on not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ written notice to the Trust. As used in the Advisory Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested persons” and “assignment” have the same meaning as such terms in the 1940 Act.

 

Advisory Fees Paid to the Adviser. An investor in the Fund will pay a fee to the Adviser or its affiliates under a separate client agreement for advisory services. The Fund does not pay the Adviser for investment advisory services, but does pay other expenses of the Fund such as administration fees, custody fees and general operating expenses. The Adviser has contractually agreed to reimburse expenses in order to keep total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 0.20% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

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During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund paid the Adviser $0 in advisory fees. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Adviser additionally reimbursed fees of $153,822, $197,327 and $199,676, respectively, to maintain the stated expense cap under its contractual expense limitation agreement.

 

THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

This section includes information about the Fund’s portfolio managers, including information about other accounts they manage, the dollar range of Fund shares they own and how they are compensated.

 

Compensation. Loomis Sayles believes that portfolio manager compensation should be driven primarily by the delivery of consistent and superior long-term performance for its clients. Although portfolio manager compensation is not directly tied to assets under management, a portfolio manager’s base salary and/or bonus potential may reflect the amount of assets for which the manager is responsible relative to other portfolio managers. The annual bonus is incentive-based and generally represents a significant multiple of base salary. The bonus is based on three factors: investment performance, profit growth of the Adviser, and personal conduct. Investment performance is the primary component of the annual bonus and generally represents at least 60% of the total for fixed-income managers. The other factors are used to determine the remainder of the annual incentive bonus, subject to the discretion of the Adviser’s Chief Investment Officer (“CIO”) and senior management. The Adviser’s CIO and senior management evaluate these other factors annually.

 

The investment performance component of the annual incentive bonus depends primarily on investment performance against benchmark and/or against peers within similar disciplines. The score is based upon the product’s institutional composite performance; however, adjustments may be made if there is significant dispersion among the returns of the composite and accounts not included in the composite. For most products, the product investment score compares the product’s rolling three year performance over the past nine quarters (a five year view) against both a benchmark and a peer group established by the CIO. The scoring rewards both the aggregate excess performance of the product against a benchmark and the product’s relative rank within a peer group. In addition, for fixed income products, the performance score rewards for the consistency of that outperformance and is enhanced if over the past five years it has kept its rolling three-year performance ahead of its benchmark. Portfolio managers working on several product teams receive a final score based on the relative revenue weight of each product.

 

Portfolio managers may also participate in the three segments of the long-term incentive program. The amount of the awards for each segment are dependent upon role, industry experience, team and Adviser profitability, and/or investment performance.

 

General

The core elements of the Loomis Sayles compensation plan include a base salary, an annual incentive bonus, and, for senior investor and leadership roles, a long-term incentive bonus. The base salary is a fixed amount based on a combination of factors, including industry experience, Adviser experience, job performance and market considerations. The annual incentive bonus and long term incentive bonus is driven by a variety of factors depending upon the specific role. Factors include investment performance, individual performance, team and Adviser profitability, role, and industry experience. Both the annual and long term bonus have a deferral component. Loomis Sayles has developed and implemented three long-term incentive plan segments to attract and retain investment talent.

 

For the senior-most investment roles, a long term incentive plan provides annual grants relative to the role, and includes a post retirement payment feature to incentivize effective succession management. Participation is contingent upon signing an award agreement, which includes a non-compete covenant. The second and third long term incentive plans are constructed to create mid- term alignment for key positions, including a two year deferral feature. The second plan is role based, and the third is team based which is more specifically dependent upon team profitability and/or investment performance.

 

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In addition, Loomis Sayles also offers a profit sharing plan for all employees and a defined benefit plan for employees who joined the Adviser prior to May 3, 2003. The profit sharing contribution to the retirement plan of each employee is based on a percentage of base salary (up to a maximum amount). The defined benefit plan is based on years of service and base compensation (up to a maximum amount).

 

Fund Shares Owned by Portfolio Managers. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each portfolio manager’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Fund as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”).

 

Name Dollar Range of Fund Shares1
Alessandro Pagani, CFA None
Stephen C. L’Heureux, CFA None
Stephen M. LaPlante, CFA None
Jennifer M. Thomas None

 

1Valuation date is October 31, 2023.

 

Other Accounts. In addition to the Fund, certain portfolio managers may also be responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as indicated by the following table. None of these accounts are subject to a performance-based advisory fee. The information below is provided as of October 31, 2023.

 

Name

Registered

Investment Companies

Other Pooled

Investment Vehicles

Other Accounts
Number of
Accounts

Total Assets

(in Millions)

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets

(in Millions)

Number of
Accounts

Total Assets

(in Millions)

Alessandro Pagani, CFA 1 $1,191.3 3 $574 19 $1,053.4
Stephen C. L’Heureux, CFA 0 $0 0 0 8 $46.2
Stephen M. LaPlante, CFA 1 $1,191.3 3 $574 15 $1,048.5
Jennifer M. Thomas 1 $1,191.3 3 $574 13 $1,048.4

  

Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts of interest may arise in the allocation of investment opportunities and the allocation of aggregated orders among the Fund and other accounts managed by the portfolio managers. A portfolio manager potentially could give favorable treatment to some accounts for a variety of reasons, including favoring larger accounts, accounts that pay higher fees, accounts that pay performance-based fees, accounts of affiliated companies and accounts in which the portfolio manager has an interest. In addition, due to differences in the investment strategies or restrictions among the Fund and a portfolio manager’s other accounts, the portfolio manager may take action with respect to another account that differs from the action taken with respect to the Fund. Although such favorable treatment could lead to more favorable investment opportunities or allocations for some accounts and may appear to create additional conflicts of interest for the portfolio manager in the allocation of management time and resources, Loomis Sayles strives to ensure that portfolio managers endeavor to exercise their discretion in a manner that is equitable to all interested persons. Furthermore, Loomis Sayles makes investment decisions for all accounts (including institutional accounts, mutual funds, hedge funds and affiliated accounts) based on each account’s investment objective, investment guidelines and restrictions, the availability of other comparable investment opportunities and Loomis Sayles’ desire to treat all accounts fairly and equitably over time. Loomis Sayles maintains Trade Aggregation and Allocation Policies and Procedures to mitigate the effects of these potential conflicts as well as other types of conflicts of interest. However, there is no guarantee that such procedures will detect each and every situation where a conflict arises or that Loomis Sayles will treat all accounts identically. Conflicts of interest also arise to the extent a portfolio manager short sells a stock or otherwise takes a short position in one client account but holds that stock long in other accounts, including the Fund, or sells a stock for some accounts while buying the stock for others, and through the use of “soft dollar arrangements."

 

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THE ADMINISTRATOR

 

General. SEI Investments Global Funds Services (the “Administrator”), a Delaware statutory trust, has its principal business offices at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. SEI Investments Management Corporation (“SIMC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company (“SEI Investments”), is the owner of all beneficial interest in the Administrator. SEI Investments and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including the Administrator, are leading providers of funds evaluation services, trust accounting systems, and brokerage and information services to financial institutions, institutional investors, and money managers. The Administrator and its affiliates also serve as administrator or sub-administrator to other mutual funds.

 

Administration Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Administrator have entered into an amended and restated administration agreement dated November 13, 2018, as amended (the “Administration Agreement”). Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides the Trust with administrative services, including regulatory reporting and all necessary office space, equipment, personnel and facilities.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Administration Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Administrator in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

Administration Fees Paid to the Administrator. For its services under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator is paid a fee, which varies based on the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to certain minimums. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund paid the following amounts for these services:

 

Administration Fees Paid
2021 2022 2023
$294,197 $322,282 $359,406

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

General. The Trust and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments, and an affiliate of the Administrator, are parties to a distribution agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 14, 2005 and as amended August 30, 2010 and November 13, 2018 (the “Distribution Agreement”). The principal business address of the Distributor is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act), and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or by the Distributor, upon not less than 60 days’ written notice to the other party.

 

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THE TRANSFER AGENT

 

SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 2333 W. 11th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105 (the “Transfer Agent”), serves as transfer agent for the Fund under a transfer agency agreement with the Trust.

 

THE CUSTODIAN

 

U.S. Bank National Association, 800 Nicollett Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-4302 (the “Custodian”), acts as the custodian of the Fund. The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Fund as required by the 1940 Act.

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, 2001 Market Street, Suite 1800, Philadelphia, PA 19103, serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. The financial statements and notes thereto incorporated by reference have been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are incorporated by reference in reliance on the authority of their report as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 2222 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

 

SECURITIES LENDING

 

The Fund did not engage in securities lending activities during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023.

 

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

 

Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series, including the Fund described in this SAI, are overseen by the Trustees. The Board has approved contracts, as described above, under which certain companies provide essential management services to the Trust.

 

Like most mutual funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of risk, is performed by third party service providers, such as the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, have oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the funds. The funds and their service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust’s business (e.g., the Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the funds’ service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

 

The Trustees’ role in risk oversight begins before the inception of a fund, at which time certain of the fund’s service providers present the Board with information concerning the investment objectives, strategies and risks of the fund as well as proposed investment limitations for the fund. Additionally, the fund’s adviser provides the Board with an overview of, among other things, its investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the adviser and other service providers, such as the fund’s independent accountants, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the funds may be exposed.

 

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The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the funds by the adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the advisory agreement with the adviser, the Board meets with the adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the adviser’s adherence to the funds’ investment restrictions and compliance with various fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the funds’ investments, including, for example, reports on the adviser’s use of derivatives in managing the funds, if any, as well as reports on the funds’ investments in other investment companies, if any.

 

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues and fund and adviser risk assessments. At least annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the adviser. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report; any material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures; and any material compliance matters since the date of the last report.

 

The Board receives reports from the funds’ service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. The Adviser makes regular reports to the Board concerning investments for which market quotations are not readily available. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of the funds’ financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the funds and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the funds’ internal controls. Additionally, in connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees fund management’s implementation of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with the SEC are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust’s internal controls over financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Trust’s financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust’s financial statements.

 

From their review of these reports and discussions with the adviser, the Chief Compliance Officer, the independent registered public accounting firm and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee learn in detail about the material risks of the funds, thereby facilitating a dialogue about how management and service providers identify and mitigate those risks.

 

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the funds can be identified and/or quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the funds’ goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the funds’ investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the funds’ adviser and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the funds’ and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s ability to monitor and manage risk, as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.

 

Members of the Board. There are seven members of the Board, five of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“independent Trustees”). Robert Nesher, an interested person of the Trust, serves as Chairman of the Board. Joseph T. Grause, Jr., an independent Trustee, serves as the lead independent Trustee. The Trust has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Trust made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the independent Trustees constitute more than two-thirds of the Board, the fact that the chairperson of each Committee of the Board is an independent Trustee, the amount of assets under management in the Trust, and the number of funds (and classes of shares) overseen by the Board. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the independent Trustees from fund management.

 

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The Board has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and the Governance Committee. The Audit Committee and the Governance Committee are chaired by an independent Trustee and composed of all of the independent Trustees. In addition, the Board has a lead independent Trustee.

 

In his role as lead independent Trustee, Mr. Grause, among other things: (i) presides over Board meetings in the absence of the Chairman of the Board; (ii) presides over executive sessions of the independent Trustees; (iii) along with the Chairman of the Board, oversees the development of agendas for Board meetings; (iv) facilitates communication between the independent Trustees and management, and among the independent Trustees; (v) serves as a key point person for dealings between the independent Trustees and management; and (vi) has such other responsibilities as the Board or independent Trustees determine from time to time.

 

Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations and other directorships held during at least the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee. There is no stated term of office for the Trustees. Nevertheless, an independent Trustee must retire from the Board as of the end of the calendar year in which such independent Trustee first attains the age of seventy-five years; provided, however, that, an independent Trustee may continue to serve for one or more additional one calendar year terms after attaining the age of seventy-five years (each calendar year a “Waiver Term”) if, and only if, prior to the beginning of such Waiver Term: (1) the Governance Committee (a) meets to review the performance of the independent Trustee; (b) finds that the continued service of such independent Trustee is in the best interests of the Trust; and (c) unanimously approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above; and (2) a majority of the Trustees approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each Trustee is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456.

 

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Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and
Length of Time Served

Principal Occupations

in the Past 5 Years

Other Directorships Held in
the Past 5 Years
Interested Trustees

Robert Nesher

(Born: 1946)

 

Chairman of the Board of Trustees1

(since 1991)

SEI employee 1974 to present; currently performs various services on behalf of SEI Investments for which Mr. Nesher is compensated. President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. President and Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP. Vice Chairman of Winton Series Trust to 2017. Vice Chairman of Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund (closed-end investment company), The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Gallery Trust, Schroder Series Trust and Schroder Global Series Trust to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Catholic Responsible Investments Funds, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP, SEI Global Master Fund plc, SEI Global Assets Fund plc, SEI Global Investments Fund plc, SEI Investments—Global Funds Services, Limited, SEI Investments Global, Limited, SEI Investments (Europe) Ltd., SEI Investments—Unit Trust Management (UK) Limited, SEI Multi-Strategy Funds PLC and SEI Global Nominee Ltd.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

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N. Jeffrey Klauder

(Born: 1952)

 

Trustee1

(since 2018)

Senior Advisor of SEI Investments since 2018. Executive Vice President and General Counsel of SEI Investments, 2004 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds. Director of SEI Private Trust Company, SEI Global Fund Services Ltd., SEI Investments Global Limited, SEI Global Master Fund, SEI Global Investments Fund, SEI Global Assets Fund and SEI Investments - Guernsey Limited.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of SEI Investments Management Corporation, SEI Trust Company, SEI Investments (South Africa), Limited and SEI Investments (Canada) Company to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

Independent Trustees

Kathleen Gaffney

(Born: 1961)

Trustee

(since 2022)

 

Retired since 2019. Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Eaton Vance Management from 2012 to 2019. Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

Joseph T. Grause, Jr.

(Born: 1952)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Lead Independent Trustee

(since 2018)

Self-Employed Consultant since 2012. Director of Endowments and Foundations, Morningstar Investment Management, Morningstar, Inc., 2010 to 2011. Director of International Consulting and Chief Executive Officer of Morningstar Associates Europe Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2007 to 2010. Country Manager – Morningstar UK Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2005 to 2007.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Director of The Korea Fund, Inc. to 2019. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

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Robert Mulhall

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2019)

Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, from 1998 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of Villanova University Alumni Board of Directors to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

Bruce Speca

(Born: 1956)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Global Head of Asset Allocation, Manulife Asset Management (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2010 to 2011. Executive Vice President – Investment Management Services, John Hancock Financial Services (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2003 to 2010.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022. Director of Stone Harbor Investments Funds (8 Portfolios), Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Income Fund (closed-end fund) and Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Total Income Fund (closed-end fund) to 2022.

Monica Walker

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2022)

Retired. Private Investor since 2017. Co-Founder (1991-2017), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (2009 to 2017) and Chief Investment Officer – Equity (2007 to 2017) of Holland Capital Management, LLC (Chicago). Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

1Denotes Trustees who may be deemed to be “interested” persons of the Funds as that term is defined in the1940 Act by virtue of their affiliation with the Distributor and/or its affiliates.

 

Individual Trustee Qualifications

 

The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of their ability to review and understand information about the funds provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the funds, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the funds’ shareholders. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on their own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.

 

S-41 

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Nesher should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 1974, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 1991.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Klauder should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 2004, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he gained serving as a partner of a large law firm.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Gaffney should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as a vice president and portfolio manager for a large asset management company, her experience in and knowledge of the asset management industry, and the experience she has gained serving in board and leadership positions in a variety of nonprofit and civic organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Grause should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with different financial institutions, his knowledge of the mutual fund and investment management industries, his past experience as an interested trustee and chair of the investment committee for a multi-managed investment company, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Mulhall should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with an audit firm and various financial services firms, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and his experience serving in a variety of leadership capacities for non-profit organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Speca should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained serving as president of a mutual fund company and portfolio manager for a $95 billion complex of asset allocation funds, his over 25 years of experience working in a management capacity with mutual fund boards, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Walker should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained in a variety of leadership roles with an asset management company that she co-founded, her experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience she has gained in various other corporate accounting, finance and investment roles.

 

In its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the funds.

 

Board Committees. The Board has established the following standing committees:

 

Audit Committee. The Board has a standing Audit Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee include: (i) recommending which firm to engage as each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this relationship; (ii) reviewing the independent registered public accounting firm’s compensation, the proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firm’s independence; (iii) pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; (iv) serving as a channel of communication between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; (v) reviewing the results of each external audit, including any qualifications in the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion, any related management letter, management’s responses to recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the audit, reports submitted to the Committee by the internal auditing department of the Administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and management’s responses to any such reports; (vi) reviewing each fund’s audited financial statements and considering any significant disputes between the Trust’s management and the independent registered public accounting firm that arose in connection with the preparation of those financial statements; (vii) considering, in consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trust’s senior internal accounting executive, if any, the independent registered public accounting firms’ reports on the adequacy of the Trust’s internal financial controls; (viii) reviewing, in consultation with each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed when preparing each fund’s financial statements; and (ix) other audit related matters. Mses. Gaffney and Walker and Messrs. Grause, Mulhall and Speca currently serve as members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Mulhall serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met two (2) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.

S-42 

 

 

Governance Committee. The Board has a standing Governance Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Governance Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Governance Committee include: (i) considering and reviewing Board governance and compensation issues; (ii) conducting a self-assessment of the Board’s operations; (iii) selecting and nominating all persons to serve as independent Trustees; and (iv) reviewing shareholder recommendations for nominations to fill vacancies on the Board if such recommendations are submitted in writing and addressed to the Committee at the Trust’s office. Mses. Gaffney and Walker and Messrs. Grause, Mulhall and Speca currently serve as members of the Governance Committee. Mr. Speca serves as the Chairman of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met one (1) time during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Fund Shares Owned by Board Members. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each Trustee’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Fund as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act. The Trustees and officers of the Trust own less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.

 

Name

Dollar Range of Fund Shares

(Fund)1

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares

(All Funds in the Family of Investment Companies)1,2

Interested Trustees
Nesher None None
Klauder None None
Independent Trustees
Gaffney None None
Grause None None
Mulhall None None
Speca None None
Walker None None

 

1Valuation date is December 31, 2023.
2The Fund is the only fund in the family of investment companies.

 

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Board Compensation. The Trust paid the following fees to the Trustees during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Name Aggregate
Compensation
from the Trust
Pension or
Retirement
Benefits Accrued
as Part of Fund Expenses

Estimated

Annual Benefits
Upon Retirement

Total Compensation from the Trust
and Fund Complex1
Interested Trustees
Nesher $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Klauder $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Independent Trustees
Gaffney $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Grause $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Johnson2 $25,660 N/A N/A $25,660 for service on one (1) board
Krikorian3 $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Mulhall $114,666 N/A N/A $114,666 for service on one (1) board
Speca $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Walker $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board

 

1All funds in the Fund Complex are series of the Trust.
2In accordance with the Trust's retirement policy, Mr. Johnson retired from the Board effective December 31, 2022, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.
3In accordance with the Trust's retirement policy, Ms. Krikorian retired from the Board effective December 31, 2023, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.

 

Trust Officers. Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations for the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as executive officers of the Trust. There is no stated term of office for the officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each officer is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. The Chief Compliance Officer is the only officer who receives compensation from the Trust for his services.

 

Certain officers of the Trust also serve as officers of one or more mutual funds for which SEI Investments or its affiliates act as investment manager, administrator or distributor.

 

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Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served Principal Occupations in Past 5 Years
Michael Beattie
(Born: 1965)

President

(since 2011)

Managing Director, SEI Investments, since 2021. Director of Client Service, SEI Investments, from 2004 to 2021.

James Bernstein

(Born: 1962)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2017)

Attorney, SEI Investments, since 2017.

 

Prior Positions: Self-employed consultant, 2017. Associate General Counsel & Vice President, Nationwide Funds Group and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, from 2002 to 2016. Assistant General Counsel & Vice President, Market Street Funds and Provident Mutual Insurance Company, from 1999 to 2002.

John Bourgeois

(Born: 1973)

Assistant Treasurer

(since 2017)

Fund Accounting Manager, SEI Investments, since 2000.

Donald Duncan

(Born: 1964)

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer and Privacy Officer

(since 2023)

Chief Compliance Officer and Global Head of Anti-Money Laundering Strategy of SEI Investments Company since January 2023. Head of Global Anti-Money Laundering Program for Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC from August 2021 until December 2022. Senior VP and Supervising Principal of Hamilton Lane Securities, LLC from June 2016 to August 2021. Senior Director at AXA-Equitable from June 2011 until May 2016. Senior Director at PRUCO Securities, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. from October 2005 until December 2009.

Eric C. Griffith

(Born: 1969)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2019)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2019. Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co., from 2012 to 2018.

Matthew M. Maher

(Born: 1975)

Vice President

(since 2018)

 

Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2018. Attorney, Blank Rome LLP, from 2015 to 2018. Assistant Counsel & Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon, from 2013 to 2014. Attorney, Dilworth Paxson LLP, from 2006 to 2013.

 

S-45 

 

Andrew Metzger

(Born: 1980)

Treasurer, Controller and Chief Financial Officer

(since 2021)

Director of Fund Accounting, SEI Investments, since 2020. Senior Director, Embark, from 2019 to 2020. Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, from 2002 to 2019.
Robert Morrow
(Born: 1968)

Vice President

(since 2017)

Account Manager, SEI Investments, since 2007.

Stephen F. Panner

(Born: 1970)

Chief Compliance Officer

(since 2022)

Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds, SEI Structured Credit Fund LP, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds since September 2022. Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Alternative Income Fund since May 2023. Chief Compliance Officer of Symmetry Panoramic Trust since December 2023. Fund Compliance Officer of SEI Investments Company from February 2011 to September 2022. Fund Accounting Director and CFO and Controller for the SEI Funds from July 2005 to February 2011.

Alexander F. Smith

(Born: 1977)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2020. Associate Counsel & Manager, Vanguard, 2012 to 2020. Attorney, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, 2008 to 2012.

 

S-46 

 

PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES

 

Purchases and redemptions may be made through the Transfer Agent on any day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business. Shares of the Fund are offered and redeemed on a continuous basis. Currently, the NYSE is closed for business when the following holidays are observed: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Shares may only be purchased through an investment advisory agreement with the Adviser.

 

It is currently the Trust’s policy to pay all redemptions in cash. The Trust retains the right, however, to alter this policy to provide for redemptions in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of securities held by the Fund in lieu of cash. Shareholders may incur brokerage charges on the sale of any such securities so received in payment of redemptions. A shareholder will at all times be entitled to aggregate cash redemptions from all funds of the Trust up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Trust’s net assets during any 90-day period.

 

The Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption and/or to postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, for any period on which trading on the NYSE is restricted (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation), or during the existence of an emergency (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation) as a result of which disposal or valuation of the Fund’s securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC has by order permitted. The Trust also reserves the right to suspend sales of shares of the Fund for any period during which the NYSE, the Adviser, the Administrator, the Transfer Agent and/or the Custodian are not open for business.

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

General Policy. The Fund adheres to Section 2(a)(41), and Rules 2a-4 and 2a-5 thereunder, of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other securities are valued at fair value by the Adviser in good faith, and subject to the oversight of the Board. In complying with the 1940 Act, the Trust relies on guidance provided by the SEC and by the SEC staff in various interpretive letters and other guidance.

 

Equity Securities. Securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system for which quotations are readily available (except for securities traded on NASDAQ), including securities traded over the counter, are valued at the last quoted sale price on an exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on the valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time if such exchange is normally open at that time), or, if there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recent quoted bid price. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price will be used. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Money Market Securities and other Debt Securities. If available, money market securities and other debt securities are priced based upon valuations provided by recognized independent, third-party pricing agents. Such values generally reflect the last reported sales price if the security is actively traded. The third-party pricing agents may also value debt securities by employing methodologies that utilize actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations, or other methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities. Such methodologies generally consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. Money market securities and other debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less may be valued at their amortized cost, which approximates market value. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

S-47 

 

Foreign Securities. The prices for foreign securities are reported in local currency and converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates. Exchange rates are provided daily by recognized independent pricing agents.

 

Derivatives and Other Complex Securities. Exchange traded options on securities and indices purchased by the Fund generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last bid price. Exchange traded options on securities and indices written by the Fund generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last asked price. In the case of options traded in the over-the-counter market, if the OTC option is also an exchange traded option, the Fund will follow the rules regarding the valuation of exchange traded options. If the OTC option is not also an exchange traded option, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Futures and swaps cleared through a central clearing house (“centrally cleared swaps”) are valued at the settlement price established each day by the board of the exchange on which they are traded. The daily settlement prices for financial futures are provided by an independent source. On days when there is excessive volume or market volatility, or the future or centrally cleared swap does not end trading by the time the Fund calculates net asset value, the settlement price may not be available at the time at which the Fund calculates its net asset value. On such days, the best available price (which is typically the last sales price) may be used to value the Fund’s futures or centrally cleared swaps position.

 

Foreign currency forward contracts are valued at the current day’s interpolated foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day’s spot rate, and the thirty, sixty, ninety and one-hundred eighty day forward rates provided by an independent source.

 

If available, non-centrally cleared swaps, CDOs, CLOs and bank loans are priced based on valuations provided by an independent third party pricing agent. If a price is not available from an independent third party pricing agent, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Use of Third-Party Independent Pricing Services. Pursuant to contracts with the Administrator, prices for most securities held by the Fund with readily available market quotations are provided by third-party independent pricing agents. The valuations for these securities are reviewed by the Administrator. In accordance with the Adviser’s Valuation Procedures, the Adviser may also use third-party independent pricing agents (reviewed and approved by the Adviser) to fair value certain securities without readily available market quotations (or where market quotations are unreliable).

 

Fair Value Procedures. Securities for which market prices are not “readily available” or which cannot be valued using the methodologies described above are valued in accordance with Fair Value Procedures established by the Adviser and implemented through the Adviser's Valuation Committee. In establishing a fair value for an investment, the Adviser will use valuation methodologies established by the Adviser and may consider inputs and methodologies provided by, among others, third-party independent pricing agents, independent broker dealers and/or the Adviser’s own personnel (including investment personnel).

 

Some of the more common reasons that may necessitate a security being valued using Fair Value Procedures include: the security’s trading has been halted or suspended; the security has been de-listed from a national exchange; the security’s primary trading market is temporarily closed at a time when under normal conditions it would be open; the security has not been traded for an extended period of time; the security’s primary pricing source is not able or willing to provide a price; trading of the security is subject to local government-imposed restrictions; or a significant event with respect to a security has occurred after the close of the market or exchange on which the security principally trades and before the time the Fund calculates net asset value. When a security is valued in accordance with the Fair Value Procedures, the Adviser's Valuation Committee will determine the value after taking into consideration relevant information reasonably available to the Committee.

 

S-48 

 

TAXES

 

The following is only a summary of certain additional U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that is intended to supplement the discussion contained in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. In particular, it does not address investors subject to special rules, such as investors who hold shares through an individual retirement account (“IRA”), 401(k) or other tax-advantaged accounts. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations, including their state, local, and foreign tax liabilities.

 

The following general discussion of certain federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.

 

Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company. The Fund has elected and intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company ("RIC"). By following such a policy, the Fund expects to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal taxes to which it may be subject. If the Fund qualifies as a RIC, it will generally not be subject to federal income taxes on the net investment income and net realized capital gains that the Fund timely distributes to its shareholders. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

In order to qualify as a RIC under the Code, the Fund must distribute annually to its shareholders at least 90% of its net investment income (which, includes dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, less operating expenses) and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income, for each tax year, if any, (the “Distribution Requirement”) and also must meet certain additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of the Fund’s gross income each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities, or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (the “Qualifying Income Test”); and (ii) at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year: (A) at least 50% of the value of the Fund's total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, including the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership, and (B) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund's total assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of another RIC) of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Asset Test”).

 

S-49 

 

Although the Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and may distribute its capital gains for any taxable year, the Fund will be subject to federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed.

 

If the Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income or Asset Tests in any taxable year, the Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. If the Fund fails to maintain qualification as a RIC for a tax year, and the relief provisions are not available, the Fund will be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate (currently 21%) without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In such a case, its shareholders would be taxed as if they received ordinary dividends to the extent of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits, although corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends received deduction (subject to certain limitations) and individuals may be able to benefit from the lower tax rates available to qualified dividend income. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC.

 

The Fund may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year. A “qualified late year loss” generally includes net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (commonly referred to as “post-October losses”) and certain other late-year losses.

 

The treatment of capital loss carryovers for the Fund is similar to the rules that apply to capital loss carryovers of individuals, which provide that such losses are carried over indefinitely. If the Fund has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains), the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year. The carryover of capital losses may be limited under the general loss limitation rules if the Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Code.

 

Federal Excise Tax. Notwithstanding the Distribution Requirement described above, which generally requires the Fund to distribute at least 90% of its annual investment company taxable income and the excess of its exempt interest income (but does not require any minimum distribution of net capital gain), the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax to the extent it fails to distribute, by the end of the calendar year, at least 98% of its ordinary income and 98.2% of its capital gain net income (the excess of short- and long-term capital gains over short- and long-term capital losses) for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year (including any retained amount from the prior calendar year on which the Fund paid no federal income tax). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions to avoid liability for federal excise tax, but can make no assurances that such tax will be completely eliminated. For example, the Fund may receive delayed or corrected tax reporting statements from its investments that cause the Fund to accrue additional income and gains after the Fund has already made its excise tax distributions for the year. In such a situation, the Fund may incur an excise tax liability resulting from such delayed receipt of such tax information statements. In addition, the Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate Fund investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal excise tax liability at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Fund to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.

 

Distributions to Shareholders. The Fund receives income generally in the form of dividends and interest on investments. This income, plus net short-term capital gains, if any, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, constitutes the Fund’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. Any distributions by the Fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary income or at the lower capital gains rates that apply to individuals receiving qualified dividend income, whether you take them in cash or in additional shares. It is not anticipated that any distributions by the Fund will be eligible for the reduced tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income or for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

S-50 

 

Distributions by the Fund may be eligible for the reduced maximum tax rate to individuals of 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets) to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income on the securities it holds and the Fund reports the distributions as qualified dividend income. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that: (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become “ex-dividend” (which is the day on which declared distributions (dividends or capital gains) are deducted from the Fund’s assets before it calculates the NAV) with respect to such dividend; (ii) the Fund has not satisfied similar holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder; (iii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property; or (iv) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Code. Therefore, if you lend your shares in the Fund, such as pursuant to a securities lending arrangement, you may lose the ability to treat dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. Distributions that the Fund receives from an underlying fund taxable as a RIC will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such underlying Fund. It is not anticipated that any distributions by the Fund will be eligible for the reduced tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income.

 

Distributions by the Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Capital gain distributions consisting of the Fund’s net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains for individual shareholders currently set at a maximum rate of 20% regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Fund. Distributions from capital gains are generally made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards.

 

In the case of corporate shareholders, the Fund’s distributions (other than capital gain distributions) generally may qualify for the dividends received deduction to the extent such distributions are so reported and do not exceed the gross amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund for the year. Generally, and subject to certain limitations (including certain holding period limitations), a dividend will be treated as a qualifying dividend if it has been received from a domestic corporation. It is not anticipated that any distributions by the Fund will be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

To the extent that the Fund makes a distribution of income received by the Fund in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

A RIC that receives business interest income may pass through its net business interest income for purposes of the tax rules applicable to the interest expense limitations under Section 163(j) of the Code. A RIC’s total “Section 163(j) Interest Dividend” for a tax year is limited to the excess of the RIC’s business interest income over the sum of its business interest expense and its other deductions properly allocable to its business interest income. A RIC may, in its discretion, designate all or a portion of ordinary dividends as Section 163(j) Interest Dividends, which would allow the recipient shareholder to treat the designated portion of such dividends as interest income for purposes of determining such shareholder’s interest expense deduction limitation under Section 163(j). This can potentially increase the amount of a shareholder’s interest expense deductible under Section 163(j). In general, to be eligible to treat a Section 163(j) Interest Dividend as interest income, you must have held your shares in the Fund for more than 180 days during the 361-day period beginning on the date that is 180 days before the date on which the share becomes ex-dividend with respect to such dividend. Section 163(j) Interest Dividends, if so designated by the Fund, will be reported to your financial intermediary or otherwise in accordance with the requirements specified by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).

 

S-51 

 

If the Fund’s distributions exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits for the taxable year (as calculated for federal income tax purposes), all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholder’s cost basis in the Fund and result in a higher reported capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold.

 

A dividend or distribution received shortly after the purchase of shares reduces the net asset value of the shares by the amount of the dividend or distribution and, although in effect a return of capital will be taxable to the shareholder. If the net asset value of shares were reduced below the shareholder’s cost by dividends or distributions representing gains realized on sales of securities, such dividends or distributions would be a return of investment though taxable to the shareholder in the same manner as other dividends or distributions.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, and will advise you of their tax status for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held your shares for a full year, the Fund may report and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gain, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Fund.

 

Dividends declared to shareholders of record in October, November or December and actually paid in January of the following year will be treated as having been received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which declared. Under this rule, therefore, a shareholder may be taxed in one year on dividends or distributions actually received in January of the following year.

 

Sales or Redemptions. Sales and redemptions of Fund shares may be taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. Any gain or loss recognized on a sale or redemption of shares of the Fund by a shareholder who holds Fund shares as a capital asset will generally be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months and otherwise will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss. However, if shares on which a shareholder has received a net capital gain distribution are subsequently sold or redeemed and such shares have been held for six months or less, any loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the net capital gain distribution. In addition, the loss realized on a sale or other disposition of shares will be disallowed to the extent a shareholder repurchases (or enters into a contract to or option to repurchase) shares within a period of 61 days (beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares). This loss disallowance rule will apply to shares received through the reinvestment of dividends during the 61-day period. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the IRS and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for purchases of Fund shares. In addition to the requirement to report the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the first-in, first-out method as its default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by a Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. If your shares are held in a brokerage account, your broker may use a different method and you should contact your broker to determine which method it will use. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review the cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

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Net Investment Income Tax. U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including any capital gains realized on the sale of shares of the Fund).

 

Foreign Taxes. Dividends and interest received by the Fund may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions that would reduce the yield on the Fund’s stocks or securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these taxes. Foreign countries generally do not impose taxes on capital gains with respect to investments by foreign investors.

 

If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to and intends to file an election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. Pursuant to the election, the Fund will treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders. Each such shareholder will be required to include a proportionate share of those taxes in gross income as income received from a foreign source and must treat the amount so included as if the shareholder had paid the foreign tax directly. The shareholder may then either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him or her in computing his or her taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating any foreign tax credit they may be entitled to use against the shareholder's federal income tax liability. If the Fund makes the election, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions. If the Fund does not hold sufficient foreign securities to meet the above threshold, then shareholders will not be entitled to claim a credit or further deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund.

 

A shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by the Fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, which may result in a shareholder not receiving a full credit or deduction (if any) for the amount of such taxes. In particular, shareholders must hold their Fund shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 additional days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a given dividend. Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such foreign taxes. Even if the Fund were eligible to make such an election for a given year, it may determine not to do so. Shareholders that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and those who invest in the Fund through tax-advantaged accounts (including those who invest through IRAs or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by the Fund.

 

Tax Treatment of Complex Securities. The Fund may invest in complex securities and these investments may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules. These rules could affect the Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC, affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Fund are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to the Fund and/or defer the Fund’s ability to recognize losses, and, in limited cases, subject the Fund to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of its foreign securities. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by the Fund and may require the Fund to sell securities to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

The Fund is required for federal income tax purposes to mark-to-market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures and options contracts subject to section 1256 of the Code (“Section 1256 Contracts”) as of the end of the year as well as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from Section 1256 Contracts on broad-based indexes required to be marked to market will be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. The Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on Section 1256 Contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the Fund. These provisions may also require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirement and for avoiding the excise tax discussed above. Accordingly, in order to avoid certain income and excise taxes, the Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

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With respect to investments in STRIPS, treasury receipts, and other zero coupon securities which are sold at original issue discount and thus do not make periodic cash interest payments, the Fund will be required to include as part of its current income the imputed interest on such obligations even though the Fund has not received any interest payments on such obligations during that period. Because the Fund intends to distribute all of its net investment income to its shareholders, the Fund may have to sell Fund securities to distribute such imputed income which may occur at a time when the Adviser would not have chosen to sell such securities and which may result in taxable gain or loss.

 

Any market discount recognized on a bond is taxable as ordinary income. A market discount bond is a bond acquired in the secondary market at a price below redemption value or adjusted issue price if issued with original issue discount. Absent an election by the Fund to include the market discount in income as it accrues, gain on the Fund’s disposition of such an obligation will be treated as ordinary income by the Fund rather than capital gain to the extent of the accrued market discount.

 

Certain Foreign Currency Tax Issues. The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies and forward foreign currency contracts will generally be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also may require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out) which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirements and for avoiding the excise tax described above. The Fund intends to monitor its transactions, intends to make the appropriate tax elections, and intends to make the appropriate entries in its books and records when it acquires any foreign currency or forward foreign currency contract in order to mitigate the effect of these rules so as to prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC and minimize the imposition of income and excise taxes. Accordingly, the Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

Backup Withholding. The Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold at a 24% withholding rate and remit to the U.S. Treasury the amount withheld on amounts payable to any shareholder who: (i) has provided the Fund either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all; (ii) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends; (iii) has failed to certify to the Fund that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding; or (iv) has failed to certify to the Fund that the shareholder is a U.S. person (including a resident alien). Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Any non-U.S. investors in the Fund may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in the Fund. Foreign shareholders (i.e., nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on distributions derived from taxable ordinary income. The Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Short-term capital gain dividends received by a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year are not exempt from this 30% withholding tax. Gains realized by foreign shareholders from the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Foreign shareholders who fail to provide an applicable IRS form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from the Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described in this paragraph. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.

 

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Under legislation generally known as “FATCA” (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), the Fund is required to withhold 30% of certain ordinary dividends it pays to shareholders that fail to meet prescribed information reporting or certification requirements. In general, no such withholding will be required with respect to a U.S. person or non-U.S. person that timely provides the certifications required by the Fund or its agent on a valid IRS Form W-9 or applicable series of IRS Form W-8, respectively. Shareholders potentially subject to withholding include foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”), such as non-U.S. investment funds, and non-financial foreign entities (“NFFEs”). To avoid withholding under FATCA, an FFI generally must enter into an information sharing agreement with the IRS in which it agrees to report certain identifying information (including name, address, and taxpayer identification number) with respect to its U.S. account holders (which, in the case of an entity shareholder, may include its direct and indirect U.S. owners), and an NFFE generally must identify and provide other required information to the Fund or other withholding agent regarding its U.S. owners, if any. Such non-U.S. shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by regulations and other guidance. A non-U.S. shareholder resident or doing business in a country that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement.

 

A non-U.S. entity that invests in the Fund will need to provide the Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity’s status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding. Non-U.S. investors in the Fund should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, individual retirement accounts, salary deferral arrangements, 401(k)s, and other tax-exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Tax-exempt entities are not permitted to offset losses from one trade or business against the income or gain of another trade or business. Certain net losses incurred prior to January 1, 2018 are permitted to offset gain and income created by an unrelated trade or business, if otherwise available. Under current law, the Fund generally serves to block UBTI from being realized by its tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, the tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of an investment in the Fund where, for example: (i) the Fund invests in residual interests of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”), (ii) the Fund invests in a REIT that is a taxable mortgage pool (“TMP”) or that has a subsidiary that is a TMP or that invests in the residual interest of a REMIC, or (iii) shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisor. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding these issues.

 

The Fund’s shares held in a tax-qualified retirement account will generally not be subject to federal taxation on income and capital gains distributions from the Fund until a shareholder begins receiving payments from their retirement account. Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, shareholders should consult their tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

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Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, generally, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC such as the Fund are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

State Taxes. Depending upon state and local law, distributions by the Fund to its shareholders and the ownership of such shares may be subject to state and local taxes. Rules of state and local taxation of dividend and capital gains distributions from RICs often differ from the rules for federal income taxation described above. It is expected that the Fund will not be liable for any corporate excise, income or franchise tax in Massachusetts if it qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes.

 

Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by the Fund. Investment in Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae securities, banker’s acceptances, commercial paper, and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities do not generally qualify for such tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding state and local taxes applicable to an investment in the Fund.

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Brokerage Transactions. Generally, equity securities, both listed and over-the-counter, are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Purchases from underwriters will include the underwriting commission or concession, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers will include a dealer’s mark-up or reflect a dealer’s mark-down. Money market securities and other debt securities are usually bought and sold directly from the issuer or an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Generally, the Fund will not pay brokerage commissions for such purchases. When a debt security is bought from an underwriter, the purchase price will usually include an underwriting commission or concession. The purchase price for securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealer’s mark up or reflect a dealer’s mark down. When the Fund executes transactions in the over-the-counter market, it will generally deal with primary market makers unless prices that are more favorable are otherwise obtainable.

 

In addition, the Adviser may place a combined order for two or more accounts it manages, including the Fund, engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, joint execution is in the best interest of each participant and will result in best price and execution. Transactions involving commingled orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account or fund. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or the Fund may obtain, it is the opinion of the Adviser that the advantages of combined orders outweigh the possible disadvantages of combined orders.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund did not pay any brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions.

 

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Brokerage Selection. The Trust does not expect to use one particular broker or dealer, and when one or more brokers is believed capable of providing the best combination of price and execution, the Adviser may select a broker based upon brokerage or research services provided to the Adviser. The Adviser may pay a higher commission than otherwise obtainable from other brokers in return for such services only if a good faith determination is made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.

 

Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause the Fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In addition to agency transactions, the Adviser may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). In the case of research services, the Adviser believes that access to independent investment research is beneficial to its investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Fund.

 

To the extent that research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the Adviser might utilize Fund commissions include research reports and other information on the economy, industries, sectors, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, political developments, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and other analysis. The Adviser may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used by the Adviser in connection with the Fund or any other specific client account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Adviser will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. Any advisory or other fees paid to the Adviser are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services.

 

In some cases the Adviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a “research” and a “non-research” use. When this occurs, the Adviser makes a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions, while the Adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the Adviser believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.

 

From time to time, the Adviser may purchase new issues of securities for clients, including the Fund, in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the Adviser with research services. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will provide research “credits” in these situations at a rate that is higher than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund did not pay any commissions on brokerage transactions directed to brokers pursuant to an agreement or understanding whereby the broker provides research services to the Adviser.

 

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Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. The Fund may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Fund or the Adviser for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act and rules promulgated by the SEC. The 1940 Act requires that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Fund for exchange transactions not exceed “usual and customary” brokerage commissions. The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” The Trustees, including those who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund did not pay any brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions effected through affiliated brokers.

 

Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealers.” The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers and dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund held during its most recent fiscal year. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund held securities of its “regular brokers or dealers” as follows:

 

Name of Broker/Dealer Type of Security Held Dollar Amount at FYE (in
thousands)
Goldman Sachs Debt $11,841
Morgan Stanley Debt $7,281
JP Morgan Debt $5,899
Citigroup Debt $4,552
Bank of America Debt $627

 

Portfolio Turnover Rates. Portfolio turnover is calculated by dividing the lesser of total purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. Excluded from both the numerator and denominator are amounts relating to securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less. The Fund may at times hold investments in other short-term instruments, such as repurchase agreements, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rates were as follows:

 

Portfolio Turnover Rates
2022 2023
19% 23%

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Board has approved policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances regarding the disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings information to shareholders and third parties. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that disclosure of information regarding the Fund’s portfolio securities is in the best interests of Fund shareholders, and include procedures to address conflicts between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Adviser, principal underwriter or any affiliated person of the Fund, the Adviser, or its principal underwriter, on the other. Pursuant to such procedures, the Board has authorized the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer (the “Authorized Person”) to authorize the release of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, as necessary, in conformity with the foregoing principles. The Authorized Person reports at least quarterly to the Board regarding the implementation of such policies and procedures.

 

Pursuant to applicable law, the Fund is required to disclose its complete portfolio holdings quarterly, within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (currently, each January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31). The Fund discloses a complete schedule of investments, after the second and fourth fiscal quarters, in each Semi-Annual and Annual Report to Fund shareholders filed on Form N-CSR and after the first and third fiscal quarters as an exhibit to their regulatory filings on Form N-PORT. These reports and regulatory filings are available, free of charge, on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Semi-Annual and Annual Report is also distributed to Fund shareholders.

 

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Complete schedules of investments filed with the SEC Form N-CSR and as exhibits to Form N-PORT, are not distributed to Fund shareholders, but are available, free of charge, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, the Fund’s complete portfolio holdings are available to institutional advisory clients of the Adviser (“eligible investors”) on a monthly basis, within 10 days of the end of each month, on the internet, by logging on to eService on the “Client Login” page at www.loomissayles.com. Eligible investors may obtain login information by contacting their Loomis Sayles client service manager.

 

The Fund’s policies and procedures provide that the Authorized Person may authorize disclosure of portfolio holdings information to third parties at differing times and/or with different lag times then the information posted to the internet; provided that the recipient is, either by contractual agreement or otherwise by law, (i) required to maintain the confidentiality of the information and (ii) prohibited from using the information to facilitate or assist in any securities transactions or investment program. The Fund will review a third party’s request for portfolio holdings information to determine whether the third party has legitimate business objectives in requesting such information.

 

The Trust’s policies and procedures prohibit any compensation or other consideration from being paid to or received by any party in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information, including the Fund, the Adviser and its affiliates or recipients of the Fund’s portfolio holdings information.

 

In addition, the Fund’s service providers, the Fund's Adviser, Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent, financial printer, pricing vendors, liquidity analytics vendors, class action reclaim vendors and foreign tax reclaim vendors and other vendors that provide the Adviser with various middle office, back office, client reporting and portfolio analytics services may receive portfolio holdings information as frequently as daily in connection with their services to the Fund. In addition to any contractual provisions relating to confidentiality of information that may be included in the service providers contract with the Trust, these arrangements impose obligations on the Fund’s service providers that would prohibit them from disclosing or trading on the Fund’s non-public information. Financial printers and pricing information vendors may receive portfolio holdings information, as necessary, in connection with their services to the Fund.

 

The Adviser may manage other accounts that are not subject to these policies and procedures with investment objectives and strategies that are substantially similar to those of the Fund. Because the portfolio holdings of such accounts may be substantially similar, and in some cases nearly identical, to those of the Fund, an investor in such an account may be able to infer the portfolio holdings of the Fund from the portfolio holdings of the account.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of funds and shares of each fund, each of which represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund with each other share. Shares are entitled upon liquidation to a pro rata share in the net assets of the fund. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees may create additional series or classes of shares. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any additional funds and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that fund and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto. Share certificates representing shares will not be issued. The Fund’s shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

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SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY

 

The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a “Massachusetts business trust.” Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the trust. Even if, however, the Trust were held to be a partnership, the possibility of the shareholders incurring financial loss for that reason appears remote because the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees, and because the Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the Trust property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust.

 

LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY

 

The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful defaults and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents, employees or investment advisers, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust unless it is determined in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. Nothing contained in this section attempts to disclaim a Trustee’s individual liability in any manner inconsistent with the federal securities laws.

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund to the Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy voting policies and procedures (“Proxy Voting Procedures”). Decisions made by the Adviser regarding the voting of proxies shall be made solely in the interest of the Fund and its shareholders. The Adviser shall exercise its fiduciary responsibilities to vote proxies with respect to the Fund’s investments that are managed by the Adviser in a prudent manner in accordance with its Procedures. Proposals that, in the opinion of the Adviser, are in the best interests of shareholders are generally voted “for” and proposals that, in the judgment of the Adviser, are not in the best interests of shareholders are generally voted “against.” The Adviser is responsible for maintaining certain records and reporting to the Board in connection with the voting of proxies. Upon request for reasonable periodic review as well as annual reporting to the SEC, the Adviser shall make available to the Fund, or the Administrator, the records and information maintained by the Adviser under its Procedures.

 

The Adviser uses the services of third parties (each a “Proxy Voting Service” and collectively the “Proxy Voting Services”), to provide research, analysis and voting recommendations and to administer the process of voting proxies for those clients for which the Adviser has voting authority. Any reference in the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Procedures to a “Proxy Voting Service” is a reference either to the Proxy Voting Service that provides research, analysis and voting recommendations to Loomis Sayles, or to the Proxy Voting Service that administers the process of voting proxies for Loomis Sayles or to both, as the context may require. The Adviser will generally follow its express policy with input from the Proxy Voting Service that provides research, analysis and voting recommendations to the Adviser unless the Adviser’s Proxy Committee determines that the client’s best interests are served by voting otherwise.

 

All issues presented for shareholder vote are subject to the oversight of the Proxy Committee, either directly or by application of this policy. All non-routine issues will generally be considered directly by the Proxy Committee and, when necessary, the investment professionals responsible for an account holding the security, and will be voted in the best investment interests of the Fund. All routine “for” and “against” issues will be voted according to this policy unless special factors require that they be considered by the Proxy Committee and, when necessary, the investment professionals responsible for an account holding the security.

 

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The Proxy Committee’s specific responsibilities include the following, (a) developing, authorizing, implementing and updating the Proxy Voting Procedures, including: (i) annually reviewing the Proxy Voting Procedures to ensure consistency with internal policies and regulatory agency policies, including determining the continuing adequacy of the Proxy Voting Procedures to confirm that they have been formulated reasonably and implemented effectively, including whether they continue to be reasonably designed to ensure that proxy votes are cast in clients’ best interest, (ii) annually reviewing existing voting guidelines and developing of additional voting guidelines to assist in the review of proxy proposals, and (iii) annually reviewing the proxy voting process and addressing any general issues that relate to proxy voting; (b) overseeing the proxy voting process, including: (i) overseeing the vote on proposals according to the predetermined policies in the voting guidelines, (ii) directing the vote on proposals where there is reason not to vote according to the predetermined policies in the voting guidelines or where proposals require special consideration, (iii) consulting with the portfolio managers and analysts for the accounts holding the security when necessary or appropriate, and (iv) periodically sampling or engaging an outside party to sample proxy votes to ensure they comply with the Proxy Voting Procedures and are cast in accordance with the clients’ best interests; (c) engaging and overseeing of third-party vendors that materially assist the Adviser with respect to proxy voting, such as the Proxy Voting Services, including: (i) determining and periodically reassessing whether, as relevant, the Proxy Voting Service has the capacity and competency to adequately analyze proxy issues by considering: (a) the adequacy and quality of the Proxy Voting Service’s staffing, personnel and technology, (b) whether the Proxy Voting Service has adequately disclosed its methodologies in formulating voting recommendations, such that Loomis Sayles can understand the factors underlying the Proxy Voting Service’s voting recommendations, (c) the robustness of the Proxy Voting Service’s policies and procedures regarding its ability to ensure that its recommendations are based on current, materially complete and accurate information, and (d) the Proxy Voting Service’s policies and procedures regarding how it identifies and addresses conflicts of interest, including whether the Proxy Voting Service’s policies and procedures provide for adequate disclosure of its actual and potential conflicts of interest with respect to the services it provides to the Adviser, (ii) providing ongoing oversight of the Proxy Voting Services to ensure that proxies continue to be voted in the best interests of clients and in accordance with these Proxy Voting Procedures and the determinations and directions of the Proxy Committee, (iii) receiving and reviewing updates from the Proxy Voting Services regarding relevant business changes or changes to the Proxy Voting Services’ conflict policies and procedures, and (iv) in the event that the Proxy Committee becomes aware that a recommendation of the Proxy Voting Service was based on a material factual error (including materially inaccurate or incomplete information): investigating the error, considering the nature of the error and the related recommendation, and determining whether the Proxy Voting Service has taken reasonable steps to reduce the likelihood of similar errors in the future; and (d) further developing and/or modifying the Adviser’s Proxy Voting Procedures as otherwise appropriate or necessary.

 

The Adviser has established policies and procedures to ensure that proxy votes are voted in its clients’ best interests and are not affected by any possible conflicts of interest. First, except in certain limited instances, the Adviser votes in accordance with its pre-determined policies set forth in the Proxy Voting Procedures. Second, where these Proxy Voting Procedures allow for discretion, the Adviser will generally consider the recommendations of the Proxy Voting Service in making its voting decisions. However, if the Proxy Committee determines that the Proxy Voting Service’s recommendation is not in the best interests of its clients, then the Proxy Committee may use its discretion to vote against the Proxy Voting Service’s recommendation, but only after taking the following steps: (1) conducting a review for any material conflict of interest the Adviser may have, and (2) if any material conflict is found to exist, excluding anyone at the Adviser who is subject to that conflict of interest from participating in the voting decision in any way. However, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Proxy Committee after full disclosure of any conflict, that person may provide information, opinions or recommendations on any proposal to the Proxy Committee. In such event, prior to directing any vote, the Proxy Committee will make reasonable efforts to obtain and consider information, opinions and recommendations from or about the opposing position.

 

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The Trust is required to disclose annually the Fund’s complete proxy voting record during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 on Form N-PX. This voting record is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-800-343-2029; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.

 

CODES OF ETHICS

 

The Board on behalf of the Trust has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Distributor have each adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers and certain employees (“Access Persons”). Rule 17j-1 and each Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by Access Persons. Under each Code of Ethics, Access Persons are permitted to engage in personal transactions, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. In addition, certain Access Persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings or private placements or are prohibited from making such investments. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.

 

PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS

 

As of February 7, 2024, the following persons were record owners (or to the knowledge of the Trust, beneficial owners) of 5% or more of the shares of the Fund. The Trust believes that most of the shares referred to below were held by the below persons in accounts for their fiduciary, agency or custodial customers. Persons beneficially owning more than 25% of the Fund’s outstanding shares may be deemed to “control” the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Shareholders controlling the Fund may have a significant impact on any shareholder vote of the Fund.

 

Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Securitized Fund – Institutional Class Shares
Name and Address % of Fund

LOOMIS SAYLES MULTISECTOR

FULL DISCRETION TRUST

ONE FINANCIAL CENTER

BOSTON MA 02111-2621

41.74%

NEBRASKA INVESTMENT

COUNCIL RETIREMENT PLAN

PO BOX 94664

LINCOLN NE 68509-4664

17.37%

ARKANSAS TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM

1400 W 3RD ST

LITTLE ROCK AR 72201-1811

15.30%

ALAMEDA COUNTY EMPLOYEES

RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION

475 14TH ST STE 1000

OAKLAND CA 94612-1916

5.35%

 

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APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

 

Description of Ratings

 

The following descriptions of securities ratings have been published by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), respectively.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Ratings

 

Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Long-Term Ratings

 

Aaa Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

Aa Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

A Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

Baa Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

Ba Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

B Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

Caa Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

Ca Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

C Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

A-1

 

 

Hybrid Indicator (hyb)

 

The hybrid indicator (hyb) is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms. By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Short-Term Ratings

 

P-1 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-2 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-3 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

NP Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Description of Moody’s U.S. Municipal Short-Term Obligation Ratings

 

The Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale is used to rate U.S. municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less. Under certain circumstances, the MIG scale is used to rate bond anticipation notes with maturities of up to five years.

 

Moody’s U.S. municipal short-term obligation ratings are as follows:

 

MIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

MIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

MIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

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Description of Moody’s Demand Obligation Ratings

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), Moody’s assigns both a long-term rating and a short-term payment obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer’s ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term payment obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to meet any purchase price payment obligation resulting from optional tenders (“on demand”) and/or mandatory tenders of the VRDO. The short-term payment obligation rating uses the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (“VMIG”) scale. VMIG ratings with liquidity support use as an input the short-term counterparty risk assessment of the support provider, or the long-term rating of the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support. Transitions of VMIG ratings with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions of Prime ratings reflecting the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade. For VRDOs, Moody’s typically assigns a VMIG rating if the frequency of the payment obligation is less than every three years. If the frequency of the payment obligation is less than three years, but the obligation is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the VMIG short-term rating is not assigned and it is denoted as “NR”.

 

Moody’s demand obligation ratings are as follows:

 

VMIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or legal protections.

 

Description of S&P’s Issue Credit Ratings

 

An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term issue credit ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. S&P would typically assign a long-term issue credit rating to an obligation with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. However, the ratings S&P assigns to certain instruments may diverge from these guidelines based on market practices. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

 

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations:

 

A-3

 

• The likelihood of payment—the capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitments on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

 

• The nature and provisions of the financial obligation, and the promise S&P imputes; and

 

• The protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

 

An issue rating is an assessment of default risk but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

 

NR indicates that a rating has not been assigned or is no longer assigned.

 

Description of S&P’s Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings*

 

AAA An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

AA An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.

 

A An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.

 

BBB An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

BB; B; CCC; CC; and C Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.

 

BB An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CCC An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

A-4

 

CC An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

C An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.

 

D An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

* Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.

 

Description of S&P’s Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

 

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

 

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

 

A-3 A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

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

 

D A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

A-5

 

Description of S&P’s Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings

 

An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

• Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

• Source of payment—the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

S&P’s municipal short-term note ratings are as follows:

 

SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

D ‘D’ is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.

 

Description of Fitch’s Credit Ratings

 

Fitch’s credit ratings relating to issuers are forward looking opinions on the relative ability of an entity or obligation to meet financial commitments. Credit ratings relating to securities and obligations of an issuer can include a recovery expectation. Credit ratings are used are indications of the likelihood of repayment in accordance with the terms of the issuance.

 

Fitch’s credit rating scale for issuers and issues is expressed using the categories ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’ (investment grade) and ‘BB’ to ‘D’ (speculative grade) with an additional +/- for AA through CCC levels indicating relative differences of probability of default or recovery for issues. The terms “investment grade” and “speculative grade” are market conventions and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the speculative grade categories signal either a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred.

 

Fitch may also disclose issues relating to a rated issuer that are not and have not been rated. Such issues are also denoted as ‘NR’ on its web page.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. Credit ratings do not deal with the risk of market value loss due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and/or other market considerations. However, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay or refinance a financial commitment. Ratings nonetheless do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, in the case of payments linked to performance of an index).

 

A-6

 

Credit ratings are indications of the likelihood of repayment in accordance with the terms of the issuance. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations (i.e. rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation’s documentation).

 

Description of Fitch’s Long-Term Corporate Finance Obligations Ratings

 

AAA Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

AA Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

A High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

BBB Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

BB Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

B Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

CCC Substantial credit risk. ‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.

 

CC Very high levels of credit risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.

 

C Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. ‘C’ ratings indicate exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Ratings in the categories of ‘CCC’, ‘CC’ and ‘C’ can also relate to obligations or issuers that are in default. In this case, the rating does not opine on default risk but reflects the recovery expectation only.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned ‘RD’ or ‘D’ ratings, but are instead rated in the ‘CCC’ to ‘C’ rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

A-7

 

Description of Fitch’s Short-Term Ratings

 

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

 

Fitch’s short-term ratings are as follows:

 

F1 Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

F2 Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

F3 Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

B Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

C High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

 

RD Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

D Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

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Appendix B

 

 

 

B-1

 

 

 

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

 

1. GENERAL

 

A.Introduction.

 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (“Loomis Sayles”) will vote proxies of the securities held in its clients’ portfolios on behalf of each client that has delegated proxy voting authority to Loomis Sayles as investment adviser. Loomis Sayles has adopted and implemented these policies and procedures (“Proxy Voting Procedures”) to ensure that, where it has voting authority, proxy matters are handled in the best interests of clients, in accordance with Loomis Sayles’ fiduciary duty, and all applicable law and regulations. The Proxy Voting Procedures, as implemented by the Loomis Sayles Proxy Committee (as described below), are intended to support good corporate governance, including those corporate practices that address environmental and social issues (“ESG Matters”), in all cases with the objective of protecting shareholder interests and maximizing shareholder value.

 

Loomis Sayles uses the services of third parties (each a “Proxy Voting Service” and collectively the “Proxy Voting Services”), to provide research, analysis and voting recommendations and to administer the process of voting proxies for those clients for which Loomis Sayles has voting authority. Any reference in these Proxy Voting Procedures to a “Proxy Voting Service” is a reference either to the Proxy Voting Service that provides research, analysis and voting recommendations to Loomis Sayles or to the Proxy Voting Service that administers the process of voting proxies for Loomis Sayles or to both, as the context may require. Loomis Sayles will generally follow its express policy with input from the Proxy Voting Service that provides research, analysis and voting recommendations to Loomis Sayles unless the Proxy Committee determines that the client’s best interests are served by voting otherwise.

 

B.General Guidelines.

 

The following guidelines will apply when voting proxies on behalf of accounts for which Loomis Sayles has voting authority.

 

1. Client’s Best Interests. The Proxy Voting Procedures are designed and implemented in a way that is reasonably expected to ensure that proxy matters are conducted in the best interests of clients. When considering the best interests of clients, Loomis Sayles has determined that this means the best investment interest of its clients as shareholders of the issuer. To protect its clients’ best interests, Loomis Sayles has integrated the consideration of ESG Matters into its investment process. The Proxy Voting Procedures are intended to reflect the impact of these factors in cases where they are material to the growth and sustainability of an issuer. Loomis Sayles has established its Proxy Voting Procedures to assist it in making its proxy voting decisions with a view toward enhancing the value of its clients’ interests in an issuer over the period during which it expects its clients to hold their investments. Loomis Sayles will vote against proposals that it believes could adversely impact the current or future market value of the issuer’s securities during the expected holding period. Loomis Sayles also believes that protecting the best interests of clients requires the consideration of potential material impacts of proxy proposals associated with ESG Matters.

 

B-2

 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. March 2022 All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

 

For the avoidance of doubt, and notwithstanding any other provisions of these Proxy Voting Procedures, in all instances in which Loomis Sayles votes proxies on behalf of clients that are employee benefit plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), Loomis Sayles (a) will act solely in accordance with the economic interest of the plan and its participants and beneficiaries, and (b) will not subordinate the interests of the participants and beneficiaries in their retirement income or financial benefits under the plan to any other objective, or promote benefits or goals unrelated to those financial interests of the plan’s participants and beneficiaries.

 

2. Client Proxy Voting Policies. Rather than delegating proxy voting authority to Loomis Sayles, a client may (a) retain the authority to vote proxies on securities in its account; (b) delegate voting authority to another party; or (c) instruct Loomis Sayles to vote proxies according to a policy that differs from the Proxy Voting Procedures. Loomis Sayles will honor any of these instructions if the instruction is agreed to in writing by Loomis Sayles in its investment management agreement with the client. If Loomis Sayles incurs additional costs or expenses in following any such instruction, it may request payment for such additional costs or expenses from the client.

 

3. Stated Policies. In the interest of consistency in voting proxies on behalf of its clients where appropriate, Loomis Sayles has adopted policies that identify issues where Loomis Sayles will (a) generally vote in favor of a proposal; (b) generally vote against a proposal; (c) generally vote as recommended by the Proxy Voting Service; and (d) specifically consider its vote for or against a proposal. However, these policies are guidelines and each vote may be cast differently than the stated policy, taking into consideration all relevant facts and circumstances at the time of the vote. In certain cases where the recommendation of the Proxy Voting Service and the recommendation of the issuer’s management are the same, the vote will generally be cast as recommended and will not be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Proxy Committee. In cases where the portfolio manager of an account that holds voting securities of an issuer or the analyst covering the issuer or its securities recommends a vote, the proposal(s) will be voted according to these recommendations after a review for any potential conflicts of interest is conducted and will not be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Proxy Committee. There may be situations where Loomis Sayles casts split votes despite the stated policies. For example, Loomis Sayles may cast a split vote when different clients may be invested in strategies with different investment objectives, or when different clients may have different economic interests in the outcome of a particular proposal. Loomis Sayles also may cast a split vote on a particular proposal when its investment teams have differing views regarding the impact of the proposal on their clients’ investment interests.

 

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4. Abstentions and Other Exceptions. Loomis Sayles’ general policy is to vote rather than abstain from voting on issues presented, unless the Proxy Committee determines, pursuant to its best judgment, that the client’s best interests require abstention. However, in the following circumstances Loomis Sayles may not vote a client’s proxy:

 

·The Proxy Committee has concluded that voting would have no meaningful, identifiable economic benefit to the client as a shareholder, such as when the security is no longer held in the client’s portfolio or when the value of the portfolio holding is insignificant.

 

·The Proxy Committee has concluded that the costs of or disadvantages resulting from voting outweigh the economic benefits of voting. For example, in some non-US jurisdictions, the sale of securities voted may be legally or practically prohibited or subject to some restrictions for some period of time, usually between the record and meeting dates (“share blocking”). Loomis Sayles believes that the loss of investment flexibility resulting from share blocking generally outweighs the benefit to be gained by voting. Information about share blocking is often incomplete or contradictory. Loomis Sayles relies on the client’s custodian and on its Proxy Voting Service to identify share blocking jurisdictions. To the extent such information is wrong, Loomis Sayles could fail to vote shares that could have been voted without loss of investment flexibility, or could vote shares and then be prevented from engaging in a potentially beneficial portfolio transaction.

 

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·Administrative requirements for voting proxies in certain foreign jurisdictions (which may be imposed a single time or may be periodic), such as providing a power of attorney to the client’s local sub-custodian, cannot be fulfilled due to timing of the requirement, or the costs required to fulfill the administrative requirements appear to outweigh the benefits to the client of voting the proxy.

 

·The client, as of the record date, has loaned the securities to which the proxy relates and Loomis Sayles has concluded that it is not in the best interest of the client to recall the loan or is unable to recall the loan in order to vote the securities1.

 

·The client so directs Loomis Sayles.

 

The Proxy Committee will generally vote against, rather than abstain from voting on, ballot issues where the issuer does not provide sufficient information to make an informed decision. In addition, there may be instances where Loomis Sayles is not able to vote proxies on a client's behalf, such as when ballot delivery instructions have not been processed by a client's custodian, when the Proxy Voting Service has not received a ballot for a client's account (e.g., in cases where the client’s shares have been loaned to a third party), when proxy materials are not available in English, and under other circumstances beyond Loomis Sayles’ control.

 

5. Oversight. All issues presented for shareholder vote are subject to the oversight of the Proxy Committee, either directly or by application of this policy. All non-routine issues will generally be considered directly by the Proxy Committee and, when necessary, the investment professionals responsible for an account holding the security, and will be voted in the best investment interests of the client. All routine “for” and “against” issues will be voted according to this policy unless special factors require that they be considered by the Proxy Committee and, when necessary, the investment professionals responsible for an account holding the security.

 

6. Availability of Procedures. Loomis Sayles publishes these Proxy Voting Procedures, as updated from time to time, on its public website, www.loomissayles.com, and includes a description of its Proxy Voting Procedures in Part 2A of its Form ADV. Upon request, Loomis Sayles also provides clients with a copy of its Proxy Voting Procedures.

 

 

1Loomis Sayles does not engage in securities lending. However, some clients do opt to lend securities, availing themselves of their custodians’ services.

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7. Disclosure of Vote. Loomis Sayles makes certain disclosures regarding its voting of proxies in the aggregate (not specific as to clients) on its website, www.loomissayles.com. For mutual funds that it manages, Loomis Sayles is required by law to make certain disclosures regarding its voting of proxies annually. This information is also available on the Loomis Sayles website. Additionally, Loomis Sayles will, upon request by a client, provide information about how each proxy was voted with respect to the securities in that client’s account. Loomis Sayles’ policy is not to disclose a client’s proxy voting records to third parties except as required by applicable law and regulations.

 

C.Proxy Committee.

 

1.Proxy Committee. Loomis Sayles has established a Proxy Committee. The Proxy Committee is composed of senior representatives from firm investment teams and members of the Legal and Compliance Department, and other employees of Loomis Sayles as needed. In the event that any member is unable to participate in a meeting of the Proxy Committee, he or she may designate another individual to act on his or her behalf. A vacancy in the Proxy Committee is filled by the prior member’s successor in position at Loomis Sayles or a person of equivalent experience. Each portfolio manager of an account that holds voting securities of an issuer or the analyst covering the issuer or its securities may be an ad hoc member of the Proxy Committee in connection with voting proxies of that issuer. Voting determinations made by the Proxy Committee generally will be memorialized electronically (e.g., by email).

 

2.        Duties. The Proxy Committee’s specific responsibilities include the following:

 

a.developing, authorizing, implementing and updating the Proxy Voting Procedures, including:

(i) annually reviewing the Proxy Voting Procedures to ensure consistency with internal policies and regulatory agency policies, including determining the continuing adequacy of the Proxy Voting Procedures to confirm that they have been formulated reasonably and implemented effectively, including whether they continue to be reasonably designed to ensure that proxy votes are cast in clients’ best interest,

(ii) annually reviewing existing voting guidelines and developing of additional voting guidelines to assist in the review of proxy proposals, and

(iii) annually reviewing the proxy voting process and addressing any general issues that relate to proxy voting;

 

b.overseeing the proxy voting process, including:

(i) overseeing the vote on proposals according to the predetermined policies in the voting guidelines,

(ii) directing the vote on proposals where there is reason not to vote according to the predetermined policies in the voting guidelines or where proposals require special consideration,

(iii) consulting with the portfolio managers and analysts for the accounts holding the security when necessary or appropriate, and

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(iv) periodically sampling or engaging an outside party to sample proxy votes to ensure they comply with the Proxy Voting Procedures and are cast in accordance with the clients’ best interests;

 

c.engaging and overseeing third-party vendors that materially assist Loomis Sayles with respect to proxy voting, such as the Proxy Voting Services, including:

(i) determining and periodically reassessing whether, as relevant, the Proxy Voting Service has the capacity and competency to adequately analyze proxy issues by considering:

(a) the adequacy and quality of the Proxy Voting Service’s staffing, personnel and technology,

(b) whether the Proxy Voting Service has adequately disclosed its methodologies in formulating voting recommendations, such that Loomis Sayles can understand the factors underlying the Proxy Voting Service’s voting recommendations,

(c) the robustness of the Proxy Voting Service’s policies and procedures regarding its ability to ensure that its recommendations are based on current, materially complete and accurate information, and

(d) the Proxy Voting Service’s policies and procedures regarding how it identifies and addresses conflicts of interest, including whether the Proxy Voting Service’s policies and procedures provide for adequate disclosure of its actual and potential conflicts of interest with respect to the services it provides to Loomis Sayles.

(ii) providing ongoing oversight of the Proxy Voting Services to ensure that proxies continue to be voted in the best interests of clients and in accordance with these Proxy Voting Procedures and the determinations and directions of the Proxy Committee,

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(iii) receiving and reviewing updates from the Proxy Voting Services regarding relevant business changes or changes to the Proxy Voting Services’ conflict policies and procedures, and

(iv) in the event that the Proxy Committee becomes aware that a recommendation of the Proxy Voting Service was based on a material factual error (including materially inaccurate or incomplete information): investigating the error, considering the nature of the error and the related recommendation, and determining whether the Proxy Voting Service has taken reasonable steps to reduce the likelihood of similar errors in the future; and

 

d.further developing and/or modifying these Proxy Voting Procedures as otherwise appropriate or necessary.

 

3. Standards.

 

a. When determining the vote of any proposal for which it has responsibility, the Proxy Committee shall vote in the client’s best interests as described in section 1(B)(1) above. In the event a client believes that its other interests require a different vote, Loomis Sayles shall vote as the client instructs if the instructions are provided as required in section 1(B)(2) above.

 

b. When determining the vote on any proposal, the Proxy Committee shall not consider any benefit to Loomis Sayles, any of its affiliates, any of its or their clients or service providers, other than benefits to the owner of the securities to be voted.

 

c.If Loomis Sayles becomes aware of additional information relevant to the voting of a shareholder meeting after a vote has been entered but before the applicable voting deadline has passed, it will consider whether or not such information impacts the vote determination entered, and if necessary, use reasonable efforts to change the vote instruction.

 

D.Conflicts of Interest.

 

Loomis Sayles has established policies and procedures to ensure that proxy votes are voted in its clients’ best interests and are not affected by any possible conflicts of interest. First, except in certain limited instances, Loomis Sayles votes in accordance with its pre-determined policies set forth in these Proxy Voting Procedures. Second, where these Proxy Voting Procedures allow for discretion, Loomis Sayles will generally consider the recommendations of the Proxy Voting Service in making its voting decisions. However, if the Proxy Committee determines that the Proxy Voting Service’s recommendation is not in the best interests of the firm’s clients, then the Proxy Committee may use its discretion to vote against the Proxy Voting Service’s recommendation, but only after taking the following steps: (1) conducting a review for any material conflict of interest Loomis Sayles may have, and (2) if any material conflict is found to exist, excluding anyone at Loomis Sayles who is subject to that conflict of interest from participating in the voting decision in any way. However, if deemed necessary or appropriate by the Proxy Committee after full disclosure of any conflict, that person may provide information, opinions or recommendations on any proposal to the Proxy Committee. In such event, prior to directing any vote, the Proxy Committee will make reasonable efforts to obtain and consider information, opinions and recommendations from or about the opposing position.

 

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E.Recordkeeping.

 

Loomis Sayles or the Proxy Voting Service will maintain records of proxies voted pursuant to Rule 204-2 under the Advisers Act. The records include: (1) a copy of its Proxy Voting Procedures; (2) proxy statements received regarding client securities; (3) a record of each vote cast; (4) a copy of any document created by Loomis Sayles that is material to making a decision how to vote proxies on behalf of a client or that memorializes the basis for that decision; and (5) each written client request for proxy voting records and Loomis Sayles’ written response to any (written or oral) client request for such records.

 

Proxy voting books and records are maintained in an easily accessible place for a period of five years, the first two in an appropriate office of Loomis Sayles.

 

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2. PROXY VOTING

 

A.Introduction

 

Loomis Sayles has established certain specific guidelines intended to achieve the objective of the Proxy Voting Procedures: to support good corporate governance, including ESG Matters, in all cases with the objective of protecting shareholder interests and maximizing shareholder value.

 

B.Board of Directors

 

Loomis Sayles believes that an issuer’s independent, qualified board of directors is the foundation of good corporate governance. Loomis Sayles supports proxy proposals that reflect the prudent exercise of the board’s obligation to provide leadership and guidance to management in fulfilling its obligations to its shareholders. As an example, it may be prudent not to disqualify a director from serving on a board if they participated in affiliated transactions if all measures of independence and good corporate governance were met.

 

Annual Election of Directors: Vote for proposals to repeal classified boards and to elect all directors annually.

 

Chairman and CEO are Separate Positions: Vote for proposals that require the positions of chairman and CEO to be held by different persons.

 

Director and Officer Indemnification and Liability Protection:

A.Vote against proposals concerning director and officer indemnification and liability protection that limit or eliminate entirely director and officer liability for monetary damages for violating the duty of care, or that would expand coverage beyond legal expenses to acts such as gross negligence that are more serious violations of fiduciary obligations than mere carelessness.
B.Vote for only those proposals that provide such expanded coverage in cases when a director's or officer's legal defense was unsuccessful if (i) the director or officer was found to have acted in good faith and in a manner that the director or officer reasonably believed was in the best interests of the company, and (ii) if the director's or officer’s legal expenses only would be covered.

 

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Director Nominees in Contested Elections: Votes in a contested election of directors or a “vote no” campaign must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, considering the following factors: (1) long-term financial performance of the issuer relative to its industry; management's track record; (2) background to the proxy contest; qualifications of director nominees (both slates); (3) evaluation of what each side is offering shareholders as well as the likelihood that the proposed objectives and goals can be met; and (4) stock ownership positions.

 

Director Nominees in Uncontested Elections:

A.Vote for proposals involving routine matters such as election of directors, provided that at least two-thirds of the directors would be independent, as determined by the Proxy Voting Service, and affiliated or inside nominees do not serve on any key board committee, defined as the Audit, Compensation, Nominating and/or Governance Committees.
B.Vote against nominees that are CFOs of the subject company. Generally, vote against nominees that the Proxy Voting Service has identified as not acting in the best interests of shareholders (e.g., due to over-boarding, risk management failures, a lack of diversity, etc.). Vote against nominees that have attended less than 75% of board and committee meetings, unless a reasonable cause (e.g., health or family emergency) for the absence is noted and accepted by the Proxy Voting Service and the board. Vote against affiliated or inside nominees who serve on a key board committee (as defined above). Vote against affiliated and inside nominees if less than two-thirds of the board would be independent. Vote against Governance or Nominating Committee members if both the following are true: a) there is no independent lead or presiding director; and b) the position of CEO and chairman are not held by separate individuals. Generally, vote against Audit Committee members if auditor ratification is not proposed, except in cases involving: (i) investment company board members, who are not required to submit auditor ratification for shareholder approval pursuant to Investment Company Act of 1940 rules; or (ii) any other issuer that is not required by law or regulation to submit a proposal ratifying the auditor selection. Vote against Compensation Committee members when Loomis Sayles or the Proxy Voting Service recommends a vote against the issuer's "say on pay" advisory vote.
C.Generally, vote against all members of a board committee and not just the chairman or a representative thereof in situations where the Proxy Voting Service finds that the board committee has not acted in the best interests of shareholders.
D.Vote as recommended by the Proxy Voting Service when directors are being elected as a slate and not individually.
E.When electing directors for any foreign-domiciled issuer to which the Proxy Voting Service believes it is reasonable to apply U.S. governance standards, we generally will vote in accordance with our policies set forth in (A) through (D) above. When electing directors for any other foreign-domiciled issuers, a recommendation of the Proxy Voting Service will generally be followed in lieu of the above stipulations.

 

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Independent Audit, Compensation and Nominating and/or Governance Committees: Vote for proposals requesting that the board Audit, Compensation and/or Nominating and/or Governance Committees include independent directors exclusively.

 

Independent Board Chairman:

A.Vote for shareholder proposals that generally request the board to adopt a policy requiring its chairman to be "independent" (based on some reasonable definition of that term) with respect to any issuer whose enterprise value is, according to the Proxy Voting Service, greater than or equal to $10 billion.
B.Vote such proposals on a case-by-case basis when, according to the Proxy Voting Service, the issuer's enterprise value is less than $10 billion.

 

Multiple Directorships: Generally vote against a director nominee who serves as an executive officer of any public company while serving on more than two total public company boards and any other director nominee who serves on more than five total public company boards, unless a convincing argument to vote for that nominee is made by the Proxy Voting Service, in which case, the recommendation of the Proxy Voting Service will generally be followed.

 

Staggered Director Elections: Vote against proposals to classify or stagger the board.

 

Stock Ownership Requirements: Generally vote against shareholder proposals requiring directors to own a minimum amount of company stock in order to qualify as a director, or to remain on the board.

 

Term of Office: Vote against shareholder proposals to limit the tenure of outside directors.

 

C.Ratification of Auditor

 

Loomis Sayles generally supports proposals for the selection or ratification of independent auditors, subject to consideration of various factors such as independence and reasonableness of fees.

 

A.Generally vote for proposals to ratify auditors.

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B.Vote against ratification of auditors where an auditor has a financial interest in or association with the company, and is therefore not independent; or there is reason to believe that the independent auditor has rendered an opinion which is neither accurate nor indicative of the company's financial position.
C.In general, if non-audit fees amount to 35% or more of total fees paid to a company's auditor we will vote against ratification and against the members of the Audit Committee unless the Proxy Voting Service states that the fees were disclosed and determined to be reasonable. In such instances, the recommendation of the Proxy Voting service will generally be followed.
D.Vote against ratification of auditors and vote against members of the Audit Committee where it is known that an auditor has negotiated an alternative dispute resolution procedure.
E.Vote against ratification of auditors if the Proxy Voting Service indicates that a vote for the ratification of auditors it is not in the best long term interest of shareholders.

 

D. Remuneration and Benefits

 

Loomis Sayles believes that an issuer’s compensation and benefit plans must be designed to ensure the alignment of executives’ and employees’ interests with those of its shareholders.

 

401(k) Employee Benefit Plans: Vote for proposals to implement a 401(k) savings plan for employees.

 

Compensation Plans: Proposals with respect to compensation plans generally will be voted as recommended by the Proxy Voting Service.

 

Compensation in the Event of a Change in Control: Votes on proposals regarding executive compensation in the event of a change in control of the issuer will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

 

Director Related Compensation: Vote proposals relating to director compensation, that are required by and comply with applicable laws (domestic or foreign) or listing requirements governing the issuer, as recommended by the Proxy Voting Service.

 

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (“ESOPs”): Vote for proposals that request shareholder approval in order to implement an ESOP or to increase authorized shares for existing ESOPs, except in cases when the number of shares allocated to the ESOP is "excessive" (i.e., generally greater than five percent of outstanding shares), in which case the recommendation of the Proxy Voting Service will generally be followed.

 

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Golden Coffins: Review on a case-by-case basis all proposals relating to the obligation of an issuer to provide remuneration or awards to survivors of executives payable upon such executive's death.

 

Golden and Tin Parachutes:

A.Vote for shareholder proposals to have golden (top management) and tin (all employees) parachutes submitted for shareholder ratification.
B.Review on a case-by-case basis all proposals to ratify or cancel golden or tin parachutes.

 

OBRA (Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act)-Related Compensation Proposals:

A.Vote for proposals to amend shareholder-approved plans to include administrative features or place a cap on the annual grants any one participant may receive to comply with the provisions of Section 162(m) of OBRA.
B.Vote for amendments to add performance goals to existing compensation plans to comply with the provisions of Section 162(m) of OBRA.
C.Vote for cash or cash-and-stock bonus plans to exempt the compensation from taxes under the provisions of Section 162(m) of OBRA.
D.Votes on amendments to existing plans to increase shares reserved and to qualify the plan for favorable tax treatment under the provisions of Section 162(m) should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

 

Shareholder Proposals to Limit Executive and Director Pay Including Executive Compensation Advisory Resolutions (“Say on Pay”):

A.Generally, vote for shareholder proposals that seek additional disclosure of executive and director pay information.
B.Review on a case-by-case basis (1) all shareholder proposals that seek to limit executive and director pay and (2) all advisory resolutions on executive pay other than shareholder resolutions to permit such advisory resolutions.
C.Vote against proposals to link all executive or director variable compensation to performance goals.
D.Vote for an annual review of executive compensation.
E.Non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation will be voted as recommended by the Proxy Voting Service.

 

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F.For foreign domiciled issuers where a non-binding advisory vote on executive compensation is proposed concurrently with a binding vote on executive compensation, and the recommendation of the Proxy Voting Service is the same for each proposal, a vote will be entered as recommended by the Proxy Voting Service.

 

Share Retention by Executives: Generally vote against shareholder proposals requiring executives to retain shares of the issuer for fixed periods unless the board and the Proxy Voting Service recommend voting in favor of the proposal.

 

Stock Option Plans: A recommendation of the Proxy Voting Service will generally be followed using the following as a guide:

A.Vote against stock option plans which expressly permit repricing of underwater options.
B.Vote against proposals to make all stock options performance based.
C.Vote against stock option plans that could result in an earnings dilution above the company specific cap considered by the Proxy Voting Service.
D.Vote for proposals that request expensing of stock options.

 

E. Capital Structure Management Issues

 

Adjustments to Par Value of Common Stock: Vote for management proposals to reduce the par value of common stock.

 

Authority to Issue Shares: Vote for proposals by boards to authorize the issuance of shares (with or without preemptive rights) to the extent the size of the proposed issuance in proportion to the issuer’s issued ordinary share capital is consistent with industry standards and the recommendations of the issuer’s board and the Proxy Voting Service are in agreement. Proposals that do not meet the above criteria will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

Blank Check Preferred Authorization:

A.Vote for proposals to create blank check preferred stock in cases when the company expressly states that the stock will not be used as a takeover defense or carry superior voting rights, and expressly states conversion, dividend, distribution and other rights.
B.Vote for shareholder proposals to have blank check preferred stock placements, other than those shares issued for the purpose of raising capital or making acquisitions in the normal course of business, submitted for shareholder ratification.
C.Review proposals to increase the number of authorized blank check preferred shares on a case-by-case basis.

 

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Common Stock Authorization: Vote against proposed common stock authorizations that increase the existing authorization by more than 100% unless a clear need for the excess shares is presented by the company. A recommendation of the Proxy Voting Service will generally be followed.

 

Greenshoe Options (French issuers only): Vote for proposals by boards of French issuers in favor of greenshoe options that grant the issuer the flexibility to increase an over-subscribed securities issuance by up to 15% so long as such increase takes place on the same terms and within thirty days of the initial issuance, provided that the recommendation of the issuer’s board and the Proxy Voting Service are in agreement. Proposals that do not meet the above criteria will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

Reverse Stock Splits: Vote for management proposals to reduce the number of outstanding shares available through a reverse stock split.

 

Share Cancellation Programs: Vote for management proposals to reduce share capital by means of cancelling outstanding shares held in the issuer's treasury.

 

Share Repurchase Programs: Vote for management proposals to institute open-market share repurchase plans in which all shareholders may participate on equal terms.

 

Stock Distributions, Splits and Dividends: Generally vote for management proposals to increase common share authorization, provided that the increase in authorized shares following the split or dividend is not greater than 100 percent of existing authorized shares.

 

F. Mergers, Asset Sales and Other Special Transactions

 

Proposals for transactions that have the potential to affect the ownership interests and/or voting rights of the issuer’s shareholders, such as mergers, asset sales and corporate or debt restructuring, will be considered on a case-by-case basis, based on (1) whether the best economic result is being created for shareholders, (2) what changes in corporate governance will occur, (3) what impact they will have on shareholder rights, (4) whether the proposed transaction has strategic merit for the issuer, and (5) other factors as noted in each section below, if any.

 

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Asset Sales: Votes on asset sales will be determined on a case-by-case basis after considering the impact on the balance sheet/working capital, value received for the asset, and potential elimination of inefficiencies.

 

Conversion of Debt Instruments: Votes on the conversion of debt instruments will be considered on a case-by-case basis after the recommendation of the relevant Loomis Sayles equity or fixed income analyst is obtained.

 

Corporate Restructuring: Votes on corporate restructuring proposals, including minority squeeze-outs, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs, liquidations, and asset sales will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

 

Debt Restructurings: Review on a case-by-case basis proposals to increase common and/or preferred shares and to issue shares as part of a debt-restructuring plan. Consider the following issues:

A.Dilution - How much will ownership interest of existing shareholders be reduced, and how extreme will dilution to any future earnings be?
B.Change in Control - Will the transaction result in a change in control of the company?
C.Bankruptcy – Loomis Sayles’ Corporate Actions Department is responsible for consents related to bankruptcies and debt holder consents related to restructurings.

D. Potential Conflicts of Interest – For example, clients may own securities at different levels of the capital structure; in such cases, Loomis Sayles will exercise voting or consent rights for each such client based on that client’s best interests, which may differ from the interests of other clients.

 

Delisting a Security: Proposals to delist a security from an exchange will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

 

Fair Price Provisions:

A. Vote for fair price proposals, as long as the shareholder vote requirement embedded in the provision is no more than a majority of disinterested shares.

B. Vote for shareholder proposals to lower the shareholder vote requirement in existing fair price provisions.

 

Greenmail:

A.Vote for proposals to adopt anti-greenmail charter or bylaw amendments or otherwise restrict a company’s ability to make greenmail payments.

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B.Review anti-greenmail proposals on a case-by-case basis when they are bundled with other charter or bylaw amendments.
C.Vote for proposals to eliminate an anti-greenmail bylaw if the recommendations of management and the Proxy Voting Service are in agreement. If they are not in agreement, review and vote such proposals on a case-by-case basis.

 

Liquidations: Proposals on liquidations will be voted on a case-by-case basis after reviewing relevant factors including but not necessarily limited to management's efforts to pursue other alternatives, the appraisal value of assets, and the compensation plan for executives managing the liquidation.

 

Mergers and Acquisitions: Votes on mergers and acquisitions should be considered on a case-by-case basis, generally taking into account relevant factors including but not necessarily limited to: anticipated financial and operating benefits; offer price (cost vs. premium); prospects of the combined companies; how the deal was negotiated; golden parachutes; financial benefits to current management; and changes in corporate governance and their impact on shareholder rights.

 

Poison Pills:

A.Vote for shareholder proposals that ask a company to submit its poison pill for shareholder ratification.
B.Review on a case-by-case basis shareholder proposals to redeem a company's poison pill.
C.Review on a case-by-case basis management proposals to ratify a poison pill.

 

Reincorporation Provisions: Proposals to change a company's domicile will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

 

Right to Adjourn: Vote for the right to adjourn in conjunction with a vote for a merger or acquisition or other proposal, and vote against the right to adjourn in conjunction with a vote against a merger or acquisition or other proposal.

 

Spin-offs: Votes on spin-offs will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on relevant factors including but not necessarily limited to the tax and regulatory advantages, planned use of sale proceeds, market focus, and managerial incentives.

 

Tender Offer Defenses: Proposals concerning tender offer defenses will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

 

B-18

 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. March 2022 All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

 

G. Shareholder Rights

 

Loomis Sayles believes that issuers have a fundamental obligation to protect the rights of their shareholders. Pursuant to its fiduciary duty to vote shares in the best interests of its clients, Loomis Sayles considers proposals relating to shareholder rights based on whether and how they affect and protect those rights.

 

Appraisal Rights: Vote for proposals to restore, or provide shareholders with, rights of appraisal.

 

Bundled Proposals: Review on a case-by-case basis bundled or "conditioned" proxy proposals. In the case of items that are conditioned upon each other, examine the benefits and costs of the packaged items. In instances when the joint effect of the conditioned items is not in shareholders' best interests, vote against the proposals. If the combined effect is positive, support such proposals.

 

Confidential Voting: Vote for shareholder proposals that request corporations to adopt confidential voting, use independent tabulators and use independent inspectors of election as long as the proposals include clauses for proxy contests as follows: in the case of a contested election, management should be permitted to request that the dissident group honor its confidential voting policy. If the dissidents agree, the policy remains in place. If the dissidents do not agree, the confidential voting policy is waived. Vote for management proposals to adopt confidential voting.

 

Counting Abstentions: Votes on proposals regarding counting abstentions when calculating vote proposal outcomes will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

 

Cumulative Voting: Vote for proposals to permit cumulative voting, except where the issuer already has in place a policy of majority voting.

 

Equal Access: Vote for shareholder proposals that would allow significant company shareholders equal access to management's proxy material in order to evaluate and propose voting recommendations on proxy proposals and director nominees, and in order to nominate their own candidates to the board.

 

B-19

 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. March 2022 All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

 

Exclusive Forum Provisions: Vote against proposals mandating an exclusive forum for any shareholder lawsuits. Vote against the members of the issuer’s Governance Committee in the event of a proposal mandating an exclusive forum without shareholder approval.

 

Independent Proxy: Vote for proposals to elect an independent proxy to serve as a voting proxy at shareholder meetings.

 

Majority Voting: Vote for proposals to permit majority rather than plurality or cumulative voting for the election of directors/trustees.

 

Preemptive Rights: Votes with respect to preemptive rights generally will be voted as recommended by the Proxy Voting Service subject to the Common Stock Authorization requirements above.

 

Proxy Access: A recommendation of the Proxy Voting Service will generally be followed with regard to proposals intended to grant shareholders the right to place nominees for director on the issuer’s proxy ballot (“Proxy Access”). Vote for such proposals when they require the nominating shareholder(s) to hold, in aggregate, at least 3% of the voting shares of the issuer for at least three years, and be allowed to nominate up to 25% of the nominees. All other proposals relating to Proxy Access will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

Shareholder Ability to Alter the Size of the Board:

A.Vote for proposals that seek to fix the size of the board.
B.Vote against proposals that give management the ability to alter the size of the board without shareholder approval.

 

Shareholder Ability to Remove Directors:

A.Vote against proposals that provide that directors may be removed only for cause.
B.Vote against proposals that provide that only continuing directors may elect replacements to fill board vacancies.

C. Vote for proposals to restore shareholder ability to remove directors with or without cause and proposals that permit shareholders to elect directors to fill board vacancies.

 

Shareholder Advisory Committees: Proposals to establish a shareholder advisory committee will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

 

B-20

 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. March 2022 All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

 

Shareholder Rights Regarding Special Meetings:

A.Vote for proposals that set a threshold of 10% of the outstanding voting stock as a minimum percentage allowable to call a special meeting of shareholders. Vote against proposals that increase or decrease the threshold from 10%.
B.Vote against proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to call special meetings.

 

Supermajority Shareholder Voting Requirements: Vote for all proposals to replace supermajority shareholder voting requirements with simple majority shareholder voting requirements, subject to applicable laws and regulations. Vote against management proposals to require a supermajority shareholder vote to approve charter and bylaw amendments.

 

Unequal Voting Rights:

A. Vote against dual class exchange offers and dual class recapitalizations.

B.Vote on a case-by-case basis on proposals to eliminate an existing dual class voting structure.

 

Written Consent: Vote for proposals regarding the right to act by written consent when the Proxy Voting Service recommends a vote for the proposal. Proposals regarding the right to act by written consent where the Proxy Voting Service recommends a vote against will be sent to the Proxy Committee for determination. Generally vote against proposals to restrict or prohibit shareholder ability to take action by written consent.

 

H. Environmental and Social Matters

 

Loomis Sayles has a fiduciary duty to act in the best interests of its clients.

 

Loomis Sayles believes good corporate governance, including those practices that address ESG Matters, is essential to the effective management of a company’s financial, litigation and reputation risk, the maximization of its long-term economic performance and sustainability, and the protection of its shareholders’ best interests, including the maximization of shareholder value.

 

Proposals on environmental and social matters cover a wide range of issues, including environmental and energy practices and their impacts, labor matters, diversity and human rights. These proposals may be voted as recommended by the Proxy Voting Service or may, in the determination of the Proxy Committee, be reviewed on a case-by-case basis if the Proxy Committee believes that a particular proposal (i) could have a material impact on an industry or the growth and sustainability of an issuer; (ii) is appropriate for the issuer and the cost to implement would not be excessive; (iii) is appropriate for the issuer in light of various factors such as reputational damage or litigation risk; or (iv) is otherwise appropriate for the issuer.

 

B-21

 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. March 2022 All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

 

Loomis Sayles will consider whether such proposals are likely to enhance the value of the client’s investments after taking into account the costs involved, pursuant to its fiduciary duty to its clients.

 

Climate Reporting: Generally vote for proposals requesting the issuer produce a report, at reasonable expense, on the issuer’s climate policies. A recommendation against such proposals by the Proxy Voting Service will be considered by the Proxy Committee.

 

Workplace Diversity Reporting: Generally vote for proposals requesting the issuer produce a report, at reasonable expense, on the issuer’s workforce diversity or equity policies and/or performance. A recommendation against such proposals by the Proxy Voting Service will be considered by the Proxy Committee.

 

I. General Corporate Governance

 

Loomis Sayles has a fiduciary duty to its clients with regard to proxy voting matters, including routine proposals that do not present controversial issues. The impact of proxy proposals on its clients’ rights as shareholders must be evaluated along with their potential economic benefits.

 

Changing Corporate Name: Vote for management proposals to change the corporate name.

 

Charitable and Political Contributions and Lobbying Expenditures: Votes on proposals regarding charitable contributions, political contributions, and lobbying expenditures, should be considered on a case-by-case basis. Proposals of UK issuers concerning political contributions will be voted for if the issuer states that (a) it does not intend to make any political donations or incur any expenditures in respect to any political party in the EU; and (b) the proposal is submitted to ensure that the issuer does not inadvertently breach the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 and sections 366 and 367 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

Delivery of Electronic Proxy Materials: Vote for proposals to allow electronic delivery of proxy materials to shareholders.

 

B-22

 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. March 2022 All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

 

Disclosure of Prior Government Service: Review on a case-by-case basis all proposals to disclose a list of employees previously employed in a governmental capacity.

 

Financial Statements: Generally, proposals to accept and/or approve the delivery of audited financial statements shall be voted as recommended by the Proxy Voting Service. In certain non-US jurisdictions where local regulations and/or market practices do not require the release of audited financial statements in advance of custodian vote deadlines (e.g., Korea), and the Proxy Voting Service has not identified any issues with the company’s past financial statements or the audit procedures used, then Loomis Sayles shall vote for such proposals.

 

Non-Material Miscellaneous Bookkeeping Proposals: A recommendation of the Proxy Voting Service will generally be followed regarding miscellaneous bookkeeping proposals of a non-material nature.

 

Ratification of Board and/or Management Acts: Generally, proposals concerning the ratification or approval of the acts of the board of directors and/or management of the issuer for the past fiscal year shall be voted as recommended by the Proxy Voting Service.

 

Reimbursement of Proxy Contest Defenses: Generally, proposals concerning all proxy contest defense cost reimbursements should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

 

Reimbursement of Proxy Solicitation Expenses: Proposals to provide reimbursement for dissidents waging a proxy contest should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

 

State Takeover Statutes: Review on a case-by-case basis proposals to opt in or out of state takeover statutes (including control share acquisition statutes, control share cash-out statutes, freeze out provisions, fair price provisions, stakeholder laws, poison pill endorsements, severance pay and labor contract provisions, anti-greenmail provisions, and disgorgement provisions).

 

Technical Amendments to By-Laws: A recommendation of the Proxy Voting Service will generally be followed regarding technical or housekeeping amendments to by-laws or articles designed to bring the by-laws or articles into line with current regulations and/or laws.

 

Transaction of Other Business: Vote against proposals asking for authority to transact open-ended other business without any information provided by the issuer at the time of voting.

 

B-23

 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. March 2022 All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures

 

Transition Manager Ballots: Any ballot received by Loomis Sayles for a security that was held for a client by a Transition Manager prior to Loomis Sayles’ management of the client’s holdings will be considered on a case-by case basis by the Proxy Committee (without the input of any Loomis Sayles analyst or portfolio manager) if such security is no longer held in the client’s account with Loomis Sayles.

 

J. Investment Company Matters

 

Election of Investment Company Trustees: Vote for nominees who oversee fewer than 60 investment company portfolios. Vote against nominees who oversee 60 or more investment company portfolios that invest in substantially different asset classes (e.g., if the applicable portfolios include both fixed income funds and equity funds). Vote on a case-by-case basis for or against nominees who oversee 60 or more investment company portfolios that invest in substantially similar asset classes (e.g., if the applicable portfolios include only fixed income funds or only equity funds). These policies will be followed with respect to funds advised by Loomis Sayles and its affiliates, as well as funds for which Loomis Sayles acts as subadviser and other third parties.

 

Mutual Fund Distribution Agreements: Votes on mutual fund distribution agreements should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

 

Investment Company Fundamental Investment Restrictions: Votes on amendments to an investment company’s fundamental investment restrictions should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

 

Investment Company Investment Advisory Agreements: Votes on investment company investment advisory agreements should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

 

B-24

 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. March 2022 All Rights Reserved

 

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

 

LSV Value Equity Fund

 

Institutional Class Shares: LSVEX
Investor Class Shares: LVAEX

 

PROSPECTUS

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

 

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

 

 

About This Prospectus

 

This Prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this important information. For detailed information about the Fund, please see:

 

   

Page

Fund Summary

1

Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategies

1

Principal Risks

2

Performance Information

3

Investment Adviser

4

Portfolio Managers

4

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

4

Tax Information

4

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

5

More Information about Risk

6

More Information about the Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategies

6

Information about Portfolio Holdings

7

More Information about the Investment Adviser

7

Portfolio Managers

7

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

8

Other Policies

14

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

16

Dividends and Distributions

17

Taxes

18

Additional Information

19

Financial Highlights

20

How to Obtain More Information about the Fund

Back Cover

 

 

 

LSVEX Institutional Class Shares

LVAEX Investor Class Shares

Russell 1000 Value Index Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

LSV VALUE EQUITY FUND

 

Investment Objective

 

The LSV Value Equity Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is long-term growth of capital.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Fund. You may be required to pay commissions and/or other forms of compensation to a broker for transactions in Institutional Class Shares, which are not reflected in the table or the example below.

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor Class
Shares

Management Fees

0.55%

0.55%

12b-1 Fees

None

0.25%

Other Expenses

0.13%

0.13%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

0.68%

0.93%

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

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

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$69

$218

$379

$847

Investor Class Shares

$95

$296

$515

$1,143

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 10% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities. This investment policy can be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The equity securities in which the Fund invests are mainly common stocks. Although the Fund may invest in securities of companies of any size, the Fund generally invests in companies with market capitalizations of $1 billion or more at the time of purchase.

 

1

 

 

In selecting securities for the Fund, LSV Asset Management (the “Adviser” or “LSV”) focuses on companies whose securities, in the Adviser’s opinion, are out-of-favor (undervalued) in the marketplace at the time of purchase in light of factors such as the company’s earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow, but show signs of recent improvement. The Adviser believes that these out-of-favor securities will produce superior future returns if their future growth exceeds the market’s low expectations.

 

The Adviser uses a quantitative investment model to make investment decisions for the Fund. The investment model ranks securities based on fundamental measures of value (such as the price-to-earnings ratio) and indicators of near-term appreciation potential (such as recent price appreciation). The investment model selects stocks to buy from the higher-ranked stocks and selects stocks to sell from those whose rankings have decreased, subject to overall risk controls.

 

Principal Risks

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

Since the Fund pursues a “value style” of investing, if the Adviser’s assessment of market conditions, or a company’s value or prospects for exceeding earnings expectations is wrong, the Fund could suffer losses or produce poor performance relative to other funds. In addition, “value stocks” can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time.

 

There is potential for shortfall in any investment process due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, data and system imperfections, analyst judgment, the complex nature of designing, coding, and maintaining portfolio construction systems, and/or other technology used in a quantitative model. Such shortfalls in systematic or quantitative processes in particular pose broader risk because they may be more pervasive in nature. Furthermore, the Adviser’s systems may not necessarily perform in a manner in which they have historically performed or were intended to perform and the Fund can perform differently from the market as a whole based on the factors used in the Adviser’s quantitative model, the weight placed on each factor and changes from the factors’ historical trends. These issues could negatively impact investment returns. Such risks should be viewed as an inherent element of investing in an investment strategy that relies heavily upon a quantitative model.

 

The medium- and smaller-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in these medium- and small-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, medium- and small-capitalization stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. These securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

2

 

 

Performance Information

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ performance from year to year for the past ten years and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for 1, 5, and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling the Fund at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

 

 

Best Quarter

Worst Quarter

20.11%

(32.25)%

12/31/2020

3/31/2020

 

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns will depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns are shown only for Institutional Class Shares. After-tax returns for Investor Class Shares will vary.

 

Investor Class Shares of the Fund commenced operations on June 10, 2014. As a result, the performance information provided for Investor Class Shares incorporates the returns of Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for periods before June 10, 2014. Investor Class Shares would have substantially similar performance as Institutional Class Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would generally differ only to the extent that expenses of Investor Class Shares are higher.

 

3

 

 

LSV VALUE EQUITY FUND

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since Inception
(3/31/1999)

Fund Returns Before Taxes

 

 

 

 

Institutional Class Shares

12.40%

10.89%

8.09%

8.17%

Investor Class Shares

12.15%

10.62%

7.83%

7.91%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

       

Institutional Class Shares

10.51%

8.63%

6.49%

7.21%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

       

Institutional Class Shares

8.70%

8.42%

6.32%

6.86%

Russell 1000 Value Index Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

11.46%

10.91%

8.40%

7.10%

 

Investment Adviser

 

LSV Asset Management

 

Portfolio Managers

 

Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D., CEO, CIO, and Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 1999.

 

Menno Vermeulen, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 1999.

 

Puneet Mansharamani, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since 2006.

 

Greg Sleight, Partner, has managed the Fund since 2014.

 

Guy Lakonishok, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since 2014.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $100,000, including for IRAs. To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $1,000, including for IRAs. There are no minimum subsequent investment amounts for the Fund. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business (a “Business Day”) by contacting the Fund directly by mail at: LSV Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail: LSV Funds c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105) or telephone at 1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578).

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to redeem your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

Tax Information

 

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as qualified dividend income, ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distributions will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

4

 

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

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

 

5

 

 

More Information about Risk

 

Investing in the Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good of a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund, just as you could with similar investments.

 

The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the value of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets in which they trade. The effect on the Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings.

 

Equity securities include common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights to subscribe to common stock, convertible securities, as well as shares of exchange-traded funds that attempt to track the price movement of equity indices. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stock provides a fixed dividend that is paid before any dividends are paid to common stock holders, and which takes precedence over common stock in the event of a liquidation. Like common stock, preferred stocks represent partial ownership in a company, although preferred stock shareholders do not enjoy any of the voting rights of common stockholders. Also, unlike common stock, a preferred stock pays a fixed dividend that does not fluctuate, although the company does not have to pay this dividend if it lacks the financial ability to do so. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations, and by businesses, including changes to operations and reducing staff. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) to fluctuate. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

 

More Information about the Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategies

 

The Fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The investment objective may not be changed without shareholder approval.

 

The investments and strategies described in this Prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments and other cash equivalents that would not ordinarily be consistent with its investment objective. If the Fund invests in this manner, it may not achieve its investment objective. The Fund will only make temporary defensive investments if the Adviser believes that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity for total return or capital growth.

 

This Prospectus describes the Fund’s principal investment strategies, and the Fund will normally invest in the types of securities described in this Prospectus. In addition to the investments and strategies described in this Prospectus, the Fund also may invest, to a lesser extent, in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These

 

6

 

 

investments and strategies, as well as those described in this Prospectus, are described in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”). For information on how to obtain a copy of the SAI, see the back cover of this Prospectus. For liquidity purposes, the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in cash, money market instruments or equity index futures contracts. However, the Fund intends to remain as fully invested as practicable regardless of market conditions. Of course, the Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment goal.

 

Information about Portfolio Holdings

 

A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the circumstances under which the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings is available in the SAI.

 

More Information about the Investment Adviser

 

Formed in 1994 as a Delaware general partnership, LSV Asset Management provides active, quantitative value equity management through the application of a proprietary model. The Adviser is a partnership between the Adviser’s management team and current and retired employee partners, owners of a majority position, and SEI Funds, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company and the owner of a minority position. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $96 billion in assets under management. The Adviser’s principal place of business is located at 155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, IL 60606.

 

The Adviser makes investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Fund’s investment program. The Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”) oversees the Adviser and establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its management activities. For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to an investment advisory fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.55% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid 0.55% of its average daily net assets in advisory fees to the Adviser.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders dated April 30, 2024, which will cover the period from November 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

The Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D., has served as CEO, CIO, Partner and portfolio manager for LSV since its founding in 1994. He has more than 47 years of investment and research experience.

 

Menno Vermeulen, CFA, has served as a portfolio manager for LSV since 1995 and a Partner since 1998. He has more than 32 years of investment and research experience.

 

Puneet Mansharamani, CFA, has served as a Partner and portfolio manager for LSV since 2006. He has more than 25 years of investment experience.

 

Greg Sleight has served as a Quantitative Analyst of LSV since 2006, a Partner since 2012 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 18 years of investment experience.

 

Guy Lakonishok, CFA, has served as a Quantitative Analyst of LSV since 2009, a Partner since 2013 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 23 years of investment experience.

 

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

 

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Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

 

This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called “redeem”) and exchange Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Fund.

 

For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Taxes.”

 

How to Choose a Share Class

 

The Fund offers two classes of shares to investors, Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Each share class has its own shareholder eligibility criteria, investment minimums, cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Contact your financial intermediary or the Fund for more information about the Fund’s share classes and how to choose between them.

 

Class Name

Eligible Investors

Investment Minimums

Fees

Institutional Class Shares

Primarily institutional investors and individual investors who meet the initial investment minimum

Initial – $100,000
(including for IRAs)

 

Subsequent – None

No 12b-1 Fee.

Investor Class Shares

Primarily individual investors

Initial – $1,000
(including for IRAs)

 

Subsequent – None

0.25% 12b-1 Fee.

 

Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares are offered to investors who purchase shares directly from the Fund or through certain financial intermediaries such as financial planners, investment advisers, broker-dealers or other financial institutions. An investor may be eligible to purchase more than one share class. However, if you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, you may only purchase that class of shares which your financial intermediary sells or services. Your financial intermediary can tell you which class of shares is available through the intermediary.

 

The Fund reserves the right to change the criteria for eligible investors and accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

How to Purchase Fund Shares

 

To purchase shares directly from the Fund, complete and send in the application. If you need an application or have questions, please call 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

All investments must be made by check, Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), or wire. All checks must be made payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept purchases made by third-party checks, credit cards, credit card checks, cash, traveler’s checks, money orders or cashier’s checks.

 

You may also buy shares through accounts with brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. If you invest through an authorized institution, you will have to follow its procedures, which may be different from the procedures for investing directly. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund. You will also generally have to address your correspondence or questions regarding the Fund to your institution.

 

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The Fund reserves the right to suspend all sales of new shares or to reject any specific purchase order, including exchange purchases, for any reason. The Fund is not intended for excessive trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For more information about the Fund’s policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

The Fund does not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Fund subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Fund for more information.

 

By Mail

 

You can open an account with the Fund by sending a check and your account application to the address below. You can add to an existing account by sending the Fund a check and, if possible, the “Invest By Mail” stub that accompanies your confirmation statement. Be sure your check identifies clearly your name, your account number, the Fund’s name and the share class. Make your check payable to “LSV Value Equity Fund.”

 

Regular Mail Address

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

LSV Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of purchase orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Wire

 

To open an account by wire, first call 1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578) for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the wiring instructions set forth below (be sure to include the Fund’s name, your account number and the share class).The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the wire in good order.

 

Wiring Instructions

UMB Bank, NA
ABA #101000695
LSV Funds
DDA Account #9870523965
Ref: Fund name/account name/account number/share class

 

By Automatic Investment Plan (via ACH)

 

You may not open an account via ACH. However, once you have established an account, you can set up an automatic investment plan by mailing a completed application to the Fund. These purchases can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually in amounts of at least $25. To cancel or change a plan, write to the Fund at: LSV Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009, (Express Mail Address: LSV Funds, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105). Please allow up to 15 days to create the plan and 3 days to cancel or change it.

 

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Purchases In-Kind

 

Subject to the approval of the Fund, an investor may purchase shares of the Fund with liquid securities and other assets that are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an appropriate investment for the Fund. Assets purchased by the Fund in such a transaction will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

 

General Information

 

You may purchase shares on any day that the NYSE is open for business (a “Business Day”). Shares cannot be purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days when either the NYSE or the Federal Reserve is closed. The price per share will be the next determined NAV after the Fund or an authorized institution (defined below) receives and accepts your purchase order in good order. “Good order” means that the Fund was provided a complete and signed account application, including the investor’s social security number or tax identification number, and other identification required by law or regulation, as well as sufficient purchase proceeds. Purchase orders that are not in good order cannot be accepted and processed even if money to purchase shares has been submitted by wire, check or ACH.

 

The Fund calculates its NAV once each Business Day as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day’s NAV, the Fund or an authorized institution must receive and accept your purchase order in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE. If your purchase order is not received and accepted in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV calculated on the subsequent Business Day on which your order is received and accepted in good order. If the NYSE closes early, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading, the Fund reserves the right to calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. The Fund will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or any other special conditions.

 

Buying or Selling Shares through a Financial Intermediary

 

In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from the Fund through its transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of the Fund through accounts with financial intermediaries, such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. When you purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to the financial intermediary at an earlier time for your transaction to become effective that day. This allows the financial intermediary time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund prior to the time the Fund calculates its NAV that day. Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. If your financial intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses. Unless your financial intermediary is an authorized institution, orders transmitted by the financial intermediary and received by the Fund after the time NAV is calculated for a particular day will receive the following day’s NAV.

 

Certain financial intermediaries, including certain broker-dealers and shareholder organizations, are authorized to act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to the receipt of purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares (“authorized institutions”). Authorized institutions are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized institution or, if applicable, an authorized institution’s designee, receives the order. Orders will be priced at the Fund’s next computed NAV after they are received by an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee. To determine whether your

 

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financial intermediary is an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee such that it may act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

If you deal directly with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with the Fund. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for your purchase and/or redemption transactions. For more information about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

How the Fund Calculates NAV

 

The NAV of a class of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets attributable to the class, less any liabilities attributable to the class, by the total number of shares outstanding of the class.

 

In calculating NAV, the Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price. If market prices are not readily available or are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that is assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

Although the Fund invests primarily in the stocks of U.S. companies that are traded on U.S. exchanges, there may be limited circumstances in which the Adviser would price such securities at fair value – for example, if the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closed early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time the Fund calculated its NAV.

 

Minimum Purchases

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $100,000, including for IRAs. To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $1,000, including for IRAs. There are no minimum subsequent investment amounts for the Fund. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

Fund Codes

 

The reference information listed below will be helpful to you when you contact the Fund to purchase shares, check daily NAV or obtain additional information.

 

Fund Name

Ticker Symbol

CUSIP

Fund Code

LSV Value Equity Fund

Institutional Class Shares

LSVEX

00758M634

1500

Investor Class Shares

LVAEX

00769G337

4500

 

How to Sell Your Fund Shares

 

If you own your shares directly, you may sell your shares on any Business Day by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

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If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to sell your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

If you would like to have your sales proceeds, including proceeds generated as a result of closing your account, sent to a third party or an address other than your own, please notify the Fund in writing.

 

Certain redemption requests will require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor institution. Eligible guarantors include commercial banks, savings and loans, savings banks, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any other member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. For example, signature guarantees may be required if your address of record has changed in the last 30 days, if you want the proceeds sent to a bank other than the bank of record on your account, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Please note that a notary public is not an acceptable provider of a signature guarantee and that the Fund must be provided with the original guarantee. Signature guarantees are for the protection of Fund shareholders. Before it grants a redemption request, the Fund may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to ensure proper authorization.

 

Accounts held by a corporation, trust, fiduciary or partnership may require additional documentation along with a signature guaranteed letter of instruction. The Fund participates in the Paperless Legal Program (the “Program”), which eliminates the need for accompanying paper documentation on legal securities transfers. Requests received with a Medallion Signature Guarantee will be reviewed for the proper criteria to meet the guidelines of the Program and may not require additional documentation. Please contact Shareholder Services at 1-888-FUND-LSV for more information.

 

The sale price of each share will be the next determined NAV after the Fund receives your request in good order.

 

By Mail

 

To redeem shares by mail, please send a letter to the Fund signed by all registered parties on the account specifying:

 

 

The Fund name;

 

 

The share class;

 

 

The account number;

 

 

The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;

 

 

The account name(s); and

 

 

The address to which redemption (sale) proceeds should be sent.

 

All registered shareholders must sign the letter in the exact name(s) in which their account is registered and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.

 

Regular Mail Address

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

LSV Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

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The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of sale orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the sale order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Telephone

 

You must first establish the telephone redemption privilege (and, if desired, the wire or ACH redemption privilege) by completing the appropriate sections of the account application. Call 1-888-FUND-LSV to redeem your shares. Based on your instructions, the Fund will mail your proceeds to you, or send them to your bank via wire or ACH.

 

By Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH)

 

If your account balance is at least $500,000 for Institutional Class Shares or $5,000 for Investor Class Shares, you may transfer as little as $100 per month from your account to another financial institution through a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH). To participate in this service you must complete the appropriate sections of the account application and mail it to the Fund.

 

Receiving Your Money

 

Normally, the Fund will send your sale proceeds within one Business Day after it receives your redemption request. The Fund, however, may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account (may be subject to a $10 fee), sent to you by check or sent via ACH to your bank account if you have established banking instructions with the Fund. If you are selling shares that were recently purchased by check or through ACH, redemption proceeds may not be available until your check has cleared or the ACH transaction has been completed (which may take up to 15 days from your date of purchase).

 

The Fund typically expects to sell portfolio assets and/or hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. On a less regular basis, the Fund may also meet redemption requests by using short-term borrowings from its custodian and/or redeeming shares in-kind (as described below). These methods may be used during both normal and stressed market conditions.

 

Redemptions In-Kind

 

The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders, the Fund might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in-kind). The Fund may also redeem in-kind to discourage short-term trading of shares. It is highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in-kind, but if they were you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption. In addition, you would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in-kind until they are sold.

 

Involuntary Redemptions of Your Shares

 

If your account balance drops below $100,000 with respect to Institutional Class Shares and $1,000 with respect to Investor Class Shares because of redemptions, you may be required to sell your shares. The Fund generally will provide you at least 30 days’ written notice to give you time to add to your account and avoid the involuntary redemption of your shares. The Fund reserves the right to waive the minimum account value requirements in its sole discretion.

 

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Suspension of Your Right to Sell Your Shares

 

The Fund may suspend your right to sell your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). More information about this is in the SAI.

 

How to Exchange Fund Shares

 

At no charge, you may exchange Investor Class Shares or Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for shares of the same class of another LSV Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Fund. At no charge, you may also convert Investor Class Shares of the Fund directly to Institutional Class Shares of the Fund or Institutional Class Shares of the Fund directly to Investor Class Shares of the Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Fund, subject to the fees and expenses of the share class you are converting, and provided that you meet the eligibility requirements applicable to investing in such share class, as set forth in the Prospectus. You may only exchange or convert shares between accounts with identical registrations (i.e., the same names and addresses). An exchange between share classes of the Fund is not a taxable event.

 

The exchange privilege is not intended as a vehicle for short-term or excessive trading. The Fund may suspend or terminate your exchange privilege if you engage in a pattern of exchanges that is excessive, as determined in the sole discretion of the Fund. For more information about the Fund’s policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

Telephone Transactions

 

Purchasing, selling and exchanging Fund shares over the telephone is extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or costs incurred by following telephone instructions it reasonably believes to be genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund over the telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.

 

Other Policies

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourages shareholders from engaging in “market timing” or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Fund may present risks to the Fund’s long-term shareholders and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests and experiencing increased transaction costs.

 

Because the Fund invests in small- and mid-cap securities, which often trade in lower volumes and may be less liquid, the Fund may be more susceptible to the risks posed by frequent trading because frequent transactions in the Fund’s shares may have a greater impact on the market prices of these types of securities.

 

The Fund’s service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Fund’s policies and procedures described in this Prospectus and approved by the Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Fund’s service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control. The Fund’s policies and procedures include:

 

 

Shareholders are restricted from making more than four (4) “round trips” into or out of the Fund per calendar year. If a shareholder exceeds this amount, the Fund and/or its service providers may, at their discretion, reject any additional purchase or exchange orders. The Fund defines a “round trip” as a purchase into the Fund by a shareholder, followed by a subsequent redemption out of the Fund, of an amount the Adviser reasonably believes would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

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The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase or exchange request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

The Fund and/or its service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. The Fund does not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders. Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in the Fund will occur. Systematic purchases and redemptions are exempt from these policies.

 

Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Fund has entered into “information sharing agreements” with these financial intermediaries, which permit the Fund to obtain, upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary’s customers that invest in the Fund. If the Fund or its service providers identify omnibus account level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Fund, the Fund or its service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Fund or its service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Fund, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Fund by that customer. If the Fund is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Fund may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Fund’s shares is requested by the Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Fund on behalf of other persons.

 

The Fund and its service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Fund to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary’s customers. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

What this means to you: When you open an account, the Fund will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Fund to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.

 

The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

 

In certain instances, the Fund is required to collect documents to fulfill its legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.

 

Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker. If this information cannot be obtained within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund, your application will be rejected.

 

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Upon receipt of your application in good order (or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application), your investment will be accepted and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV.

 

The Fund reserves the right to close or liquidate your account at the next-determined NAV and remit proceeds to you via check if it is unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund. Further, the Fund reserves the right to hold your proceeds until your original check clears the bank, which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

Customer identification and verification is part of the Fund’s overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Fund has adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Fund reserves the right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund or in cases when the Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Fund is required to withhold such proceeds.

 

Unclaimed Property

 

Each state has unclaimed property rules that generally provide for escheatment (or transfer) to the state of unclaimed property under various circumstances. Such circumstances include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or “RPO,” as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once it flags property as unclaimed, the Fund will attempt to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state.

 

Shareholders that reside in the state of Texas may designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that can be found on the website of the Texas Comptroller. While the designated representative does not have any rights to claim or access the shareholder’s account or assets, the escheatment period will cease if the representative communicates knowledge of the shareholder’s location and confirms that the shareholder has not abandoned his or her property. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Fund (if shares are held directly with the Fund) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if shares are not held directly with the Fund).

 

More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

 

The Fund and/or the Adviser may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to the Fund and/or its shareholders. Financial intermediaries include affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates. This section briefly describes how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing these services. For more information please see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

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Distribution Plan

 

The Fund has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, for Investor Class Shares that allows the Fund to pay distribution and/or service fees for the sale and distribution of Fund shares, and for services provided to shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The maximum annual Rule 12b-1 fee for Investor Class Shares of the Fund is 0.25%.

 

Payments by the Adviser

 

From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support for the Fund. These payments are sometimes characterized as “revenue sharing” payments and are made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own legitimate profits or other resources, and may be in addition to any payments made to financial intermediaries by the Fund. A financial intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments for making shares of the Fund available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Fund with “shelf space,” placing it on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Fund in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries.

 

The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary or the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV or price of the Fund’s shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders.

 

In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, commissions or transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Fund, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

The Fund distributes its net investment income and makes distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Fund shares on the Fund’s record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.

 

You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you must notify the Fund in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Fund receives your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Fund written notice.

 

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Taxes

 

Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific questions about U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax issues that affect the Fund and its shareholders. This summary is based on current tax laws, which may change. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future.

 

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) within the meaning of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable whether you receive them in cash or you reinvest them in additional shares of the Fund. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Fund as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain foreign countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). Once a year the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information for purchases of Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

Each sale of Fund shares may be a taxable event. Assuming a shareholder holds Fund shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for 12 months or less or as a long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions

 

18

 

 

received (or deemed received) by you with respect to Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly), are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund).

 

The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund receives from sources in foreign countries.

 

Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

More information about taxes is included in the SAI.

 

Additional Information

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this Prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

 

19

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

The tables that follow present performance information about the Fund. This information is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Some of this information reflects financial information for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information provided below has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund. The financial statements and the unqualified opinion of Ernst & Young LLP are included in the 2023 Annual Report of the Fund, which is available upon request by calling the Fund at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

For a share outstanding throughout each year ended October 31,

 

 

 

Net Asset
Value
Beginning
of Year

   

Net
Investment
Income
(1)

   

Realized
and
Unrealized
Gains
(Losses) on
Investments

   

Total from
Operations

   

Dividends
from Net
Investment
Income

   

Distributions
from
Realized
Gains

   

Total
Dividends
and
Distributions

   

Net Asset
Value
End of
Year

   

Total
Return†

   

Net Assets
End of
Year (000)

   

Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets

   

Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
(Excluding Fees
Paid Indirectly)

   

Ratio of Net
Investment
Income to
Average
Net Assets

   

Portfolio
Turnover
Rate

 

LSV Value Equity Fund

                                                                                       

Institutional Class Shares

                                                                                       

2023

  $ 27.01     $ 0.57     $ (0.65 )   $ (0.08 )   $ (0.60 )   $ (2.86 )   $ (3.46 )   $ 23.47       (0.43 )%   $ 1,013,997       0.68 %     0.68 %     2.28 %     10 %

2022

    31.86       0.56       (1.63 )     (1.07 )     (0.59 )     (3.19 )     (3.78 )     27.01       (4.00 )     1,242,510       0.66       0.66       2.00       28  

2021

    22.35       0.54       10.39       10.93       (0.62 )     (0.80 )     (1.42 )     31.86       50.55       1,354,981       0.66       0.66       1.83       9  

2020

    27.03       0.55       (3.87 )     (3.32 )     (0.59 )     (0.77 )     (1.36 )     22.35       (13.22 )     1,090,639       0.65       0.65       2.29       24  

2019

    27.04       0.59       1.08       1.67       (0.50 )     (1.18 )     (1.68 )     27.03       7.35       2,783,225       0.65       0.65       2.28       18  

Investor Class Shares

2023

  $ 26.83     $ 0.52     $ (0.65 )   $ (0.13 )   $ (0.52 )   $ (2.86 )   $ (3.38 )   $ 23.32       (0.66 )%   $ 234,418       0.93 %     0.93 %     2.09 %     10 %

2022

    31.66       0.50       (1.65 )     (1.15 )     (0.49 )     (3.19 )     (3.68 )     26.83       (4.26 )     413,256       0.91       0.91       1.79       28  

2021

    22.24       0.46       10.34       10.80       (0.58 )     (0.80 )     (1.38 )     31.66       50.16       671,772       0.91       0.91       1.59       9  

2020

    26.91       0.42       (3.79 )     (3.37 )     (0.53 )     (0.77 )     (1.30 )     22.24       (13.43 )     725,566       0.91       0.91       1.82       24  

2019

    26.87       0.53       1.08       1.61       (0.39 )     (1.18 )     (1.57 )     26.91       7.11       293,465       0.90       0.90       2.05       18  

 

Total return is for the period indicated and has not been annualized. Total returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(1)

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the period.

 

20

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

LSV Funds

 

Investment Adviser

 

LSV Asset Management
155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600
Chicago, Illinois 60606

 

Distributor

 

SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

 

Legal Counsel

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
2222 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

 

More information about the Fund is available, without charge, through the following:

 

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI, dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time, includes detailed information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund and the LSV Funds. The SAI is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this Prospectus.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports: These reports list the Fund’s holdings and contain information from the Adviser about investment strategies, and recent market conditions and trends and their impact on Fund performance. The reports also contain detailed financial information about the Fund.

 

To Obtain an SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report, or More Information:

 

By Telephone:

1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578)

By Mail:

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009

By Internet:

www.lsvasset.com

 

From the SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund’s Investment Company Act registration number is 811-06400.

 

LSV-PS-001-2800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

 

LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund

 

Institutional Class Shares: LSVVX
Investor Class Shares: LVAVX

 

PROSPECTUS

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

 

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

 

 

About This Prospectus

 

This Prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this important information. For detailed information about the Fund, please see:

 

   

Page

Fund Summary

1

Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategies

2

Principal Risks

2

Performance Information

3

Investment Adviser

4

Portfolio Managers

4

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

4

Tax Information

5

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

5

More Information about Risk

6

More Information about the Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategies

6

Information about Portfolio Holdings

7

More Information about the Investment Adviser

7

Portfolio Managers

7

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

8

Other Policies

14

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

17

Dividends and Distributions

18

Taxes

18

Additional Information

19

Financial Highlights

20

How to Obtain More Information about the Fund

Back Cover

 

 

 

LSVVX Institutional Class Shares

LVAVX Investor Class Shares

Russell 1000 Value Index Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

LSV CONSERVATIVE VALUE EQUITY FUND

 

Investment Objective

 

The LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is long-term growth of capital.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Fund. You may be required to pay commissions and/or other forms of compensation to a broker for transactions in Institutional Class Shares, which are not reflected in the table or the example below.

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor Class
Shares

Management Fees

0.38%

0.38%

12b-1 Fees

None

0.25%

Other Expenses

0.18%

0.18%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

0.56%

0.81%

Less Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1

(0.21)%

(0.21)%

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

0.35%

0.60%

 

1

LSV Asset Management (“LSV” or the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.35% and 0.60% of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ and Investor Class Shares’ average daily net assets, respectively, until February 28, 2025. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses (including one year of capped expenses in each period) remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$36

$158

$292

$681

Investor Class Shares

$61

$238

$429

$982

 

1

 

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 19% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities. This investment policy can be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The equity securities in which the Fund invests are mainly common stocks. Although the Fund may invest in securities of companies of any size, the Fund generally invests in companies with market capitalizations of $1 billion or more at the time of purchase.

 

In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser focuses on companies whose securities, in the Adviser’s opinion, are out-of-favor (undervalued) in the marketplace at the time of purchase in light of factors such as the company’s earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow, but show signs of recent improvement. The Adviser believes that these out-of-favor securities will produce superior future returns if their future growth exceeds the market’s low expectations.

 

The Adviser uses a quantitative investment model to make investment decisions for the Fund. The investment model ranks securities based on fundamental measures of value (such as the price-to-earnings ratio) and indicators of near-term appreciation potential (such as recent price appreciation). The investment model selects stocks to buy from the higher-ranked stocks and selects stocks to sell from those whose rankings have decreased, subject to overall risk controls. The Adviser manages the Fund conservatively relative to the LSV Value Equity Fund by further restricting the investment model with respect to (1) industry and sector allocations and (2) security weightings relative to the Russell 1000® Value Index benchmark.

 

Principal Risks

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund. Although the Fund is managed conservatively, as discussed above, the Fund will be subject to the same degree of volatility as its benchmark, which has been high over various historical periods.

 

Since the Fund pursues a “value style” of investing, if the Adviser’s assessment of market conditions, or a company’s value or prospects for exceeding earnings expectations is wrong, the Fund could suffer losses or produce poor performance relative to other funds. In addition, “value stocks” can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time.

 

2

 

 

There is potential for shortfall in any investment process due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, data and system imperfections, analyst judgment, the complex nature of designing, coding, and maintaining portfolio construction systems, and/or other technology used in a quantitative model. Such shortfalls in systematic or quantitative processes in particular pose broader risk because they may be more pervasive in nature. Furthermore, the Adviser’s systems may not necessarily perform in a manner in which they have historically performed or were intended to perform and the Fund can perform differently from the market as a whole based on the factors used in the Adviser’s quantitative model, the weight placed on each factor and changes from the factors’ historical trends. These issues could negatively impact investment returns. Such risks should be viewed as an inherent element of investing in an investment strategy that relies heavily upon a quantitative model.

 

The medium- and smaller-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in these medium- and small-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, medium- and small-capitalization stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. These securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

Performance Information

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ performance from year to year for the past 10 years and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for 1, 5, and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling the Fund at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

 

 

Best Quarter

Worst Quarter

16.90%

(30.46)%

12/31/2020

3/31/2020

 

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns will depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns are shown only for Institutional Class Shares. After-tax returns for Investor Class Shares will vary.

 

3

 

 

Investor Class Shares of the Fund commenced operations on June 10, 2014. As a result, the performance information provided for Investor Class Shares incorporates the returns of Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for periods before June 10, 2014. Investor Class Shares would have substantially similar performance as Institutional Class Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would generally differ only to the extent that expenses of Investor Class Shares are higher.

 

LSV CONSERVATIVE VALUE EQUITY FUND

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since Inception
(3/30/2007)

Fund Returns Before Taxes

 

 

 

 

Institutional Class Shares

12.18%

10.85%

8.05%

6.43%

Investor Class Shares

11.82%

10.57%

7.77%

6.20%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

       

Institutional Class Shares

10.43%

8.93%

6.52%

5.38%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

       

Institutional Class Shares

8.32%

8.34%

6.20%

5.08%

Russell 1000 Value Index Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

11.46%

10.91%

8.40%

6.80%

 

 

Investment Adviser

 

LSV Asset Management

 

Portfolio Managers

 

Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D., CEO, CIO, and Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2007.

 

Menno Vermeulen, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2007.

 

Puneet Mansharamani, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2007.

 

Greg Sleight, Partner, has managed the Fund since 2014.

 

Guy Lakonishok, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since 2014.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $100,000, including for IRAs. To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $1,000, including for IRAs. There are no minimum subsequent investment amounts for the Fund. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business (a “Business Day”) by contacting the Fund directly by mail at: LSV Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail: LSV Funds c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105) or telephone at 1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578).

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to redeem your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

4

 

 

Tax Information

 

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as qualified dividend income, ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distributions will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

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

 

5

 

 

More Information about Risk

 

Investing in the Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good of a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund, just as you could with similar investments.

 

The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the value of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets in which they trade. The effect on the Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings.

 

Equity securities include common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights to subscribe to common stock, convertible securities, as well as shares of exchange-traded funds that attempt to track the price movement of equity indices. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stock provides a fixed dividend that is paid before any dividends are paid to common stock holders, and which takes precedence over common stock in the event of a liquidation. Like common stock, preferred stocks represent partial ownership in a company, although preferred stock shareholders do not enjoy any of the voting rights of common stockholders. Also, unlike common stock, a preferred stock pays a fixed dividend that does not fluctuate, although the company does not have to pay this dividend if it lacks the financial ability to do so. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations, and by businesses, including changes to operations and reducing staff. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) to fluctuate. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

 

More Information about the Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategies

 

The Fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The investment objective may not be changed without shareholder approval.

 

The investments and strategies described in this Prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments and other cash equivalents that would not ordinarily be consistent with its investment objective. If the Fund invests in this manner, it may not achieve its investment objective. The Fund will only make temporary defensive investments if the Adviser believes that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity for total return or capital growth.

 

This Prospectus describes the Fund’s principal investment strategies, and the Fund will normally invest in the types of securities described in this Prospectus. In addition to the investments and strategies described in this Prospectus, the Fund also may invest, to a lesser extent, in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These

 

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investments and strategies, as well as those described in this Prospectus, are described in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”). For information on how to obtain a copy of the SAI, see the back cover of this Prospectus. For liquidity purposes, the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in cash, money market instruments or equity index futures contracts. However, the Fund intends to remain as fully invested as practicable regardless of market conditions. Of course, the Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment goal.

 

Information about Portfolio Holdings

 

A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the circumstances under which the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings is available in the SAI.

 

More Information about the Investment Adviser

 

Formed in 1994 as a Delaware general partnership, LSV Asset Management provides active, quantitative value equity management through the application of a proprietary model. The Adviser is a partnership between the Adviser’s management team and current and retired employee partners, owners of a majority position, and SEI Funds, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company and the owner of a minority position. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $96 billion in assets under management. The Adviser’s principal place of business is located at 155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, IL 60606.

 

The Adviser makes investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Fund’s investment program. The Board oversees the Adviser and establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its management activities. For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to an investment advisory fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.38% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses of the Fund in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.35% and 0.60% of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ and Investor Class Shares’ average daily net assets, respectively, until February 28, 2025. The contractual expense limitation agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board, for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025. To maintain these expense limits, the Adviser may reduce a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses of the Fund.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid 0.17% of its average daily net assets (after fee waivers) in advisory fees to the Adviser.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders dated April 30, 2024, which will cover the period from November 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

The Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D., has served as CEO, CIO, Partner and portfolio manager for LSV since its founding in 1994. He has more than 47 years of investment and research experience.

 

Menno Vermeulen, CFA, has served as a portfolio manager for LSV since 1995 and a Partner since 1998. He has more than 32 years of investment and research experience.

 

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Puneet Mansharamani, CFA, has served as a Partner and portfolio manager for LSV since 2006. He has more than 25 years of investment experience.

 

Greg Sleight has served as a Quantitative Analyst of LSV since 2006, a Partner since 2012 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 18 years of investment experience.

 

Guy Lakonishok, CFA, has served as a Quantitative Analyst of LSV since 2009, a Partner since 2013 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 23 years of investment experience.

 

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

 

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

 

This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called “redeem”) and exchange Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Fund.

 

For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Taxes.”

 

How to Choose a Share Class

 

The Fund offers two classes of shares to investors, Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Each share class has its own shareholder eligibility criteria, investment minimums, cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Contact your financial intermediary or the Fund for more information about the Fund’s share classes and how to choose between them.

 

Class Name

Eligible Investors

Investment Minimums

Fees

Institutional Class Shares

Primarily institutional investors and individual investors who meet the initial investment minimum

Initial – $100,000
(including for IRAs)

 

Subsequent – None

No 12b-1 Fee.

Investor Class Shares

Primarily individual investors

Initial – $1,000
(including for IRAs)

 

Subsequent – None

0.25% 12b-1 Fee.

 

Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares are offered to investors who purchase shares directly from the Fund or through certain financial intermediaries such as financial planners, investment advisers, broker-dealers or other financial institutions. An investor may be eligible to purchase more than one share class. However, if you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, you may only purchase that class of shares which your financial intermediary sells or services. Your financial intermediary can tell you which class of shares is available through the intermediary.

 

The Fund reserves the right to change the criteria for eligible investors and accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

How to Purchase Fund Shares

 

To purchase shares directly from the Fund, complete and send in the application. If you need an application or have questions, please call 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

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All investments must be made by check, Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), or wire. All checks must be made payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept purchases made by third-party checks, credit cards, credit card checks, cash, traveler’s checks, money orders or cashier’s checks.

 

You may also buy shares through accounts with brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. If you invest through an authorized institution, you will have to follow its procedures, which may be different from the procedures for investing directly. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Fund. You will also generally have to address your correspondence or questions regarding the Fund to your institution.

 

The Fund reserves the right to suspend all sales of new shares or to reject any specific purchase order, including exchange purchases, for any reason. The Fund is not intended for excessive trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For more information about the Fund’s policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”    

 

The Fund does not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Fund subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Fund for more information.

 

By Mail

 

You can open an account with the Fund by sending a check and your account application to the address below. You can add to an existing account by sending the Fund a check and, if possible, the “Invest By Mail” stub that accompanies your confirmation statement. Be sure your check identifies clearly your name, your account number, the Fund’s name and the share class. Make your check payable to “LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund.”

 

Regular Mail Address

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

LSV Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of purchase orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Wire

 

To open an account by wire, first call 1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578) for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the wiring instructions set forth below (be sure to include the Fund’s name, your account number and the share class). The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the wire in good order.

 

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Wiring Instructions

UMB Bank, NA
ABA #101000695
LSV Funds
DDA Account #9870523965
Ref: Fund name/account name/account number/share class

 

By Automatic Investment Plan (via ACH)

 

You may not open an account via ACH. However, once you have established an account, you can set up an automatic investment plan by mailing a completed application to the Fund. These purchases can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually in amounts of at least $25. To cancel or change a plan, write to the Fund at: LSV Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009, (Express Mail Address: LSV Funds, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105). Please allow up to 15 days to create the plan and 3 days to cancel or change it.

 

Purchases In-Kind

 

Subject to the approval of the Fund, an investor may purchase shares of the Fund with liquid securities and other assets that are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an appropriate investment for the Fund. Assets purchased by the Fund in such a transaction will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

 

General Information

 

You may purchase shares on any day that the NYSE is open for business (a “Business Day”). Shares cannot be purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days when either the NYSE or the Federal Reserve is closed. The price per share will be the next determined NAV after the Fund or an authorized institution (defined below) receives and accepts your purchase order in good order. “Good order” means that the Fund was provided a complete and signed account application, including the investor’s social security number or tax identification number, and other identification required by law or regulation, as well as sufficient purchase proceeds. Purchase orders that are not in good order cannot be accepted and processed even if money to purchase shares has been submitted by wire, check or ACH.

 

The Fund calculates its NAV once each Business Day as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day’s NAV, the Fund or an authorized institution must receive and accept your purchase order in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE. If your purchase order is not received and accepted in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV calculated on the subsequent Business Day on which your order is received and accepted in good order. If the NYSE closes early, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading, the Fund reserves the right to calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. The Fund will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or any other special conditions.

 

Buying or Selling Shares through a Financial Intermediary

 

In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from the Fund through its transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of the Fund through accounts with financial intermediaries, such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. When you purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to the financial intermediary at an earlier time for your transaction to become effective that day. This allows the financial intermediary time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund prior to the time the Fund calculates its NAV that day. Your financial

 

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intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. If your financial intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses. Unless your financial intermediary is an authorized institution, orders transmitted by the financial intermediary and received by the Fund after the time NAV is calculated for a particular day will receive the following day’s NAV.

 

Certain financial intermediaries, including certain broker-dealers and shareholder organizations, are authorized to act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to the receipt of purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares (“authorized institutions”). Authorized institutions are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized institution or, if applicable, an authorized institution’s designee, receives the order. Orders will be priced at the Fund’s next computed NAV after they are received by an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee. To determine whether your financial intermediary is an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee such that it may act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

If you deal directly with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with the Fund. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for your purchase and/or redemption transactions. For more information about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

How the Fund Calculates NAV

 

The NAV of a class of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets attributable to the class, less any liabilities attributable to the class, by the total number of shares outstanding of the class.

 

In calculating NAV, the Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price. If market prices are not readily available or are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that is assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

Although the Fund invests primarily in the stocks of U.S. companies that are traded on U.S. exchanges, there may be limited circumstances in which the Adviser would price such securities at fair value – for example, if the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closed early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time the Fund calculated its NAV.

 

Minimum Purchases

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $100,000, including for IRAs. To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $1,000, including for IRAs. There are no minimum subsequent investment amounts for the Fund. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

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Fund Codes

 

The reference information listed below will be helpful to you when you contact the Fund to purchase shares, check daily NAV or obtain additional information.

 

Fund Name

Ticker Symbol

CUSIP

Fund Code

LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund

Institutional Class Shares

LSVVX

0075W0676

1502

Investor Class Shares

LVAVX

00769G345

4502

 

How to Sell Your Fund Shares

 

If you own your shares directly, you may sell your shares on any Business Day by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to sell your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

If you would like to have your sales proceeds, including proceeds generated as a result of closing your account, sent to a third party or an address other than your own, please notify the Fund in writing.

 

Certain redemption requests will require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor institution. Eligible guarantors include commercial banks, savings and loans, savings banks, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any other member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. For example, signature guarantees may be required if your address of record has changed in the last 30 days, if you want the proceeds sent to a bank other than the bank of record on your account, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Please note that a notary public is not an acceptable provider of a signature guarantee and that the Fund must be provided with the original guarantee. Signature guarantees are for the protection of Fund shareholders. Before it grants a redemption request, the Fund may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to ensure proper authorization.

 

Accounts held by a corporation, trust, fiduciary or partnership may require additional documentation along with a signature guaranteed letter of instruction. The Fund participates in the Paperless Legal Program (the “Program”), which eliminates the need for accompanying paper documentation on legal securities transfers. Requests received with a Medallion Signature Guarantee will be reviewed for the proper criteria to meet the guidelines of the Program and may not require additional documentation. Please contact Shareholder Services at 1-888-FUND-LSV for more information.

 

The sale price of each share will be the next determined NAV after the Fund receives your request in good order.

 

By Mail

 

To redeem shares by mail, please send a letter to the Fund signed by all registered parties on the account specifying:

 

 

The Fund name;

 

 

The share class;

 

 

The account number;

 

 

The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;

 

 

The account name(s); and

 

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The address to which redemption (sale) proceeds should be sent.

 

All registered shareholders must sign the letter in the exact name(s) in which their account is registered and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.

 

Regular Mail Address

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

LSV Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of sale orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the sale order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Telephone

 

You must first establish the telephone redemption privilege (and, if desired, the wire or ACH redemption privilege) by completing the appropriate sections of the account application. Call 1-888-FUND-LSV to redeem your shares. Based on your instructions, the Fund will mail your proceeds to you, or send them to your bank via wire or ACH.

 

By Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH)

 

If your account balance is at least $500,000 for Institutional Class Shares or $5,000 for Investor Class Shares, you may transfer as little as $100 per month from your account to another financial institution through a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH). To participate in this service you must complete the appropriate sections of the account application and mail it to the Fund.

 

Receiving Your Money

 

Normally, the Fund will send your sale proceeds within one Business Day after it receives your redemption request. The Fund, however, may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account (may be subject to a $10 fee), sent to you by check or sent via ACH to your bank account if you have established banking instructions with the Fund. If you are selling shares that were recently purchased by check or through ACH, redemption proceeds may not be available until your check has cleared or the ACH transaction has been completed (which may take up to 15 days from your date of purchase).

 

The Fund typically expects to sell portfolio assets and/or hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. On a less regular basis, the Fund may also meet redemption requests by using short-term borrowings from its custodian and/or redeeming shares in-kind (as described below). These methods may be used during both normal and stressed market conditions.

 

Redemptions In-Kind

 

The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders, the Fund might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in-kind). The Fund may also redeem in-kind to discourage short-term trading of shares. It is

 

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highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in-kind, but if they were you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption. In addition, you would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in-kind until they are sold.

 

Involuntary Redemptions of Your Shares

 

If your account balance drops below $100,000 with respect to Institutional Class Shares and $1,000 with respect to Investor Class Shares because of redemptions, you may be required to sell your shares. The Fund generally will provide you at least 30 days’ written notice to give you time to add to your account and avoid the involuntary redemption of your shares. The Fund reserves the right to waive the minimum account value requirements in its sole discretion.

 

Suspension of Your Right to Sell Your Shares

 

The Fund may suspend your right to sell your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). More information about this is in the SAI.

 

How to Exchange Fund Shares

 

At no charge, you may exchange Investor Class Shares or Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for shares of the same class of another LSV Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Fund. At no charge, you may also convert Investor Class Shares of the Fund directly to Institutional Class Shares of the Fund or Institutional Class Shares of the Fund directly to Investor Class Shares of the Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Fund, subject to the fees and expenses of the share class you are converting, and provided that you meet the eligibility requirements applicable to investing in such share class, as set forth in the Prospectus. You may only exchange or convert shares between accounts with identical registrations (i.e., the same names and addresses). An exchange between share classes of the Fund is not a taxable event.

 

The exchange privilege is not intended as a vehicle for short-term or excessive trading. The Fund may suspend or terminate your exchange privilege if you engage in a pattern of exchanges that is excessive, as determined in the sole discretion of the Fund. For more information about the Fund’s policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

Telephone Transactions

 

Purchasing, selling and exchanging Fund shares over the telephone is extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or costs incurred by following telephone instructions it reasonably believes to be genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund over the telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.

 

Other Policies

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourages shareholders from engaging in “market timing” or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Fund may present risks to the Fund’s long-term shareholders and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests and experiencing increased transaction costs.

 

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Because the Fund invests in small- and mid-cap securities, which often trade in lower volumes and may be less liquid, the Fund may be more susceptible to the risks posed by frequent trading because frequent transactions in the Fund’s shares may have a greater impact on the market prices of these types of securities.

 

The Fund’s service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Fund’s policies and procedures described in this Prospectus and approved by the Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Fund’s service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control. The Fund’s policies and procedures include:

 

 

Shareholders are restricted from making more than four (4) “round trips” into or out of the Fund per calendar year. If a shareholder exceeds this amount, the Fund and/or its service providers may, at their discretion, reject any additional purchase or exchange orders. The Fund defines a “round trip” as a purchase into the Fund by a shareholder, followed by a subsequent redemption out of the Fund, of an amount the Adviser reasonably believes would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase or exchange request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

The Fund and/or its service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. The Fund does not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders. Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in the Fund will occur. Systematic purchases and redemptions are exempt from these policies.

 

Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Fund has entered into “information sharing agreements” with these financial intermediaries, which permit the Fund to obtain, upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary’s customers that invest in the Fund. If the Fund or its service providers identify omnibus account level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Fund, the Fund or its service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Fund or its service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Fund, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Fund by that customer. If the Fund is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Fund may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Fund’s shares is requested by the Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Fund on behalf of other persons.

 

The Fund and its service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Fund to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary’s customers. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

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What this means to you: When you open an account, the Fund will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Fund to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.

 

The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

 

In certain instances, the Fund is required to collect documents to fulfill its legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.

 

Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker. If this information cannot be obtained within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund, your application will be rejected.

 

Upon receipt of your application in good order (or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application), your investment will be accepted and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV.

 

The Fund reserves the right to close or liquidate your account at the next-determined NAV and remit proceeds to you via check if it is unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund. Further, the Fund reserves the right to hold your proceeds until your original check clears the bank, which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

Customer identification and verification is part of the Fund’s overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Fund has adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Fund reserves the right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund or in cases when the Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Fund is required to withhold such proceeds.

 

Unclaimed Property

 

Each state has unclaimed property rules that generally provide for escheatment (or transfer) to the state of unclaimed property under various circumstances. Such circumstances include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or “RPO,” as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once it flags property as unclaimed, the Fund will attempt to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state.

 

Shareholders that reside in the state of Texas may designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that can be found on the website of the Texas Comptroller. While the designated representative does not have any rights to claim or access the shareholder’s account or assets, the escheatment period will cease if the representative communicates knowledge of the shareholder’s location and confirms that the shareholder has not abandoned his or her property. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Fund (if shares are held directly with the Fund) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if shares are not held directly with the Fund).

 

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More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

 

The Fund and/or the Adviser may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to the Fund and/or its shareholders. Financial intermediaries include affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates. This section briefly describes how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing these services. For more information please see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

Distribution Plan

 

The Fund has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, for Investor Class Shares that allows the Fund to pay distribution and/or service fees for the sale and distribution of Fund shares, and for services provided to shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The maximum annual Rule 12b-1 fee for Investor Class Shares of the Fund is 0.25%.

 

Payments by the Adviser

 

From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support for the Fund. These payments are sometimes characterized as “revenue sharing” payments and are made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own legitimate profits or other resources, and may be in addition to any payments made to financial intermediaries by the Fund. A financial intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments for making shares of the Fund available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Fund with “shelf space,” placing it on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Fund in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries.

 

The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary or the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV or price of the Fund’s shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders.

 

In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, commissions or transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Fund, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.

 

17

 

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

The Fund distributes its net investment income and makes distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Fund shares on the Fund’s record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.

 

You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you must notify the Fund in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Fund receives your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Fund written notice.

 

Taxes

 

Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific questions about U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax issues that affect the Fund and its shareholders. This summary is based on current tax laws, which may change. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future.

 

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) within the meaning of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable whether you receive them in cash or you reinvest them in additional shares of the Fund. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Fund as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain foreign countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). Once a year the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares have a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review any cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

18

 

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

Each sale of Fund shares may be a taxable event. Assuming a shareholder holds Fund shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for 12 months or less or as a long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to the Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund).

 

The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund receives from sources in foreign countries.

 

Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

More information about taxes is included in the SAI.

 

Additional Information

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this Prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

 

19

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

The tables that follow present performance information about the Fund. This information is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Some of this information reflects financial information for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information provided below has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund. The financial statements and the unqualified opinion of Ernst & Young LLP are included in the 2023 Annual Report of the Fund, which is available upon request by calling the Fund at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

For a share outstanding throughout each year ended October 31,

 

 

 

Net Asset
Value
Beginning
of Year

   

Net
Investment
Income
(1)

   

Realized
and
Unrealized
Gains
(Losses) on
Investments

   

Total
from
Operations

   

Dividends
from Net
Investment
Income

   

Distributions
from
Realized
Gains

   

Total
Dividends
and
Distributions

   

Net Asset
Value
End of
Year

   

Total
Return

   

Net
Assets
End of
Year
(000)

   

Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets

   

Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
(Excluding
Waivers,
Reimbursements
and Fees Paid
Indirectly)

   

Ratio of
Net
Investment
Income to
Average
Net Assets

   

Portfolio
Turnover
Rate

 

LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund

                                                                                       

Institutional Class Shares

                                                                                       

2023

  $ 13.07     $ 0.33     $ (0.30 )   $ 0.03     $ (0.32 )   $ (0.36 )   $ (0.68 )   $ 12.42       0.19 %   $ 128,983       0.35 %     0.56 %     2.56 %     19 %

2022

    13.86       0.31       (0.59 )     (0.28 )     (0.26 )     (0.25 )     (0.51 )     13.07       (2.21 )     144,480       0.35       0.54       2.29       18  

2021

    9.59       0.26       4.28       4.54       (0.27 )           (0.27 )     13.86       48.02       138,771       0.35       0.55       2.04       16  

2020

    13.54       0.28       (1.69 )     (1.41 )     (0.42 )     (2.12 )     (2.54 )     9.59       (13.89 )     69,176       0.35       0.58       2.73       25  

2019

    12.99       0.34       0.66       1.00       (0.30 )     (0.15 )     (0.45 )     13.54       8.36       79,086       0.35       0.53       2.66       18  

Investor Class Shares

2023

  $ 12.95     $ 0.30     $ (0.30 )   $     $ (0.29 )   $ (0.36 )   $ (0.65 )   $ 12.30       (0.09 )%   $ 452       0.60 %     0.81 %     2.30 %     19 %

2022

    13.74       0.27       (0.58 )     (0.31 )     (0.23 )     (0.25 )     (0.48 )     12.95       (2.44 )     418       0.60       0.79       2.05       18  

2021

    9.51       0.23       4.25       4.48       (0.25 )           (0.25 )     13.74       47.74       393       0.60       0.80       1.81       16  

2020

    13.46       0.25       (1.69 )     (1.44 )     (0.39 )     (2.12 )     (2.51 )     9.51       (14.18 )     180       0.60       0.83       2.42       25  

2019

    12.92       0.30       0.66       0.96       (0.27 )     (0.15 )     (0.42 )     13.46       8.08       144       0.60       0.78       2.37       18  

 

Total return is for the period indicated and has not been annualized. Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fee. Total returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(1)

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the period.

Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

20

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

LSV Funds

 

Investment Adviser

 

LSV Asset Management
155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600
Chicago, Illinois 60606

 

Distributor

 

SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

 

Legal Counsel

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
2222 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

 

More information about the Fund is available, without charge, through the following:

 

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI, dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time, includes detailed information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund and the LSV Funds. The SAI is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this Prospectus.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports: These reports list the Fund’s holdings and contain information from the Adviser about investment strategies, and recent market conditions and trends and their impact on Fund performance. The reports also contain detailed financial information about the Fund.

 

To Obtain an SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report, or More Information:

 

By Telephone:

1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578)

By Mail:

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009

By Internet:

www.lsvasset.com

 

From the SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act registration number is 811-06400.

 

LSV-PS-002-1900

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

 

LSV Small Cap Value Fund

 

Institutional Class Shares: LSVQX
Investor Class Shares: LVAQX

 

PROSPECTUS

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

 

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

 

 

About This Prospectus

 

This Prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this important information. For detailed information about the Fund, please see:

 

   

Page

Fund Summary

1

Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategies

1

Principal Risks

2

Performance Information

3

Investment Adviser

4

Portfolio Managers

4

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

4

Tax Information

5

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

5

More Information about Risk

6

More Information about the Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategies

6

Information about Portfolio Holdings

7

More Information about the Investment Adviser

7

Portfolio Managers

7

Related Performance Data of the Adviser

8

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

10

Other Policies

16

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

19

Dividends and Distributions

20

Taxes

20

Additional Information

21

Financial Highlights

22

How to Obtain More Information about the Fund

Back Cover

 

 

 

LSVQX Institutional Class Shares

LVAQX Investor Class Shares

Russell 2000 Value Index Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

LSV SMALL CAP VALUE FUND

 

Investment Objective

 

The LSV Small Cap Value Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is long-term growth of capital.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Fund. You may be required to pay commissions and/or other forms of compensation to a broker for transactions in Institutional Class Shares, which are not reflected in the table or the example below.

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor Class
Shares

Management Fees

0.70%

0.70%

12b-1 Fees

None

0.25%

Other Expenses

0.15%

0.15%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

0.85%

1.10%

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

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

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$87

$271

$471

$1,049

Investor Class Shares

$112

$350

$606

$1,340

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 22% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of small-capitalization companies. This investment policy can be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. For purposes of this policy, a small-capitalization company is a company with a market capitalization of less than $2.5 billion, or the highest market capitalization in the Russell 2000® Value Index, whichever is greater, at the time of initial purchase. The Fund may also invest, to a lesser extent, in equity securities of companies with larger market capitalizations. The equity securities in which the Fund invests are mainly common stocks.

 

1

 

 

In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser focuses on companies whose securities, in the Adviser’s opinion, are out-of-favor (undervalued) in the marketplace at the time of purchase in light of factors such as the company’s earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow, but show signs of recent improvement. The Adviser believes that these out-of-favor securities will produce superior future returns if their future growth exceeds the market’s low expectations.

 

The Adviser uses a quantitative investment model to make investment decisions for the Fund. The investment model ranks securities based on fundamental measures of value (such as the price-to-earnings ratio) and indicators of near-term appreciation potential (such as recent price appreciation). The investment model selects stocks to buy from the higher-ranked stocks and selects stocks to sell from those whose rankings have decreased, subject to overall risk controls.

 

Principal Risks

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

Since the Fund pursues a “value style” of investing, if the Adviser’s assessment of market conditions, or a company’s value or prospects for exceeding earnings expectations is wrong, the Fund could suffer losses or produce poor performance relative to other funds. In addition, “value stocks” can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time.

 

There is potential for shortfall in any investment process due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, data and system imperfections, analyst judgment, the complex nature of designing, coding, and maintaining portfolio construction systems, and/or other technology used in a quantitative model. Such shortfalls in systematic or quantitative processes in particular pose broader risk because they may be more pervasive in nature. Furthermore, the Adviser’s systems may not necessarily perform in a manner in which they have historically performed or were intended to perform and the Fund can perform differently from the market as a whole based on the factors used in the Adviser’s quantitative model, the weight placed on each factor and changes from the factors’ historical trends. These issues could negatively impact investment returns. Such risks should be viewed as an inherent element of investing in an investment strategy that relies heavily upon a quantitative model.

 

Small-capitalization companies in which the Fund invests may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in small-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have limited operating histories, product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, small-capitalization stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. These securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

2

 

 

Performance Information

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for 1, 5, and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling the Fund at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

 

 

 

Best Quarter

Worst Quarter

30.18%

(43.65)%

12/31/2020

3/31/2020

 

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns will depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns are shown only for Institutional Class Shares. After-tax returns for Investor Class Shares will vary.

 

3

 

 

Investor Class Shares of the Fund commenced operations on June 10, 2014. As a result, the performance information provided for Investor Class Shares incorporates the returns of Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for periods before June 10, 2014. Investor Class Shares would have substantially similar performance as Institutional Class Shares because the shares are invested in the same portfolio of securities and the annual returns would generally differ only to the extent that expenses of Investor Class Shares are higher.

 

LSV SMALL CAP VALUE FUND

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since Inception
(2/28/2013)

Fund Returns Before Taxes

       

Institutional Class Shares

19.01%

11.21%

7.35%

9.55%

Investor Class Shares

18.72%

10.92%

7.07%

9.27%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

       

Institutional Class Shares

17.73%

10.58%

6.36%

8.42%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

       

Institutional Class Shares

12.18%

8.86%

5.62%

7.45%

Russell 2000 Value Index Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

14.65%

10.00%

6.76%

8.46%

 

 

Investment Adviser

 

LSV Asset Management

 

Portfolio Managers

 

Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D., CEO, CIO, and Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2013.

 

Menno Vermeulen, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2013.

 

Puneet Mansharamani, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2013.

 

Greg Sleight, Partner, has managed the Fund since 2014.

 

Guy Lakonishok, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since 2014.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $100,000, including for IRAs. To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $1,000, including for IRAs. There are no minimum subsequent investment amounts for the Fund. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business (a “Business Day”) by contacting the Fund directly by mail at: LSV Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail: LSV Funds c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105) or telephone at 1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578).

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to redeem your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

4

 

 

 

LSVQX Institutional Class Shares

LVAQX Investor Class Shares

Russell 2000 Value Index Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

 

Tax Information

 

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as qualified dividend income, ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distributions will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

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

 

5

 

 

More Information about Risk

 

Investing in the Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good of a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund, just as you could with similar investments.

 

The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the value of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets in which they trade. The effect on the Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings.

 

Equity securities include common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights to subscribe to common stock, convertible securities, as well as shares of exchange-traded funds that attempt to track the price movement of equity indices. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stock provides a fixed dividend that is paid before any dividends are paid to common stock holders, and which takes precedence over common stock in the event of a liquidation. Like common stock, preferred stocks represent partial ownership in a company, although preferred stock shareholders do not enjoy any of the voting rights of common stockholders. Also, unlike common stock, a preferred stock pays a fixed dividend that does not fluctuate, although the company does not have to pay this dividend if it lacks the financial ability to do so. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations, and by businesses, including changes to operations and reducing staff. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) to fluctuate. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

 

More Information about the Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategies

 

The Fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The investment objective may not be changed without shareholder approval.

 

The investments and strategies described in this Prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments and other cash equivalents that would not ordinarily be consistent with its investment objective. If the Fund invests in this manner, it may not achieve its investment objective. The Fund will only make temporary defensive investments if the Adviser believes that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity for total return or capital growth.

 

This Prospectus describes the Fund’s principal investment strategies, and the Fund will normally invest in the types of securities described in this Prospectus. In addition to the investments and strategies described in this Prospectus, the Fund also may invest, to a lesser extent, in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and strategies,

 

6

 

 

as well as those described in this Prospectus, are described in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”). For information on how to obtain a copy of the SAI, see the back cover of this Prospectus. For liquidity purposes, the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in cash, money market instruments or equity index futures contracts. However, the Fund intends to remain as fully invested as practicable regardless of market conditions. Of course, the Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment goal.

 

Information about Portfolio Holdings

 

A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the circumstances under which the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings is available in the SAI.

 

More Information about the Investment Adviser

 

Formed in 1994 as a Delaware general partnership, LSV Asset Management provides active, quantitative value equity management through the application of a proprietary model. The Adviser is a partnership between the Adviser’s management team and current and retired employee partners, owners of a majority position, and SEI Funds, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company and the owner of a minority position. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $96 billion in assets under management. The Adviser’s principal place of business is located at 155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, IL 60606.

 

The Adviser makes investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Fund’s investment program. The Board oversees the Adviser and establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its management activities. For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to an investment advisory fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.70% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses of the Fund in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.85% and 1.10% of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ and Investor Class Shares’ average daily net assets, respectively, until February 28, 2025. The contractual expense limitation agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board, for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025. To maintain these expense limits, the Adviser may reduce a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses of the Fund.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid 0.70% of its average daily net assets in advisory fees to the Adviser.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders dated April 30, 2024, which will cover the period from November 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

The Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D., has served as CEO, CIO, Partner and portfolio manager for LSV since its founding in 1994. He has more than 47 years of investment and research experience.

 

Menno Vermeulen, CFA, has served as a portfolio manager for LSV since 1995 and a Partner since 1998. He has more than 32 years of investment and research experience.

 

7

 

 

Puneet Mansharamani, CFA, has served as a Partner and portfolio manager for LSV since 2006. He has more than 25 years of investment experience.

 

Greg Sleight has served as a Quantitative Analyst of LSV since 2006, a Partner since 2012 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 18 years of investment experience.

 

Guy Lakonishok, CFA, has served as a Quantitative Analyst of LSV since 2009, a Partner since 2013 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 23 years of investment experience.

 

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

 

Related Performance Data of the Adviser

 

The following tables give the related performance of all the actual separate accounts (each, an “Account”), referred to as a “Composite,” managed by the Adviser that have investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those of the Fund. The data does not represent the performance of the Fund. Performance is historical and does not represent the future performance of the Fund or of the Adviser.

 

The manner in which the performance was calculated for the Composite differs from that of registered mutual funds such as the Fund. If the performance was calculated in accordance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) standardized performance methodology, the performance results may have been different. The Adviser claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (“GIPS®”) and has prepared and presented the following in compliance with the GIPS® standards. The policies for valuing portfolios, calculating performance, and preparing compliant presentations are available upon request. All returns presented were calculated on a total return basis and include all dividends and interest, accrued income, and realized and unrealized gains and losses. All fees and expenses, except custodial fees, if any, were included in the calculations. Securities are valued as of trade-date. Each Account was under management by the Adviser for the entire reporting period in which the Account was included in the Composite. The currency used to express performance in the Composite is U.S. dollars. Performance results are presented both net of fees and gross of fees. Because of variation in fee levels, the “net of fees” Composite returns may not be reflective of performance in any one particular Account. Therefore, the performance information shown below is not necessarily representative of the performance information that typically would be shown for a registered mutual fund.

 

The Accounts that are included in the Composite are not subject to the same type of expenses to which the Fund is subject and are not subject to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions, and investment limitations imposed by the federal securities and tax laws. Consequently, the performance results for the Composite could have been adversely affected if the Accounts in the Composite were subject to the same fees and expenses or federal securities and tax laws as the Fund.

 

The investment results for the Composite presented below are not intended to predict or suggest the future returns of the Fund. The performance data shown below should not be considered a substitute for the Fund’s own performance information. Investors should be aware that the use of a methodology different than that used below to calculate performance could result in different performance data.

 

 

8

 

 

THE FOLLOWING DATA DOES NOT REPRESENT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND

 

Performance Information for the Adviser’s Substantially Similar Composite1

(February 1, 1997 through December 31, 2023)

 

Year

Total Pre-Tax
Return
(Net of Fees)

Total Pre-Tax
Return
(Gross of Fees)

Russell 2000 Value
Index
2 (reflects no
deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)

Number of
Portfolios

Total Assets at
End of Period
($ Millions)

2023

18.98%

19.86%

14.65%

30

$3,476

2022

(7.12)%

(6.41)%

(14.48)%

32

$3,312

2021

35.00%

35.99%

28.27%

33

$3,976

2020

(3.14)%

(2.40)%

4.63%

39

$3,881

2019

22.28%

23.18%

22.39%

41

$4,140

2018

(17.81)%

(17.18)%

(12.86)%

39

$3,204

2017

6.09%

6.89%

7.84%

40

$3,474

2016

29.73%

30.68%

31.74%

35

$2,548

2015

(3.73)%

(3.00)%

(7.47)%

31

$1,909

2014

10.76%

11.58%

4.22%

31

$2,237

2013

42.97%

44.04%

34.52%

31

$2,267

2012

15.96%

16.82%

18.05%

33

$1,577

2011

(2.55)%

(1.81)%

(5.50)%

34

$1,421

2010

26.56%

27.49%

24.51%

32

$1,370

2009

32.85%

33.83%

20.55%

31

$1,233

2008

(32.04)%

(31.51)%

(28.93)%

31

$1,015

2007

(13.59)%

(12.93)%

(9.77)%

31

$1,967

2006

18.80%

19.68%

23.48%

32

$2,639

2005

5.27%

6.06%

4.70%

35

$2,595

2004

21.28%

22.18%

22.25%

34

$2,528

2003

47.40%

48.47%

46.02%

34

$2,371

2002

(1.45)%

(0.71)%

(11.42)%

31

$1,548

2001

19.12%

20.00%

14.02%

27

$1,476

2000

26.10%

26.94%

22.82%

26

$967

1999

(5.93)%

(5.21)%

(1.49)%

26

$898

1998

(0.78)%

(0.03)%

(6.45)%

25

$859

19973

36.94%

37.86%

29.79%

8

$225

 

9

 

 

Average Annual Total Pre-Tax Returns (as of 12/31/23)

Time Period

Adviser’s Composite Returns

Russell 2000 Value Index2
(reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)

Net of Fees

Gross of Fees

1 Year

18.98%

19.86%

14.65%

5 Years

12.06%

12.90%

10.00%

10 Years

7.86%

8.67%

6.76%

Since Inception3

10.41%

11.24%

8.73%

 

1

Returns include the reinvestment of all income. Net results are calculated using the highest management fee in the Adviser’s standard fee schedule (0.75%), or, if higher, the performance-based management fee charged to an Account, and doing so results in performance figures that are no higher than those that would have resulted if the actual fees had been deducted. Returns are based on fully discretionary accounts under management, including, for certain time periods, those accounts no longer with the Adviser.

 

2

The Russell 2000 Value Index is a widely-recognized, capitalization-weighted (companies with larger market capitalizations have more influence than those with smaller market capitalizations) index of small-cap U.S. companies with lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth values.

 

3

Inception date (the initial date of the Composite’s performance record) of the Composite is February 1, 1997.

 

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

 

This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called “redeem”) and exchange Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Fund.

 

For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Taxes.”

 

How to Choose a Share Class

 

The Fund offers two classes of shares to investors, Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Each share class has its own shareholder eligibility criteria, investment minimums, cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Contact your financial intermediary or the Fund for more information about the Fund’s share classes and how to choose between them.

 

Class Name

Eligible Investors

Investment Minimums

Fees

Institutional Class Shares

Primarily institutional investors and individual investors who meet the initial investment minimum

Initial – $100,000
(including for IRAs)

 

Subsequent – None

No 12b-1 Fee.

Investor Class Shares

Primarily individual investors

Initial – $1,000
(including for IRAs)

 

Subsequent – None

0.25% 12b-1 Fee.

 

Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares are offered to investors who purchase shares directly from the Fund or through certain financial intermediaries such as financial planners, investment advisers, broker-dealers or other financial institutions. An investor may be eligible to purchase more than one share class. However, if you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, you may only purchase that class of shares which your financial intermediary sells or services. Your financial intermediary can tell you which class of shares is available through the intermediary.

 

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The Fund reserves the right to change the criteria for eligible investors and accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

How to Purchase Fund Shares

 

To purchase shares directly from the Fund, complete and send in the application. If you need an application or have questions, please call 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

All investments must be made by check, Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), or wire. All checks must be made payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept purchases made by third-party checks, credit cards, credit card checks, cash, traveler’s checks, money orders or cashier’s checks.

 

You may also buy shares through accounts with brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. If you invest through an authorized institution, you will have to follow its procedures, which may be different from the procedures for investing directly. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund. You will also generally have to address your correspondence or questions regarding the Fund to your institution.

 

The Fund reserves the right to suspend all sales of new shares or to reject any specific purchase order, including exchange purchases, for any reason. The Fund is not intended for excessive trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For more information about the Fund’s policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

The Fund does not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Fund subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Fund for more information.

 

By Mail

 

You can open an account with the Fund by sending a check and your account application to the address below. You can add to an existing account by sending the Fund a check and, if possible, the “Invest By Mail” stub that accompanies your confirmation statement. Be sure your check identifies clearly your name, your account number, the Fund’s name and the share class. Make your check payable to “LSV Small Cap Value Fund.”

 

Regular Mail Address

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

LSV Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of purchase orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

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By Wire

 

To open an account by wire, first call 1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578) for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the wiring instructions set forth below (be sure to include the Fund’s name, your account number and the share class). The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the wire in good order.

 

Wiring Instructions

UMB Bank, NA
ABA #101000695
LSV Funds
DDA Account #9870523965
Ref: Fund name/account name/account number/share class

 

By Automatic Investment Plan (via ACH)

 

You may not open an account via ACH. However, once you have established an account, you can set up an automatic investment plan by mailing a completed application to the Fund. These purchases can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually in amounts of at least $25. To cancel or change a plan, write to the Fund at: LSV Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009, (Express Mail Address: LSV Funds, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105). Please allow up to 15 days to create the plan and 3 days to cancel or change it.

 

Purchases In-Kind

 

Subject to the approval of the Fund, an investor may purchase shares of the Fund with liquid securities and other assets that are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an appropriate investment for the Fund. Assets purchased by the Fund in such a transaction will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

 

General Information

 

You may purchase shares on any day that the NYSE is open for business (a “Business Day”). Shares cannot be purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days when either the NYSE or the Federal Reserve is closed. The price per share will be the next determined NAV after the Fund or an authorized institution (defined below) receives and accepts your purchase order in good order. “Good order” means that the Fund was provided a complete and signed account application, including the investor’s social security number or tax identification number, and other identification required by law or regulation, as well as sufficient purchase proceeds. Purchase orders that are not in good order cannot be accepted and processed even if money to purchase shares has been submitted by wire, check or ACH.

 

The Fund calculates its NAV once each Business Day as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day’s NAV, the Fund or an authorized institution must receive and accept your purchase order in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE. If your purchase order is not received and accepted in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV calculated on the subsequent Business Day on which your order is received and accepted in good order. If the NYSE closes early, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading, the Fund reserves the right to calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. The Fund will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or any other special conditions.

 

12

 

 

Buying or Selling Shares through a Financial Intermediary

 

In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from the Fund through its transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of the Fund through accounts with financial intermediaries, such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. When you purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to the financial intermediary at an earlier time for your transaction to become effective that day. This allows the financial intermediary time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund prior to the time the Fund calculates its NAV that day. Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. If your financial intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses. Unless your financial intermediary is an authorized institution, orders transmitted by the financial intermediary and received by the Fund after the time NAV is calculated for a particular day will receive the following day’s NAV.

 

Certain financial intermediaries, including certain broker-dealers and shareholder organizations, are authorized to act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to the receipt of purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares (“authorized institutions”). Authorized institutions are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized institution or, if applicable, an authorized institution’s designee, receives the order. Orders will be priced at the Fund’s next computed NAV after they are received by an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee. To determine whether your financial intermediary is an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee such that it may act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

If you deal directly with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with the Fund. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for your purchase and/or redemption transactions. For more information about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

How the Fund Calculates NAV

 

The NAV of a class of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets attributable to the class, less any liabilities attributable to the class, by the total number of shares outstanding of the class.

 

In calculating NAV, the Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price. If market prices are not readily available or are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that is assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

Although the Fund invests primarily in the stocks of U.S. companies that are traded on U.S. exchanges, there may be limited circumstances in which the Adviser would price such securities at fair value – for example, if the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closed early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time the Fund calculated its NAV.

 

13

 

 

Minimum Purchases

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $100,000, including for IRAs. To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $1,000, including for IRAs. There are no minimum subsequent investment amounts for the Fund. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

Fund Codes

 

The reference information listed below will be helpful to you when you contact the Fund to purchase shares, check daily NAV or obtain additional information.

 

Fund Name

Ticker Symbol

CUSIP

Fund Code

LSV Small Cap Value Fund

Institutional Class Shares

LSVQX

00769G535

1504

Investor Class Shares

LVAQX

00769G329

4504

 

How to Sell Your Fund Shares

 

If you own your shares directly, you may sell your shares on any Business Day by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to sell your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

If you would like to have your sales proceeds, including proceeds generated as a result of closing your account, sent to a third party or an address other than your own, please notify the Fund in writing.

 

Certain redemption requests will require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor institution. Eligible guarantors include commercial banks, savings and loans, savings banks, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any other member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. For example, signature guarantees may be required if your address of record has changed in the last 30 days, if you want the proceeds sent to a bank other than the bank of record on your account, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Please note that a notary public is not an acceptable provider of a signature guarantee and that the Fund must be provided with the original guarantee. Signature guarantees are for the protection of Fund shareholders. Before it grants a redemption request, the Fund may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to ensure proper authorization.

 

Accounts held by a corporation, trust, fiduciary or partnership may require additional documentation along with a signature guaranteed letter of instruction. The Fund participates in the Paperless Legal Program (the “Program”), which eliminates the need for accompanying paper documentation on legal securities transfers. Requests received with a Medallion Signature Guarantee will be reviewed for the proper criteria to meet the guidelines of the Program and may not require additional documentation. Please contact Shareholder Services at 1-888-FUND-LSV for more information.

 

The sale price of each share will be the next determined NAV after the Fund receives your request in good order.

 

By Mail

 

To redeem shares by mail, please send a letter to the Fund signed by all registered parties on the account specifying:

 

 

The Fund name;

 

14

 

 

 

The share class;

 

 

The account number;

 

 

The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;

 

 

The account name(s); and

 

 

The address to which redemption (sale) proceeds should be sent.

 

All registered shareholders must sign the letter in the exact name(s) in which their account is registered and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.

 

Regular Mail Address

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

LSV Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of sale orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the sale order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Telephone

 

You must first establish the telephone redemption privilege (and, if desired, the wire or ACH redemption privilege) by completing the appropriate sections of the account application. Call 1-888-FUND-LSV to redeem your shares. Based on your instructions, the Fund will mail your proceeds to you, or send them to your bank via wire or ACH.

 

By Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH)

 

If your account balance is at least $500,000 for Institutional Class Shares or $5,000 for Investor Class Shares, you may transfer as little as $100 per month from your account to another financial institution through a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH). To participate in this service you must complete the appropriate sections of the account application and mail it to the Fund.

 

Receiving Your Money

 

Normally, the Fund will send your sale proceeds within one Business Day after it receives your redemption request. The Fund, however, may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account (may be subject to a $10 fee), sent to you by check or sent via ACH to your bank account if you have established banking instructions with the Fund. If you are selling shares that were recently purchased by check or through ACH, redemption proceeds may not be available until your check has cleared or the ACH transaction has been completed (which may take up to 15 days from your date of purchase).

 

The Fund typically expects to sell portfolio assets and/or hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. On a less regular basis, the Fund may also meet redemption requests by using short-term borrowings from its custodian and/or redeeming shares in-kind (as described below). These methods may be used during both normal and stressed market conditions.

 

15

 

 

Redemptions In-Kind

 

The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders, the Fund might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in-kind). The Fund may also redeem in-kind to discourage short-term trading of shares. It is highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in-kind, but if they were you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption. In addition, you would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in-kind until they are sold.

 

Involuntary Redemptions of Your Shares

 

If your account balance drops below $100,000 with respect to Institutional Class Shares and $1,000 with respect to Investor Class Shares because of redemptions, you may be required to sell your shares. The Fund generally will provide you at least 30 days’ written notice to give you time to add to your account and avoid the involuntary redemption of your shares. The Fund reserves the right to waive the minimum account value requirements in its sole discretion.

 

Suspension of Your Right to Sell Your Shares

 

The Fund may suspend your right to sell your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC. More information about this is in the SAI.

 

How to Exchange Fund Shares

 

At no charge, you may exchange Investor Class Shares or Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for shares of the same class of another LSV Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Fund. At no charge, you may also convert Investor Class Shares of the Fund directly to Institutional Class Shares of the Fund or Institutional Class Shares of the Fund directly to Investor Class Shares of the Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Fund, subject to the fees and expenses of the share class you are converting, and provided that you meet the eligibility requirements applicable to investing in such share class, as set forth in the Prospectus. You may only exchange or convert shares between accounts with identical registrations (i.e., the same names and addresses). An exchange between share classes of the Fund is not a taxable event.

 

The exchange privilege is not intended as a vehicle for short-term or excessive trading. The Fund may suspend or terminate your exchange privilege if you engage in a pattern of exchanges that is excessive, as determined in the sole discretion of the Fund. For more information about the Fund’s policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

Telephone Transactions

 

Purchasing, selling and exchanging Fund shares over the telephone is extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or costs incurred by following telephone instructions it reasonably believes to be genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund over the telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.

 

Other Policies

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourages shareholders from engaging in “market timing” or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Fund may present risks to the Fund’s long-term shareholders and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The

 

16

 

 

risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests and experiencing increased transaction costs.

 

Because the Fund invests in small-cap securities, which often trade in lower volumes and may be less liquid, the Fund may be more susceptible to the risks posed by frequent trading because frequent transactions in the Fund’s shares may have a greater impact on the market prices of these types of securities.

 

The Fund’s service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Fund’s policies and procedures described in this Prospectus and approved by the Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Fund’s service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control. The Fund’s policies and procedures include:

 

 

Shareholders are restricted from making more than four (4) “round trips” into or out of the Fund per calendar year. If a shareholder exceeds this amount, the Fund and/or its service providers may, at their discretion, reject any additional purchase or exchange orders. The Fund defines a “round trip” as a purchase into the Fund by a shareholder, followed by a subsequent redemption out of the Fund, of an amount the Adviser reasonably believes would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase or exchange request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

The Fund and/or its service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. The Fund does not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders. Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in the Fund will occur. Systematic purchases and redemptions are exempt from these policies.

 

Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Fund has entered into “information sharing agreements” with these financial intermediaries, which permit the Fund to obtain, upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary’s customers that invest in the Fund. If the Fund or its service providers identify omnibus account level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Fund, the Fund or its service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Fund or its service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Fund, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Fund by that customer. If the Fund is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Fund may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Fund’s shares is requested by the Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Fund on behalf of other persons.

 

The Fund and its service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Fund to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary’s customers. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

17

 

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

What this means to you: When you open an account, the Fund will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Fund to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.

 

The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

 

In certain instances, the Fund is required to collect documents to fulfill its legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.

 

Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker. If this information cannot be obtained within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund, your application will be rejected.

 

Upon receipt of your application in good order (or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application), your investment will be accepted and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV.

 

The Fund reserves the right to close or liquidate your account at the next-determined NAV and remit proceeds to you via check if it is unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund. Further, the Fund reserves the right to hold your proceeds until your original check clears the bank, which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

Customer identification and verification is part of the Fund’s overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Fund has adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Fund reserves the right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund or in cases when the Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Fund is required to withhold such proceeds.

 

Unclaimed Property

 

Each state has unclaimed property rules that generally provide for escheatment (or transfer) to the state of unclaimed property under various circumstances. Such circumstances include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or “RPO,” as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once it flags property as unclaimed, the Fund will attempt to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state.

 

Shareholders that reside in the state of Texas may designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that can be found on the website of the Texas Comptroller. While the designated representative does not have any rights to claim or access the shareholder’s account or assets, the escheatment period will cease if the representative communicates

 

18

 

 

knowledge of the shareholder’s location and confirms that the shareholder has not abandoned his or her property. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Fund (if shares are held directly with the Fund) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if shares are not held directly with the Fund).

 

More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

 

The Fund and/or the Adviser may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to the Fund and/or its shareholders. Financial intermediaries include affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates. This section briefly describes how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing these services. For more information please see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

Distribution Plan

 

The Fund has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, for Investor Class Shares that allows the Fund to pay distribution and/or service fees for the sale and distribution of Fund shares, and for services provided to shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The maximum annual Rule 12b-1 fee for Investor Class Shares of the Fund is 0.25%.

 

Payments by the Adviser

 

From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support for the Fund. These payments are sometimes characterized as “revenue sharing” payments and are made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own legitimate profits or other resources, and may be in addition to any payments made to financial intermediaries by the Fund. A financial intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments for making shares of the Fund available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Fund with “shelf space,” placing it on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Fund in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries.

 

The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary or the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV or price of the Fund’s shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders.

 

In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, commissions or transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Fund, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.

 

19

 

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

The Fund distributes its net investment income and makes distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Fund shares on the Fund’s record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.

 

You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you must notify the Fund in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Fund receives your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Fund written notice.

 

Taxes

 

Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific questions about U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax issues that affect the Fund and its shareholders. This summary is based on current tax laws, which may change. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future.

 

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) within the meaning of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable whether you receive them in cash or you reinvest them in additional shares of the Fund. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Fund as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain foreign countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). Once a year the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information for purchases of Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

20

 

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

Each sale of Fund shares may be a taxable event. Assuming a shareholder holds Fund shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for 12 months or less or as a long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly), are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund).

 

The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund receives from sources in foreign countries.

 

Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

More information about taxes is included in the SAI.

 

Additional Information

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this Prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

 

21

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

The tables that follow present performance information about the Fund. This information is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Some of this information reflects financial information for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information provided below has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund. The financial statements and the unqualified opinion of Ernst & Young LLP are included in the 2023 Annual Report of the Fund, which is available upon request by calling the Fund at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

For a share outstanding throughout each year ended October 31,

 

 

 

Net Asset
Value
Beginning
of Year

   

Net
Investment
Income
(1)

   

Realized
and
Unrealized
Gains
(Losses) on
Investments

   

Total
from
Operations

   

Dividends
from Net
Investment
Income

   

Distributions
from
Realized
Gains

   

Total
Dividends
and
Distributions

   

Net Asset
Value
End of
Year

   

Total
Return

   

Net Assets
End of
Year
(000)

   

Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets

   

Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
(Excluding
Waivers,
Reimbursements
and Fees Paid
Indirectly)

   

Ratio of
Net
Investment
Income to
Average
Net Assets

   

Portfolio
Turnover
Rate

 

LSV Small Cap Value Fund

                                                                                       

Institutional Class Shares

                                                                                       

2023

  $ 16.27     $ 0.28     $ (0.35 )   $ (0.07 )   $ (0.32 )   $     $ (0.32 )   $ 15.88       (0.43 )%   $ 310,095       0.85 %     0.85 %     1.67 %     22 %

2022

    16.91       0.31       (0.70 )     (0.39 )     (0.25 )           (0.25 )     16.27       (2.39 )     363,471       0.83       0.83       1.91       33  

2021

    10.48       0.22       6.45       6.67       (0.24 )           (0.24 )     16.91       64.32       324,351       0.83       0.83       1.39       24  

2020

    13.57       0.20       (3.00 )     (2.80 )     (0.29 )           (0.29 )     10.48       (21.19 )     202,199       0.83       0.83       1.73       23  

2019

    14.36       0.28       (0.23 )     0.05       (0.16 )     (0.68 )     (0.84 )     13.57       1.20       387,498       0.81       0.81       2.08       31  

Investor Class Shares

2023

  $ 16.20     $ 0.21     $ (0.32 )   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.27 )   $     $ (0.27 )   $ 15.82       (0.67 )%   $ 23,157       1.10 %     1.10 %     1.31 %     22 %

2022

    16.82       0.27       (0.71 )     (0.44 )     (0.18 )           (0.18 )     16.20       (2.69 )     29,911       1.08       1.08       1.61       33  

2021

    10.43       0.18       6.43       6.61       (0.22 )           (0.22 )     16.82       64.03       76,861       1.08       1.08       1.12       24  

2020

    13.51       0.16       (2.99 )     (2.83 )     (0.25 )           (0.25 )     10.43       (21.40 )     32,047       1.09       1.09       1.49       23  

2019

    14.28       0.24       (0.22 )     0.02       (0.11 )     (0.68 )     (0.79 )     13.51       0.90       24,103       1.06       1.06       1.80       31  

 

Total return is for the period indicated and has not been annualized. Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fee. Total returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(1)

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the period.

Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

22

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

LSV Funds

 

Investment Adviser

 

LSV Asset Management
155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600
Chicago, Illinois 60606

 

Distributor

 

SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

 

Legal Counsel

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
2222 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

 

More information about the Fund is available, without charge, through the following:

 

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI, dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time, includes detailed information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund and the LSV Funds. The SAI is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this Prospectus.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports: These reports list the Fund’s holdings and contain information from the Adviser about investment strategies, and recent market conditions and trends and their impact on Fund performance. The reports also contain detailed financial information about the Fund.

 

To Obtain an SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report, or More Information:

 

By Telephone:

1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578)

By Mail:

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009

By Internet:

www.lsvasset.com

 

From the SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act registration number is 811-06400.

 

LSV-PS-006-1300

 

 

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

 

LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund

 

Institutional Class Shares: LSVMX
Investor Class Shares: LVAMX

 

PROSPECTUS

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

 

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

 

 

About This Prospectus

 

This Prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this important information. For detailed information about the Fund, please see:

 

   

Page

Fund Summary

1

Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategies

2

Principal Risks

2

Performance Information

3

Investment Adviser

4

Portfolio Managers

4

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

4

Tax Information

5

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

5

More Information about Risk

6

More Information about the Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategies

6

Information about Portfolio Holdings

7

More Information about the Investment Adviser

7

Portfolio Managers

7

Related Performance Data of the Adviser

8

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

9

Other Policies

16

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

18

Dividends and Distributions

19

Taxes

19

Additional Information

21

Financial Highlights

22

How to Obtain More Information about the Fund

Back Cover

 

 

 

LVAMX Investor Class Shares

LSVMX Institutional Class Shares

S&P 500 Index Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

LSV U.S. MANAGED VOLATILITY FUND

 

Investment Objective

 

The LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is long-term growth of capital.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Fund. You may be required to pay commissions and/or other forms of compensation to a broker for transactions in Institutional Class Shares, which are not reflected in the table or the example below.

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor Class
Shares

Management Fees

0.45%

0.45%

12b-1 Fees

None

0.25%

Other Expenses

0.33%

0.33%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

0.78%

1.03%

Less Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1

(0.23)%

(0.23)%

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

0.55%

0.80%

 

1

LSV Asset Management (“LSV” or the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.55% and 0.80% of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ and Investor Class Shares’ average daily net assets, respectively, until February 28, 2025. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses (including one year of capped expenses in each period) remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$56

$226

$411

$945

Investor Class Shares

$82

$305

$546

$1,239

 

1

 

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 21% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of U.S. companies. This investment policy can be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The equity securities in which the Fund invests are mainly common stocks. Although the Fund may invest in securities of companies of any size, the Fund generally invests in companies with market capitalizations of $100 million or more at the time of purchase.

 

In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser focuses on companies whose securities, in the Adviser’s opinion, are out-of-favor (undervalued) in the marketplace at the time of purchase in light of factors such as the company’s earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow, but show signs of recent improvement. The Adviser believes that these out-of-favor securities will produce superior future returns if their future growth exceeds the market’s low expectations. The Adviser seeks to manage volatility by selecting stocks for the Fund’s portfolio whose total returns are not expected to fluctuate as dramatically as those of the equity markets as a whole.

 

The Adviser uses a quantitative investment model to make investment decisions for the Fund. The investment model ranks securities based on fundamental measures of value (such as price-to-earnings ratio) and indicators of near-term appreciation potential (such as recent price appreciation). Additionally, securities are ranked based on sensitivity to broader market movements or “beta,” standard deviation, and volatility of operating performance (cash flow and earnings) to identify securities that the Adviser believes will have less volatility than the overall equity markets. The investment model is used to select stocks to buy from those with higher expected returns and lower expected volatility and select stocks to sell from those whose expected returns have decreased and expected volatility has increased, subject to overall risk controls.

 

Principal Risks

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

Although the Fund seeks to manage volatility within its portfolio, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may be subject to price volatility, and the Fund’s share price may not be any less volatile than the market as a whole and could be more volatile. The Adviser’s determinations/expectations regarding volatility may be incorrect or inaccurate, which may also adversely affect the Fund’s actual volatility. The Fund also may underperform other funds with similar investment objectives and

 

2

 

 

strategies. The Fund may provide protection in volatile markets by potentially curbing or mitigating the risk of loss in declining equity markets, but the Fund’s opportunity to achieve returns when the equity markets are rising may also be limited. In general, the greater the protection against downside loss, the lesser the Fund’s opportunity to participate in the returns generated by rising equity markets; however, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful in protecting the value of its portfolio in down markets.

 

Since the Fund pursues a “value style” of investing, if the Adviser’s assessment of market conditions, or a company’s value or prospects for exceeding earnings expectations is wrong, the Fund could suffer losses or produce poor performance relative to other funds. In addition, “value stocks” can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time.

 

There is potential for shortfall in any investment process due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, data and system imperfections, analyst judgment, the complex nature of designing, coding, and maintaining portfolio construction systems, and/or other technology used in a quantitative model. Such shortfalls in systematic or quantitative processes in particular pose broader risk because they may be more pervasive in nature. Furthermore, the Adviser’s systems may not necessarily perform in a manner in which they have historically performed or were intended to perform and the Fund can perform differently from the market as a whole based on the factors used in the Adviser’s quantitative model, the weight placed on each factor and changes from the factors’ historical trends. These issues could negatively impact investment returns. Such risks should be viewed as an inherent element of investing in an investment strategy that relies heavily upon a quantitative model.

 

The medium- and smaller-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in these medium- and small-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, medium- and small-capitalization stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. These securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

Performance Information

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for 1 and 5 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling the Fund at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

 

 

Best Quarter

Worst Quarter

13.47%

(23.64)%

12/31/2022

3/31/2020

 

3

 

 

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns will depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns are shown only for Institutional Class Shares. After-tax returns for Investor Class Shares will vary.

 

Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may be higher than before-tax returns when a net capital loss occurs upon the redemption of Fund shares.

 

LSV U.S. MANAGED VOLATILITY FUND

1 Year

5 Year

Since Inception
(6/25/2014)

Fund Returns Before Taxes

 

 

 

Institutional Class Shares

4.39%

7.27%

7.09%

Investor Class Shares

4.09%

7.01%

6.85%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

     

Institutional Class Shares

0.62%

4.96%

5.43%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

     

Institutional Class Shares

5.28%

5.59%

5.53%

S&P 500 Index Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

26.29%

15.69%

11.87%

 

 

Investment Adviser

 

LSV Asset Management

 

Portfolio Managers

 

Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D., CEO, CIO, and Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2014.

 

Menno Vermeulen, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2014.

 

Puneet Mansharamani, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2014.

 

Greg Sleight, Partner, has managed the Fund since 2014.

 

Guy Lakonishok, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since 2014.

 

Jason Karceski, Ph.D., Partner, has managed the Fund since 2014.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $100,000, including for IRAs. To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $1,000, including for IRAs. There are no minimum subsequent investment amounts for the Fund. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

4

 

 

 

LVAMX Investor Class Shares

LSVMX Institutional Class Shares

S&P 500 Index Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business (a “Business Day”) by contacting the Fund directly by mail at: LSV Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail: LSV Funds c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105) or telephone at 1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578).

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to redeem your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

Tax Information

 

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as qualified dividend income, ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distributions will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

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

 

5

 

 

More Information about Risk

 

Investing in the Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good of a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund, just as you could with similar investments.

 

The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the value of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets in which they trade. The effect on the Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings.

 

Equity securities include common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights to subscribe to common stock, convertible securities, as well as shares of exchange-traded funds that attempt to track the price movement of equity indices. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stock provides a fixed dividend that is paid before any dividends are paid to common stock holders, and which takes precedence over common stock in the event of a liquidation. Like common stock, preferred stocks represent partial ownership in a company, although preferred stock shareholders do not enjoy any of the voting rights of common stockholders. Also, unlike common stock, a preferred stock pays a fixed dividend that does not fluctuate, although the company does not have to pay this dividend if it lacks the financial ability to do so. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations, and by businesses, including changes to operations and reducing staff. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) to fluctuate. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

 

More Information about the Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategies

 

The Fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The investment objective may not be changed without shareholder approval.

 

The investments and strategies described in this Prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments and other cash equivalents that would not ordinarily be consistent with its investment objective. If the Fund invests in this manner, it may not achieve its investment objective. The Fund will only make temporary defensive investments if the Adviser believes that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity for total return or capital growth.

 

This Prospectus describes the Fund’s principal investment strategies, and the Fund will normally invest in the types of securities described in this Prospectus. In addition to the investments and strategies described in this Prospectus, the Fund also may invest, to a lesser extent, in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These

 

6

 

 

investments and strategies, as well as those described in this Prospectus, are described in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”). For information on how to obtain a copy of the SAI, see the back cover of this Prospectus. For liquidity purposes, the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in cash, money market instruments or equity index futures contracts. However, the Fund intends to remain as fully invested as practicable regardless of market conditions. Of course, the Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment goal.

 

Information about Portfolio Holdings

 

A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the circumstances under which the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings is available in the SAI.

 

More Information about the Investment Adviser

 

Formed in 1994 as a Delaware general partnership, LSV Asset Management provides active, quantitative value equity management through the application of a proprietary model. The Adviser is a partnership between the Adviser’s management team and current and retired employee partners, owners of a majority position, and SEI Funds, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company and the owner of a minority position. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $96 billion in assets under management. The Adviser’s principal place of business is located at 155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, IL 60606.

 

The Adviser makes investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Fund’s investment program. The Board oversees the Adviser and establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its management activities. For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to an investment advisory fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.45% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses of the Fund in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.55% and 0.80% of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ and Investor Class Shares’ average daily net assets, respectively, until February 28, 2025. The contractual expense limitation agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board, for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025. To maintain these expense limits, the Adviser may reduce a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses of the Fund.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid 0.22% of its average daily net assets (after fee waivers) in advisory fees to the Adviser.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders dated April 30, 2024, which will cover the period from November 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

The Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D., has served as CEO, CIO, Partner and portfolio manager for LSV since its founding in 1994. He has more than 47 years of investment and research experience.

 

Menno Vermeulen, CFA, has served as a portfolio manager for LSV since 1995 and a Partner since 1998. He has more than 32 years of investment and research experience.

 

7

 

 

Puneet Mansharamani, CFA, has served as a Partner and portfolio manager for LSV since 2006. He has more than 25 years of investment experience.

 

Greg Sleight has served as a Quantitative Analyst of LSV since 2006, a Partner since 2012 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 18 years of investment experience.

 

Guy Lakonishok, CFA, has served as a Quantitative Analyst of LSV since 2009, a Partner since 2013 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 23 years of investment experience.

 

Jason Karceski, Ph.D., has served as a Senior Research Analyst of LSV since 2009, a Partner since 2012 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 30 years of investment experience.

 

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

 

Related Performance Data of the Adviser

 

The following tables give the related performance of all the actual separate accounts (each, an “Account”), referred to as a “Composite,” managed by the Adviser that have investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those of the Fund. The data does not represent the performance of the Fund. Performance is historical and does not represent the future performance of the Fund or of the Adviser.

 

The manner in which the performance was calculated for the Composite differs from that of registered mutual funds such as the Fund. If the performance was calculated in accordance with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) standardized performance methodology, the performance results may have been different. The Adviser claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (“GIPS®”) and has prepared and presented the following in compliance with the GIPS® standards. The policies for valuing portfolios, calculating performance, and preparing compliant presentations are available upon request.

 

All returns presented were calculated on a total return basis and include all dividends and interest, accrued income, and realized and unrealized gains and losses. All fees and expenses, except custodial fees, if any, were included in the calculations. Securities are valued as of trade-date. Each Account was under management by the Adviser for the entire reporting period in which the Account was included in the Composite. The currency used to express performance in the Composite is U.S. dollars. Performance results are presented both net of fees and gross of fees. Because of variation in fee levels, the “net of fees” Composite returns may not be reflective of performance in any one particular Account. Therefore, the performance information shown below is not necessarily representative of the performance information that typically would be shown for a registered mutual fund.

 

The Accounts that are included in the Composite are not subject to the same type of expenses to which the Fund is subject and are not subject to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions, and investment limitations imposed by the federal securities and tax laws. Consequently, the performance results for the Composite could have been adversely affected if the Accounts in the Composite were subject to the same fees and expenses or federal securities and tax laws as the Fund.

 

The investment results for the Composite presented below are not intended to predict or suggest the future returns of the Fund. The performance data shown below should not be considered a substitute for the Fund’s own performance information. Investors should be aware that the use of a methodology different than that used below to calculate performance could result in different performance data.

 

 

8

 

 

THE FOLLOWING DATA DOES NOT REPRESENT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND

 

Performance Information for the Adviser’s Substantially Similar Composite1

(March 1, 2010 through December 31, 2023)

 

Year

Total Pre-Tax
Return
(Net of Fees)

Total Pre-Tax
Return
(Gross of Fees)

S&P 500 Index2
(reflects no
deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)

Number of
Portfolios

Total Assets at
End of Period
($ Millions)

2023

6.84%

7.27%

26.29%

13

$1,662

2022

0.42%

0.82%

(18.11)%

13

$1,987

2021

23.53%

24.02%

28.71%

14

$3,070

2020

(4.86)%

(4.47)%

18.40%

19

$5,015

2019

22.73%

23.22%

31.49%

23

$5,817

2018

(1.44)%

(1.04)%

(4.38)%

22

$4,306

2017

14.02%

14.47%

21.83%

24

$4,757

2016

15.15%

15.61%

11.96%

21

$4,324

2015

0.75%

1.15%

1.38%

14

$3,241

2014

18.71%

19.18%

13.69%

11

$2,315

2013

32.23%

33.01%

32.39%

8

$1,682

2012

11.90%

12.57%

16.00%

5

$1,069

2011

9.56%

10.22%

2.12%

5

$670

20103

13.35%

13.92%

15.76%

1

$33

 

Average Annual Total Pre-Tax Returns (as of 12/31/23)

 

Adviser’s Composite Returns

S&P 500 Index2

Time Period

Net of Fees

Gross of Fees

(reflects no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)

1 Year

6.84%

7.27%

26.29%

5 Years

9.13%

9.56%

15.69%

10 Years

9.13%

9.56%

12.03%

Since Inception3

11.32%

11.81%

13.34%

 

1

Returns include the reinvestment of all income. Net results are calculated using the highest management fee in the Adviser’s standard fee schedule (0.40%), or, if higher, the performance-based management fee charged to an Account, and doing so results in performance figures that are no higher than those that would have resulted if the actual fees had been deducted. Returns are based on fully discretionary accounts under management, including, for certain time periods, those accounts no longer with the Adviser.

 

2

The S&P 500 Index includes 500 companies in leading industries of the U.S. economy and captures 80% of the U.S. equity market capitalization.

 

3

Inception date (the initial date of the Composite’s performance record) of the Composite is March 1, 2010.

 

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

 

This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called “redeem”) and exchange Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Fund.

 

For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Taxes.”

 

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How to Choose a Share Class

 

The Fund offers two classes of shares to investors, Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Each share class has its own shareholder eligibility criteria, investment minimums, cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Contact your financial intermediary or the Fund for more information about the Fund’s share classes and how to choose between them.

 

Class Name

Eligible Investors

Investment Minimums

Fees

Institutional Class Shares

Primarily institutional investors and individual investors who meet the initial investment minimum

Initial – $100,000
(including for IRAs)

 

Subsequent – None

No 12b-1 Fee.

Investor Class Shares

Primarily individual investors

Initial – $1,000
(including for IRAs)

 

Subsequent – None

0.25% 12b-1 Fee.

 

Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares are offered to investors who purchase shares directly from the Fund or through certain financial intermediaries such as financial planners, investment advisers, broker-dealers or other financial institutions. An investor may be eligible to purchase more than one share class. However, if you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, you may only purchase that class of shares which your financial intermediary sells or services. Your financial intermediary can tell you which class of shares is available through the intermediary.

 

The Fund reserves the right to change the criteria for eligible investors and accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

How to Purchase Fund Shares

 

To purchase shares directly from the Fund, complete and send in the application. If you need an application or have questions, please call 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

All investments must be made by check, Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), or wire. All checks must be made payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept purchases made by third-party checks, credit cards, credit card checks, cash, traveler’s checks, money orders or cashier’s checks.

 

You may also buy shares through accounts with brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. If you invest through an authorized institution, you will have to follow its procedures, which may be different from the procedures for investing directly. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund. You will also generally have to address your correspondence or questions regarding the Fund to your institution.

 

The Fund reserves the right to suspend all sales of new shares or to reject any specific purchase order, including exchange purchases, for any reason. The Fund is not intended for excessive trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For more information about the Fund’s policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

The Fund does not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Fund subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Fund for more information.

 

10

 

 

By Mail

 

You can open an account with the Fund by sending a check and your account application to the address below. You can add to an existing account by sending the Fund a check and, if possible, the “Invest By Mail” stub that accompanies your confirmation statement. Be sure your check identifies clearly your name, your account number, the Fund’s name and the share class. Make your check payable to “LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund.”

 

Regular Mail Address

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

LSV Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of purchase orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Wire

 

To open an account by wire, first call 1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578) for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the wiring instructions set forth below (be sure to include the Fund’s name, your account number and the share class). The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the wire in good order.

 

Wiring Instructions

UMB Bank, NA
ABA #101000695
LSV Funds
DDA Account #9870523965
Ref: Fund name/account name/account number/share class

 

By Automatic Investment Plan (via ACH)

 

You may not open an account via ACH. However, once you have established an account, you can set up an automatic investment plan by mailing a completed application to the Fund. These purchases can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually in amounts of at least $25. To cancel or change a plan, write to the Fund at: LSV Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009, (Express Mail Address: LSV Funds, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105). Please allow up to 15 days to create the plan and 3 days to cancel or change it.

 

Purchases In-Kind

 

Subject to the approval of the Fund, an investor may purchase shares of the Fund with liquid securities and other assets that are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an

 

11

 

 

appropriate investment for the Fund. Assets purchased by the Fund in such a transaction will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

 

General Information

 

You may purchase shares on any day that the NYSE is open for business (a “Business Day”). Shares cannot be purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days when either the NYSE or the Federal Reserve is closed. The price per share will be the next determined NAV after the Fund or an authorized institution (defined below) receives and accepts your purchase order in good order. “Good order” means that the Fund was provided a complete and signed account application, including the investor’s social security number or tax identification number, and other identification required by law or regulation, as well as sufficient purchase proceeds. Purchase orders that are not in good order cannot be accepted and processed even if money to purchase shares has been submitted by wire, check or ACH.

 

The Fund calculates its NAV once each Business Day as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day’s NAV, the Fund or an authorized institution must receive and accept your purchase order in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE. If your purchase order is not received and accepted in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV calculated on the subsequent Business Day on which your order is received and accepted in good order. If the NYSE closes early, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading, the Fund reserves the right to calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. The Fund will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or any other special conditions.

 

Buying or Selling Shares through a Financial Intermediary

 

In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from the Fund through its transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of the Fund through accounts with financial intermediaries, such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. When you purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to the financial intermediary at an earlier time for your transaction to become effective that day. This allows the financial intermediary time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund prior to the time the Fund calculates its NAV that day. Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. If your financial intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses. Unless your financial intermediary is an authorized institution, orders transmitted by the financial intermediary and received by the Fund after the time NAV is calculated for a particular day will receive the following day’s NAV.

 

Certain financial intermediaries, including certain broker-dealers and shareholder organizations, are authorized to act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to the receipt of purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares (“authorized institutions”). Authorized institutions are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized institution or, if applicable, an authorized institution’s designee, receives the order. Orders will be priced at the Fund’s next computed NAV after they are received by an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee. To determine whether your financial intermediary is an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee such that it may act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

If you deal directly with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with the Fund. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for your purchase and/or redemption transactions. For more information about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

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How the Fund Calculates NAV

 

The NAV of a class of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets attributable to the class, less any liabilities attributable to the class, by the total number of shares outstanding of the class.

 

In calculating NAV, the Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price. If market prices are not readily available or are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that is assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

Although the Fund invests primarily in the stocks of U.S. companies that are traded on U.S. exchanges, there may be limited circumstances in which the Adviser would price such securities at fair value – for example, if the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closed early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time the Fund calculated its NAV.

 

Minimum Purchases

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $100,000, including for IRAs. To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $1,000, including for IRAs. There are no minimum subsequent investment amounts for the Fund. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

Fund Codes

 

The reference information listed below will be helpful to you when you contact the Fund to purchase shares, check daily NAV or obtain additional information.

 

Fund Name

Ticker Symbol

CUSIP

Fund Code

LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund

Institutional Class Shares

LSVMX

00769G410

4507

Investor Class Shares

LVAMX

00769G394

4508

 

How to Sell Your Fund Shares

 

If you own your shares directly, you may sell your shares on any Business Day by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to sell your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

If you would like to have your sales proceeds, including proceeds generated as a result of closing your account, sent to a third party or an address other than your own, please notify the Fund in writing.

 

Certain redemption requests will require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor institution. Eligible guarantors include commercial banks, savings and loans, savings banks, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any other member or participant of an approved signature

 

13

 

 

guarantor program. For example, signature guarantees may be required if your address of record has changed in the last 30 days, if you want the proceeds sent to a bank other than the bank of record on your account, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Please note that a notary public is not an acceptable provider of a signature guarantee and that the Fund must be provided with the original guarantee. Signature guarantees are for the protection of Fund shareholders. Before it grants a redemption request, the Fund may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to ensure proper authorization.

 

Accounts held by a corporation, trust, fiduciary or partnership may require additional documentation along with a signature guaranteed letter of instruction. The Fund participates in the Paperless Legal Program (the “Program”), which eliminates the need for accompanying paper documentation on legal securities transfers. Requests received with a Medallion Signature Guarantee will be reviewed for the proper criteria to meet the guidelines of the Program and may not require additional documentation. Please contact Shareholder Services at 1-888-FUND-LSV for more information.

 

The sale price of each share will be the next determined NAV after the Fund receives your request in good order.

 

By Mail

 

To redeem shares by mail, please send a letter to the Fund signed by all registered parties on the account specifying:

 

 

The Fund name;

 

 

The share class;

 

 

The account number;

 

 

The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;

 

 

The account name(s); and

 

 

The address to which redemption (sale) proceeds should be sent.

 

All registered shareholders must sign the letter in the exact name(s) in which their account is registered and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.

 

Regular Mail Address

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

LSV Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of sale orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the sale order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

14

 

 

By Telephone

 

You must first establish the telephone redemption privilege (and, if desired, the wire or ACH redemption privilege) by completing the appropriate sections of the account application. Call 1-888-FUND-LSV to redeem your shares. Based on your instructions, the Fund will mail your proceeds to you, or send them to your bank via wire or ACH.

 

By Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH)

 

If your account balance is at least $500,000 for Institutional Class Shares or $5,000 for Investor Class Shares, you may transfer as little as $100 per month from your account to another financial institution through a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH). To participate in this service you must complete the appropriate sections of the account application and mail it to the Fund.

 

Receiving Your Money

 

Normally, the Fund will send your sale proceeds within one Business Day after it receives your redemption request. The Fund, however, may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account (may be subject to a $10 fee), sent to you by check or sent via ACH to your bank account if you have established banking instructions with the Fund. If you are selling shares that were recently purchased by check or through ACH, redemption proceeds may not be available until your check has cleared or the ACH transaction has been completed (which may take up to 15 days from your date of purchase).

 

The Fund typically expects to sell portfolio assets and/or hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. On a less regular basis, the Fund may also meet redemption requests by using short-term borrowings from its custodian and/or redeeming shares in-kind (as described below). These methods may be used during both normal and stressed market conditions.

 

Redemptions In-Kind

 

The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders, the Fund might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in-kind). The Fund may also redeem in-kind to discourage short-term trading of shares. It is highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in-kind, but if they were you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption. In addition, you would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in-kind until they are sold.

 

Involuntary Redemptions of Your Shares

 

If your account balance drops below $100,000 with respect to Institutional Class Shares and $1,000 with respect to Investor Class Shares because of redemptions, you may be required to sell your shares. The Fund generally will provide you at least 30 days’ written notice to give you time to add to your account and avoid the involuntary redemption of your shares. The Fund reserves the right to waive the minimum account value requirements in its sole discretion.

 

Suspension of Your Right to Sell Your Shares

 

The Fund may suspend your right to sell your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC. More information about this is in the SAI.

 

15

 

 

How to Exchange Fund Shares

 

At no charge, you may exchange Investor Class Shares or Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for shares of the same class of another LSV Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Fund. At no charge, you may also convert Investor Class Shares of the Fund directly to Institutional Class Shares of the Fund or Institutional Class Shares of the Fund directly to Investor Class Shares of the Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Fund, subject to the fees and expenses of the share class you are converting, and provided that you meet the eligibility requirements applicable to investing in such share class, as set forth in the Prospectus. You may only exchange or convert shares between accounts with identical registrations (i.e., the same names and addresses). An exchange between share classes of the Fund is not a taxable event.

 

The exchange privilege is not intended as a vehicle for short-term or excessive trading. The Fund may suspend or terminate your exchange privilege if you engage in a pattern of exchanges that is excessive, as determined in the sole discretion of the Fund. For more information about the Fund’s policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

Telephone Transactions

 

Purchasing, selling and exchanging Fund shares over the telephone is extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or costs incurred by following telephone instructions it reasonably believes to be genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund over the telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.

 

Other Policies

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourages shareholders from engaging in “market timing” or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Fund may present risks to the Fund’s long-term shareholders and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests and experiencing increased transaction costs.

 

Because the Fund invests in small- and mid-cap securities, which often trade in lower volumes and may be less liquid, the Fund may be more susceptible to the risks posed by frequent trading because frequent transactions in the Fund’s shares may have a greater impact on the market prices of these types of securities.

 

The Fund’s service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Fund’s policies and procedures described in this Prospectus and approved by the Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Fund’s service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control. The Fund’s policies and procedures include:

 

 

Shareholders are restricted from making more than four (4) “round trips” into or out of the Fund per calendar year. If a shareholder exceeds this amount, the Fund and/or its service providers may, at their discretion, reject any additional purchase or exchange orders. The Fund defines a “round trip” as a purchase into the Fund by a shareholder, followed by a subsequent redemption out of the Fund, of an amount the Adviser reasonably believes would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase or exchange request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

The Fund and/or its service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. The Fund does not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders. Although

 

16

 

 

these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in the Fund will occur. Systematic purchases and redemptions are exempt from these policies.

 

Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Fund has entered into “information sharing agreements” with these financial intermediaries, which permit the Fund to obtain, upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary’s customers that invest in the Fund. If the Fund or its service providers identify omnibus account level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Fund, the Fund or its service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Fund or its service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Fund, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Fund by that customer. If the Fund is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Fund may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Fund’s shares is requested by the Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Fund on behalf of other persons.

 

The Fund and its service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Fund to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary’s customers. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

What this means to you: When you open an account, the Fund will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Fund to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.

 

The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

 

In certain instances, the Fund is required to collect documents to fulfill its legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.

 

Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker. If this information cannot be obtained within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund, your application will be rejected.

 

Upon receipt of your application in good order (or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application), your investment will be accepted and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV.

 

The Fund reserves the right to close or liquidate your account at the next-determined NAV and remit proceeds to you via check if it is unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund. Further, the Fund

 

17

 

 

reserves the right to hold your proceeds until your original check clears the bank, which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

Customer identification and verification is part of the Fund’s overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Fund has adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Fund reserves the right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund or in cases when the Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Fund is required to withhold such proceeds.

 

Unclaimed Property

 

Each state has unclaimed property rules that generally provide for escheatment (or transfer) to the state of unclaimed property under various circumstances. Such circumstances include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or “RPO,” as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once it flags property as unclaimed, the Fund will attempt to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state.

 

Shareholders that reside in the state of Texas may designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that can be found on the website of the Texas Comptroller. While the designated representative does not have any rights to claim or access the shareholder’s account or assets, the escheatment period will cease if the representative communicates knowledge of the shareholder’s location and confirms that the shareholder has not abandoned his or her property. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Fund (if shares are held directly with the Fund) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if shares are not held directly with the Fund).

 

More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

 

The Fund and/or the Adviser may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to the Fund and/or its shareholders. Financial intermediaries include affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates. This section briefly describes how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing these services. For more information please see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

Distribution Plan

 

The Fund has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, for Investor Class Shares that allows the Fund to pay distribution and/or service fees for the sale and distribution of Fund shares, and for services provided to shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The maximum annual Rule 12b-1 fee for Investor Class Shares of the Fund is 0.25%.

 

18

 

 

Payments by the Adviser

 

From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support for the Fund. These payments are sometimes characterized as “revenue sharing” payments and are made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own legitimate profits or other resources, and may be in addition to any payments made to financial intermediaries by the Fund. A financial intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments for making shares of the Fund available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Fund with “shelf space,” placing it on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Fund in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries.

 

The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary or the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV or price of the Fund’s shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders.

 

In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, commissions or transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Fund, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

The Fund distributes its net investment income and makes distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Fund shares on the Fund’s record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.

 

You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you must notify the Fund in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Fund receives your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Fund written notice.

 

Taxes

 

Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific questions about U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax issues that affect the Fund and its shareholders. This summary is based on current tax laws, which may change. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future.

 

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) within the meaning of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains

 

19

 

 

from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable whether you receive them in cash or you reinvest them in additional shares of the Fund. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Fund as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain foreign countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). Once a year the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information for Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

Each sale of Fund shares may be a taxable event. Assuming a shareholder holds Fund shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for 12 months or less or as a long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly), are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund).

 

The Fund may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund receives from sources in foreign countries.

 

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Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

More information about taxes is included in the SAI.

 

Additional Information

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this Prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

 

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Financial Highlights

 

The tables that follow present performance information about the Fund. This information is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Some of this information reflects financial information for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information provided below has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund. The financial statements and the unqualified opinion of Ernst & Young LLP are included in the 2023 Annual Report of the Fund, which is available upon request by calling the Fund at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

For a share outstanding throughout each year ended October 31,

 

 

 

Net Asset
Value
Beginning
of Year

   

Net
Investment
Income
(1)

   

Realized
and
Unrealized
Gains
(Losses) on
Investments

   

Total
from
Operations

   

Dividends
from Net
Investment
Income

   

Distributions
from
Realized
Gains

   

Total
Dividends
and
Distributions

   

Net Asset
Value
End of
Year

   

Total
Return

   

Net Assets
End of
Year
(000)

   

Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets

   

Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
(Excluding
Waivers,
Reimbursements
and Fees Paid
Indirectly)

   

Ratio of
Net
Investment
Income to
Average
Net Assets

   

Portfolio
Turnover
Rate

 

LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund

                                                                                       

Institutional Class Shares

                                                                                       

2023

  $ 12.47     $ 0.28     $ (0.36 )   $ (0.08 )   $ (0.27 )   $ (1.00 )   $ (1.27 )   $ 11.12       (0.92 )%   $ 29,708       0.55 %     0.78 %     2.38 %     21 %

2022

    13.47       0.32       (0.42 )     (0.10 )     (0.32 )     (0.58 )     (0.90 )     12.47       (0.95 )     52,397       0.55       0.72       2.52       18  

2021

    10.68       0.28       2.97       3.25       (0.27 )     (0.19 )     (0.46 )     13.47       31.14       61,130       0.55       0.69       2.21       16  

2020

    13.53       0.27       (1.87 )     (1.60 )     (0.33 )     (0.92 )     (1.25 )     10.68       (13.42 )     50,453       0.55       0.71       2.33       28  

2019

    13.07       0.33       0.99       1.32       (0.31 )     (0.55 )     (0.86 )     13.53       11.36       66,357       0.56       0.66       2.61       15  

Investor Class Shares

2023

  $ 12.55     $ 0.25     $ (0.36 )   $ (0.11 )   $ (0.24 )   $ (1.00 )   $ (1.24 )   $ 11.20       (1.16 )%   $ 279       0.80 %     1.03 %     2.13 %     21 %

2022

    13.55       0.28       (0.41 )     (0.13 )     (0.29 )     (0.58 )     (0.87 )     12.55       (1.17 )     462       0.80       0.97       2.17       18  

2021

    10.69       0.25       2.98       3.23       (0.18 )     (0.19 )     (0.37 )     13.55       30.80       342       0.80       0.94       2.00       16  

2020

    13.54       0.28       (1.92 )     (1.64 )     (0.29 )     (0.92 )     (1.21 )     10.69       (13.62 )     351       0.80       0.93       2.27       28  

2019

    13.05       0.30       0.99       1.29       (0.25 )     (0.55 )     (0.80 )     13.54       11.08       3,475       0.80       0.91       2.35       15  

 

Total return is for the period indicated and has not been annualized. Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fee. Total returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(1)

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the period.

 

22

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

LSV Funds

 

Investment Adviser

 

LSV Asset Management
155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600
Chicago, Illinois 60606

 

Distributor

 

SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

 

Legal Counsel

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
2222 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

 

More information about the Fund is available, without charge, through the following:

 

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI, dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time, includes detailed information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund and the LSV Funds. The SAI is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this Prospectus.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports: These reports list the Fund’s holdings and contain information from the Adviser about investment strategies, and recent market conditions and trends and their impact on Fund performance. The reports also contain detailed financial information about the Fund.

 

To Obtain an SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report, or More Information:

 

By Telephone:

1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578)

By Mail:

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009

By Internet:

www.lsvasset.com

 

From the SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act registration number is 811-06400.

 

LSV-PS-007-1100

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

 

LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund

 

Institutional Class Shares: LSVFX
Investor Class Shares: LVAFX

 

PROSPECTUS

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

 

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

 

 

About This Prospectus

 

This Prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this important information. For detailed information about the Fund, please see:

 

   

Page

Fund Summary

1

Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategies

2

Principal Risks

2

Performance Information

4

Investment Adviser

5

Portfolio Managers

5

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

5

Tax Information

5

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

6

More Information about Risk

7

More Information about the Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategies

8

Information about Portfolio Holdings

8

More Information about the Investment Adviser

8

Portfolio Managers

9

Related Performance Data of the Adviser

9

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

11

Other Policies

18

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

20

Dividends and Distributions

21

Taxes

21

Additional Information

23

Financial Highlights

24

How to Obtain More Information About the Fund

Back Cover

 

 

 

LSVFX Institutional Class Shares

LVAFX Investor Class Shares

MSCI All Country World Index Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

LSV GLOBAL MANAGED VOLATILITY FUND

 

Investment Objective

 

The LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is long-term growth of capital.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Fund. You may be required to pay commissions and/or other forms of compensation to a broker for transactions in Institutional Class Shares, which are not reflected in the table or the example below.

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor Class
Shares

Management Fees

0.60%

0.60%

12b-1 Fees

None

0.25%

Other Expenses

0.54%

0.63%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

1.14%

1.48%

Less Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1

(0.39)%

(0.48)%

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

0.75%

1.00%

 

1

LSV Asset Management (“LSV” or the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.75% and 1.00% of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ and Investor Class Shares’ average daily net assets, respectively, until February 28, 2025. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses (including one year of capped expenses in each period) remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$77

$324

$590

$1,351

Investor Class Shares

$102

$421

$762

$1,727

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 19% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

1

 

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of companies located throughout the world. The equity securities in which the Fund invests are mainly common stocks, but may also include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs” and, together with ADRs, “Depositary Receipts”). Depositary     Receipts are certificates issued by a bank or trust company that represent ownership of shares of a foreign issuer and generally trade on an established market, in the United States or elsewhere. Although the Fund may invest in securities of companies of any size, the Fund generally invests in companies with market capitalizations of $100 million or more at the time of purchase.

 

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest in at least three countries, including the United States, and at least 40% of its assets will be invested in non-U.S. companies, in both developed and emerging market countries. The Fund considers a company to be a non-U.S. company if (i) the company’s primary issue trades on a non-U.S. exchange; or (ii) the company is organized, maintains its principal place of business, or primarily generates its revenues outside of the United States.

 

In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser focuses on companies whose securities, in the Adviser’s opinion, are out-of-favor (undervalued) in the marketplace at the time of purchase in light of factors such as the company’s earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow, but show signs of recent improvement. The Adviser believes that these out-of-favor securities will produce superior future returns if their future growth exceeds the market’s low expectations. The Adviser seeks to manage volatility by selecting stocks for the Fund’s portfolio whose total returns are not expected to fluctuate as dramatically as those of the equity markets as a whole.

 

The Adviser uses a quantitative investment model to make investment decisions for the Fund. The investment model ranks securities based on fundamental measures of value (such as the price-to-earnings ratio) and indicators of near-term appreciation potential (such as recent price appreciation). Additionally, securities are ranked based on sensitivity to broader market movements or “beta,” standard deviation, and volatility of operating performance (cash flow and earnings) to identify securities that the Adviser believes will have less volatility than the overall equity markets. The investment model is used to select stocks to buy from those with higher expected returns and lower expected volatility and select stocks to sell from those whose expected returns have decreased and expected volatility has increased, subject to overall risk controls.

 

Principal Risks

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

Although the Fund seeks to manage volatility within its portfolio, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may be subject to price volatility, and the Fund’s share price may not be any less volatile than the market as a whole and could be more volatile. The Adviser’s

 

2

 

 

determinations/expectations regarding volatility may be incorrect or inaccurate, which may also adversely affect the Fund’s actual volatility. The Fund also may underperform other funds with similar investment objectives and strategies. The Fund may provide protection in volatile markets by potentially curbing or mitigating the risk of loss in declining equity markets, but the Fund’s opportunity to achieve returns when the equity markets are rising may also be limited. In general, the greater the protection against downside loss, the lesser the Fund’s opportunity to participate in the returns generated by rising equity markets; however, there is no guarantee that the Fund will be successful in protecting the value of its portfolio in down markets.

 

Investing in foreign companies, including direct investments and through Depositary Receipts, which are traded on exchanges and represent an ownership in a foreign security, poses additional risks since political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. These risks will not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or similar issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign companies are generally denominated in a foreign currency. As a result, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect (positively or negatively) the value of the Fund’s investments. These currency movements may occur separately from, and in response to, events that do not otherwise affect the value of the security in the issuer’s home country. Securities of foreign companies may not be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and foreign companies are generally not subject to the regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign securities than is available about domestic securities. Income from foreign securities owned by the Fund may be reduced by a withholding tax at the source, which would reduce income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Foreign securities may also be more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers. In addition, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may require the Fund to sell such investments at inopportune times, which could result in losses to the Fund. While Depositary Receipts provide an alternative to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their respective national markets and currencies, investments in Depositary Receipts continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.

 

Investments in emerging markets securities are considered speculative and subject to heightened risks in addition to the general risks of investing in foreign securities. Unlike more established markets, emerging markets may have governments that are less stable, markets that are less liquid and economies that are less developed. In addition, the securities markets of emerging market countries may consist of companies with smaller market capitalizations and may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; and possible restrictions on repatriation of investment income and capital. Furthermore, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales, and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies.

 

Since the Fund pursues a “value style” of investing, if the Adviser’s assessment of market conditions, or a company’s value or prospects for exceeding earnings expectations is wrong, the Fund could suffer losses or produce poor performance relative to other funds. In addition, “value stocks” can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time.

 

There is potential for shortfall in any investment process due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, data and system imperfections, analyst judgment, the complex nature of designing, coding, and maintaining portfolio construction systems, and/or other technology used in a quantitative model. Such shortfalls in systematic or quantitative processes in particular pose broader risk because they may be more pervasive in nature. Furthermore, the Adviser’s systems may not necessarily perform in a manner in which they have historically performed or were intended to perform and the Fund can perform differently from the market as a whole based on the factors used in the Adviser’s quantitative model, the weight placed on each factor and changes from the factors’ historical trends. These issues could negatively impact investment returns. Such risks should be viewed as an inherent element of investing in an investment strategy that relies heavily upon a quantitative model.

 

3

 

 

As a result of the Fund’s investments in securities or other investments denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies, the Fund will be subject to currency risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, in which case, the dollar value of an investment in the Fund would be adversely affected.

 

The medium- and smaller-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in these medium- and small-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, medium- and small-capitalization stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. These securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

Performance Information

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for 1 and 5 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling the Fund at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

 

 

Best Quarter

Worst Quarter

14.00%

(23.20)%

12/31/2022

3/31/2020

 

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns will depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns are shown only for Institutional Class Shares. After-tax returns for Investor Class Shares will vary.

 

4

 

 

LSV GLOBAL MANAGED VOLATILITY FUND

1 Year

5 Year

Since Inception
(6/25/2014)

Fund Returns Before Taxes

 

 

 

Institutional Class Shares

10.12%

6.88%

5.43%

Investor Class Shares

9.76%

6.62%

5.17%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

     

Institutional Class Shares

6.26%

5.29%

4.15%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

     

Institutional Class Shares

8.51%

5.27%

4.14%

MSCI All Country World Index Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

22.20%

11.72%

7.70%

 

Investment Adviser

 

LSV Asset Management

 

Portfolio Managers

 

Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D., CEO, CIO, and Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2014.

 

Menno Vermeulen, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2014.

 

Puneet Mansharamani, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2014.

 

Greg Sleight, Partner, has managed the Fund since 2014.

 

Guy Lakonishok, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since 2014.

 

Jason Karceski, Ph.D., Partner, has managed the Fund since 2014.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $100,000, including for IRAs. To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $1,000, including for IRAs. There are no minimum subsequent investment amounts for the Fund. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business (a “Business Day”) by contacting the Fund directly by mail at: LSV Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail: LSV Funds c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105) or telephone at 1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578).

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to redeem your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

Tax Information

 

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as qualified dividend income, ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distributions will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

5

 

 

 

LSVFX Institutional Class Shares

LVAFX Investor Class Shares

MSCI All Country World Index Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

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

 

6

 

 

More Information about Risk

 

Investing in the Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good of a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund, just as you could with similar investments.

 

The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the value of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets in which they trade. The effect on the Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings.

 

Equity securities include common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights to subscribe to common stock, convertible securities, Depositary Receipts, as well as shares of exchange-traded funds that attempt to track the price movement of equity indices. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stock provides a fixed dividend that is paid before any dividends are paid to common stock holders, and which takes precedence over common stock in the event of a liquidation. Like common stock, preferred stocks represent partial ownership in a company, although preferred stock shareholders do not enjoy any of the voting rights of common stockholders. Also, unlike common stock, a preferred stock pays a fixed dividend that does not fluctuate, although the company does not have to pay this dividend if it lacks the financial ability to do so. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations, and by businesses, including changes to operations and reducing staff. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) to fluctuate. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

 

Investments in securities of foreign companies (including direct investments as well as investments through Depositary Receipts) can be more volatile than investments in U.S. companies. Diplomatic, political, or economic developments, including nationalization or appropriation, could affect investments in foreign companies. Foreign securities markets generally have less trading volume and less liquidity than U.S. markets. In addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies, and of dividends from such securities, can change significantly when foreign currencies strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. dollar. Financial statements of foreign issuers are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards than U.S. issuers and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Thus, there may be less information publicly available about foreign issuers than about most U.S. issuers. Transaction costs are generally higher than those in the United States and expenses for custodial arrangements of foreign securities may be somewhat greater than typical expenses for custodial arrangements of similar U.S. securities. Some foreign governments levy withholding taxes against dividend and interest income. Although in some countries a portion of these taxes are recoverable, the non-recovered portion will reduce the income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Additionally, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in the Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. Government

 

7

 

 

designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses. These risks may be heightened with respect to emerging market countries since political turmoil and rapid changes in economic conditions are more likely to occur in these countries.

 

Because non-U.S. securities are usually denominated in currencies other than the dollar, the value of the Fund’s portfolio may be influenced by currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. The currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by the Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries.

 

More Information about the Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategies

 

The Fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The investment objective may not be changed without shareholder approval.

 

The investments and strategies described in this Prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments and other cash equivalents that would not ordinarily be consistent with its investment objective. If the Fund invests in this manner, it may not achieve its investment objective. The Fund will only make temporary defensive investments if the Adviser believes that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity for total return or capital growth.

 

This Prospectus describes the Fund’s principal investment strategies, and the Fund will normally invest in the types of securities described in this Prospectus. In addition to the investments and strategies described in this Prospectus, the Fund also may invest, to a lesser extent, in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and strategies, as well as those described in this Prospectus, are described in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”). For information on how to obtain a copy of the SAI, see the back cover of this Prospectus. For liquidity purposes, the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in cash, money market instruments or equity index futures contracts. However, the Fund intends to remain as fully invested as practicable regardless of market conditions. Of course, the Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment goal.

 

Information about Portfolio Holdings

 

A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the circumstances under which the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings is available in the SAI.

 

More Information about the Investment Adviser

 

Formed in 1994 as a Delaware general partnership, LSV Asset Management provides active, quantitative value equity management through the application of a proprietary model. The Adviser is a partnership between the Adviser’s management team and current and retired employee partners, owners of a majority position, and SEI Funds, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company and the owner of a minority position. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $96 billion in assets under management. The Adviser’s principal place of business is located at 155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, IL 60606.

 

The Adviser makes investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Fund’s investment program. The Board oversees the Adviser and establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its management activities. For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to an investment advisory fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.60% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

 

8

 

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses of the Fund in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.75% and 1.00% of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ and Investor Class Shares’ average daily net assets, respectively, until February 28, 2025. The contractual expense limitation agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board, for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025. To maintain these expense limits, the Adviser may reduce a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses of the Fund.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid 0.21% of its average daily net assets in advisory fees (after fee waivers) to the Adviser.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders dated April 30, 2024, which will cover the period from November 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

The Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D., has served as CEO, CIO, Partner and portfolio manager for LSV since its founding in 1994. He has more than 47 years of investment and research experience.

 

Menno Vermeulen, CFA, has served as a portfolio manager for LSV since 1995 and a Partner since 1998. He has more than 32 years of investment and research experience.

 

Puneet Mansharamani, CFA, has served as a Partner and portfolio manager for LSV since 2006. He has more than 25 years of investment experience.

 

Greg Sleight has served as a Quantitative Analyst of LSV since 2006, a Partner since 2012 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 18 years of investment experience.

 

Guy Lakonishok, CFA, has served as a Quantitative Analyst of LSV since 2009, a Partner since 2013 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 23 years of investment experience.

 

Jason Karceski, Ph.D., has served as a Senior Research Analyst of LSV since 2009, a Partner since 2012 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 30 years of investment experience.

 

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

 

Related Performance Data of the Adviser

 

The following tables give the related performance of all the actual separate accounts (each, an “Account”), referred to as a “Composite,” managed by the Adviser that have investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those of the Fund. The data does not represent the performance of the Fund. Performance is historical and does not represent the future performance of the Fund or of the Adviser.

 

The manner in which the performance was calculated for the Composite differs from that of registered mutual funds such as the Fund. If the performance was calculated in accordance with SEC standardized performance methodology, the performance results may have been different. The Adviser claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (“GIPS®”) and has prepared and presented the following in compliance with the GIPS® standards. The policies for valuing portfolios, calculating performance, and preparing compliant presentations are available upon request.

 

9

 

 

All returns presented were calculated on a total return basis and include all dividends and interest, accrued income, and realized and unrealized gains and losses. All fees and expenses, except custodial fees, if any, were included in the calculations. Securities are valued as of trade-date. Each Account was under management by the Adviser for the entire reporting period in which the Account was included in the Composite. The currency used to express performance in the Composite is U.S. dollars. Performance results are presented both net of fees and gross of fees. Because of variation in fee levels, the “net of fees” Composite returns may not be reflective of performance in any one particular Account. Therefore, the performance information shown below is not necessarily representative of the performance information that typically would be shown for a registered mutual fund.

 

The Accounts that are included in the Composite are not subject to the same type of expenses to which the Fund is subject and are not subject to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions, and investment limitations imposed by the federal securities and tax laws. Consequently, the performance results for the Composite could have been adversely affected if the Accounts in the Composite were subject to the same fees and expenses or federal securities and tax laws as the Fund.

 

The investment results for the Composite presented below are not intended to predict or suggest the future returns of the Fund. The performance data shown below should not be considered a substitute for the Fund’s own performance information. Investors should be aware that the use of a methodology different than that used below to calculate performance could result in different performance data.

 

THE FOLLOWING DATA DOES NOT REPRESENT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND

 

Performance Information for the Adviser’s Substantially Similar Composite1

(April 1, 2012 through December 31, 2023)

 

Year

Total Pre-Tax
Return
(Net of Fees)

Total Pre-Tax
Return
(Gross of Fees)

MSCI All Country
World Index
2 (reflects
no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)

Number of
Portfolios

Total Assets at
End of Period
($ Millions)

2023

8.73%

9.32%

22.20%

7

$2,094

2022

(2.46)%

(1.92)%

(18.36)%

7

$2,411

2021

18.56%

19.21%

18.54%

7

$3,363

2020

(5.14)%

(4.62)%

16.25%

8

$3,603

2019

17.45%

18.09%

26.60%

11

$4,093

2018

(5.12)%

(4.59)%

(9.42)%

11

$3,794

2017

18.37%

19.01%

23.97%

10

$2,990

2016

10.81%

11.42%

7.51%

4

$319

2015

(3.86)%

(3.33)%

(2.36)%

3

$249

2014

8.67%

9.27%

4.16%

3

$173

2013

22.65%

23.65%

22.80%

2

$101

20123

6.95%

7.47%

3.80%

1

$5

 

10

 

 

Average Annual Total Pre-Tax Returns (as of 12/31/23)

 

Adviser’s Composite Returns

MSCI All Country World

Time Period

Net of Fees

Gross of Fees

Index2 (reflects no deduction
for fees, expenses or taxes)

1 Year

8.73%

9.32%

22.20%

5 Years

6.97%

7.56%

11.72%

10 Years

6.18%

6.76%

7.93%

Since Inception3

7.70%

8.29%

8.93%

 

1

Returns include the reinvestment of all income. Net results are calculated using the highest management fee in the Adviser’s standard fee schedule (0.50%), or, if higher, the performance-based management fee charged to an Account, and doing so results in performance figures that are no higher than those that would have resulted if the actual fees had been deducted. Returns are based on fully discretionary accounts under management, including, for certain time periods, those accounts no longer with the Adviser.

 

2

The MSCI All Country World Index captures large- and mid-cap representation across 23 developed market countries and 24 emerging market countries. The index covers approximately 85% of the global investable equity opportunity set.

 

3

Inception date (the initial date of the Composite’s performance record) of the Composite is April 1, 2012.

 

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

 

This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called “redeem”) and exchange Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Fund.

 

For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Taxes.”

 

How to Choose a Share Class

 

The Fund offers two classes of shares to investors, Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Each share class has its own shareholder eligibility criteria, investment minimums, cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Contact your financial intermediary or the Fund for more information about the Fund’s share classes and how to choose between them.

 

Class Name

Eligible Investors

Investment Minimums

Fees

Institutional Class Shares

Primarily institutional investors and individual investors who meet the initial investment minimum

Initial – $100,000
(including for IRAs)

 

Subsequent – None

No 12b-1 Fee.

Investor Class Shares

Primarily individual investors

Initial – $1,000
(including for IRAs)

 

Subsequent – None

0.25% 12b-1 Fee.

 

Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares are offered to investors who purchase shares directly from the Fund or through certain financial intermediaries such as financial planners, investment advisers, broker-dealers or other financial institutions. An investor may be eligible to purchase more than one share class. However, if you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, you may only purchase that class of shares which your financial intermediary sells or services. Your financial intermediary can tell you which class of shares is available through the intermediary.

 

The Fund reserves the right to change the criteria for eligible investors and accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

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How to Purchase Fund Shares

 

To purchase shares directly from the Fund, complete and send in the application. If you need an application or have questions, please call 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

All investments must be made by check, Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), or wire. All checks must be made payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept purchases made by third-party checks, credit cards, credit card checks, cash, traveler’s checks, money orders or cashier’s checks.

 

You may also buy shares through accounts with brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. If you invest through an authorized institution, you will have to follow its procedures, which may be different from the procedures for investing directly. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund. You will also generally have to address your correspondence or questions regarding the Fund to your institution.

 

The Fund reserves the right to suspend all sales of new shares or to reject any specific purchase order, including exchange purchases, for any reason. The Fund is not intended for excessive trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For more information about the Fund’s policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

The Fund does not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Fund subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Fund for more information.

 

By Mail

 

You can open an account with the Fund by sending a check and your account application to the address below. You can add to an existing account by sending the Fund a check and, if possible, the “Invest By Mail” stub that accompanies your confirmation statement. Be sure your check identifies clearly your name, your account number, the Fund’s name and the share class. Make your check payable to “LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund.”

 

Regular Mail Address

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

LSV Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of purchase orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Wire

 

To open an account by wire, first call 1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578) for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the wiring instructions set forth below (be sure to include the Fund’s name, your account number and the share class). The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the wire in good order.

 

12

 

 

Wiring Instructions

UMB Bank, NA
ABA #101000695
LSV Funds
DDA Account #9870523965
Ref: Fund name/account name/account number/share class

 

By Automatic Investment Plan (via ACH)

 

You may not open an account via ACH. However, once you have established an account, you can set up an automatic investment plan by mailing a completed application to the Fund. These purchases can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually in amounts of at least $25. To cancel or change a plan, write to the Fund at: LSV Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009, (Express Mail Address: LSV Funds, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105). Please allow up to 15 days to create the plan and 3 days to cancel or change it.

 

Purchases In-Kind

 

Subject to the approval of the Fund, an investor may purchase shares of the Fund with liquid securities and other assets that are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an appropriate investment for the Fund. Assets purchased by the Fund in such a transaction will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

 

General Information

 

You may purchase shares on any day that the NYSE is open for business (a “Business Day”). Shares cannot be purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days when either the NYSE or the Federal Reserve is closed. The price per share will be the next determined NAV after the Fund or an authorized institution (defined below) receives and accepts your purchase order in good order. “Good order” means that the Fund was provided a complete and signed account application, including the investor’s social security number or tax identification number, and other identification required by law or regulation, as well as sufficient purchase proceeds. Purchase orders that are not in good order cannot be accepted and processed even if money to purchase shares has been submitted by wire, check or ACH.

 

The Fund calculates its NAV once each Business Day as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day’s NAV, the Fund or an authorized institution must receive and accept your purchase order in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE. If your purchase order is not received and accepted in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV calculated on the subsequent Business Day on which your order is received and accepted in good order. If the NYSE closes early, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading, the Fund reserves the right to calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. The Fund will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or any other special conditions. Shares will only be priced on Business Days. Since securities that are traded on foreign exchanges may trade on days that are not Business Days, the value of the Fund’s assets may change on days when you are unable to purchase or redeem shares.

 

Buying or Selling Shares through a Financial Intermediary

 

In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from the Fund through its transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of the Fund through accounts with financial intermediaries, such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. When you purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to the financial intermediary at an earlier time for

 

13

 

 

your transaction to become effective that day. This allows the financial intermediary time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund prior to the time the Fund calculates its NAV that day. Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. If your financial intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses. Unless your financial intermediary is an authorized institution, orders transmitted by the financial intermediary and received by the Fund after the time NAV is calculated for a particular day will receive the following day’s NAV.

 

Certain financial intermediaries, including certain broker-dealers and shareholder organizations, are authorized to act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to the receipt of purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares (“authorized institutions”). Authorized institutions are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized institution or, if applicable, an authorized institution’s designee, receives the order. Orders will be priced at the Fund’s next computed NAV after they are received by an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee. To determine whether your financial intermediary is an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee such that it may act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

If you deal directly with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with the Fund. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for your purchase and/or redemption transactions. For more information about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

How the Fund Calculates NAV

 

The NAV of a class of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets attributable to the class, less any liabilities attributable to the class, by the total number of shares outstanding of the class.

 

In calculating NAV, the Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price. If market prices are not readily available or are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that is assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

With respect to non-U.S. securities held by the Fund, the Adviser may take factors influencing specific markets or issuers into consideration in determining the fair value of a non-U.S. security. International securities markets may be open on days when the U.S. markets are closed. In such cases, the value of any international securities owned by the Fund may be significantly affected on days when investors cannot buy or sell shares. In addition, due to the difference in times between the close of the international markets and the time the Fund prices its shares, the value the Adviser assigns to securities generally will not be the same as the quoted or published prices of those securities on their primary markets or exchanges. In determining fair value prices, the Adviser may consider the performance of securities on their primary exchanges, foreign currency appreciation/depreciation, securities market movements in the United States, or other relevant information as related to the securities.

 

14

 

 

There may be limited circumstances in which the Adviser would price securities at fair value for stocks of U.S. companies that are traded on U.S. exchanges – for example, if the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closed early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time the Fund calculated its NAV.

 

Minimum Purchases

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $100,000, including for IRAs. To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $1,000, including for IRAs. There are no minimum subsequent investment amounts for the Fund. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

Fund Codes

 

The reference information listed below will be helpful to you when you contact the Fund to purchase shares, check daily NAV or obtain additional information.

 

Fund Name

Ticker Symbol

CUSIP

Fund Code

LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund

Institutional Class Shares

LSVFX

00769G386

4505

Investor Class Shares

LVAFX

00769G378

4506

 

How to Sell Your Fund Shares

 

If you own your shares directly, you may sell your shares on any Business Day by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to sell your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

If you would like to have your sales proceeds, including proceeds generated as a result of closing your account, sent to a third party or an address other than your own, please notify the Fund in writing.

 

Certain redemption requests will require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor institution. Eligible guarantors include commercial banks, savings and loans, savings banks, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any other member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. For example, signature guarantees may be required if your address of record has changed in the last 30 days, if you want the proceeds sent to a bank other than the bank of record on your account, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Please note that a notary public is not an acceptable provider of a signature guarantee and that the Fund must be provided with the original guarantee. Signature guarantees are for the protection of Fund shareholders. Before it grants a redemption request, the Fund may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to ensure proper authorization.

 

Accounts held by a corporation, trust, fiduciary or partnership may require additional documentation along with a signature guaranteed letter of instruction. The Fund participates in the Paperless Legal Program (the “Program”), which eliminates the need for accompanying paper documentation on legal securities transfers. Requests received with a Medallion Signature Guarantee will be reviewed for the proper criteria to meet the guidelines of the Program and may not require additional documentation. Please contact Shareholder Services at 1-888-FUND-LSV for more information.

 

The sale price of each share will be the next determined NAV after the Fund receives your request in good order.

 

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By Mail

 

To redeem shares by mail, please send a letter to the Fund signed by all registered parties on the account specifying:

 

 

The Fund name;

 

 

The share class;

 

 

The account number;

 

 

The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;

 

 

The account name(s); and

 

 

The address to which redemption (sale) proceeds should be sent.

 

All registered shareholders must sign the letter in the exact name(s) in which their account is registered and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.

 

Regular Mail Address

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

LSV Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of sale orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the sale order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Telephone

 

You must first establish the telephone redemption privilege (and, if desired, the wire or ACH redemption privilege) by completing the appropriate sections of the account application. Call 1-888-FUND-LSV to redeem your shares. Based on your instructions, the Fund will mail your proceeds to you, or send them to your bank via wire or ACH.

 

By Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH)

 

If your account balance is at least $500,000 for Institutional Class Shares or $5,000 for Investor Class Shares, you may transfer as little as $100 per month from your account to another financial institution through a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH). To participate in this service you must complete the appropriate sections of the account application and mail it to the Fund.

 

Receiving Your Money

 

Normally, the Fund will send your sale proceeds within one Business Day after it receives your redemption request. The Fund, however, may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account (may be subject to a $10 fee), sent to you by check or sent via ACH to your bank account if you have established banking instructions with the Fund. If you are selling shares that

 

16

 

 

were recently purchased by check or through ACH, redemption proceeds may not be available until your check has cleared or the ACH transaction has been completed (which may take up to 15 days from your date of purchase).

 

The Fund typically expects to sell portfolio assets and/or hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. On a less regular basis, the Fund may also meet redemption requests by using short-term borrowings from its custodian and/or redeeming shares in-kind (as described below). These methods may be used during both normal and stressed market conditions.

 

Redemptions In-Kind

 

The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders, the Fund might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in-kind). The Fund may also redeem in-kind to discourage short-term trading of shares. It is highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in-kind, but if they were you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption. In addition, you would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in-kind until they are sold.

 

Involuntary Redemptions of Your Shares

 

If your account balance drops below $100,000 with respect to Institutional Class Shares and $1,000 with respect to Investor Class Shares because of redemptions, you may be required to sell your shares. The Fund generally will provide you at least 30 days’ written notice to give you time to add to your account and avoid the involuntary redemption of your shares. The Fund reserves the right to waive the minimum account value requirements in its sole discretion.

 

Suspension of Your Right to Sell Your Shares

 

The Fund may suspend your right to sell your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC. More information about this is in the SAI.

 

How to Exchange Fund Shares

 

At no charge, you may exchange Investor Class Shares or Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for shares of the same class of another LSV Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Fund. At no charge, you may also convert Investor Class Shares of the Fund directly to Institutional Class Shares of the Fund or Institutional Class Shares of the Fund directly to Investor Class Shares of the Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Fund, subject to the fees and expenses of the share class you are converting, and provided that you meet the eligibility requirements applicable to investing in such share class, as set forth in the Prospectus. You may only exchange or convert shares between accounts with identical registrations (i.e., the same names and addresses). An exchange between share classes of the Fund is not a taxable event.

 

The exchange privilege is not intended as a vehicle for short-term or excessive trading. The Fund may suspend or terminate your exchange privilege if you engage in a pattern of exchanges that is excessive, as determined in the sole discretion of the Fund. For more information about the Fund’s policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

Telephone Transactions

 

Purchasing, selling and exchanging Fund shares over the telephone is extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or costs incurred by following telephone instructions it reasonably believes to be genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund over the telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.

 

17

 

 

Other Policies

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourages shareholders from engaging in “market timing” or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Fund may present risks to the Fund’s long-term shareholders and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests and experiencing increased transaction costs.

 

Because the Fund invests in small- and mid-cap securities, which often trade in lower volumes and may be less liquid, the Fund may be more susceptible to the risks posed by frequent trading because frequent transactions in the Fund’s shares may have a greater impact on the market prices of these types of securities.

 

In addition, because the Fund invests in foreign securities traded primarily on markets that close prior to the time the Fund determines its NAV, the risks posed by frequent trading may have a greater potential to dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders than a fund investing exclusively in U.S. securities. In instances where a significant event that affects the value of one or more foreign securities held by the Fund takes place after the close of the primary foreign market, but before the time that the Fund determines its NAV, certain investors may seek to take advantage of the fact that there will be a delay in the adjustment of the market price for a security caused by this event until the foreign market reopens (sometimes referred to as “price” or “time zone” arbitrage). Shareholders who attempt this type of arbitrage may dilute the value of the Fund’s shares by virtue of their Fund share transaction, if those prices reflect the fair value of the foreign securities. Although the Adviser has procedures designed to determine the fair value of foreign securities for purposes of calculating the Fund’s NAV when such an event has occurred, fair value pricing, because it involves judgments which are inherently subjective, may not always eliminate the risk of price arbitrage. For more information about how the Fund uses fair value pricing, see “How the Fund Calculates NAV.”

 

The Fund’s service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Fund’s policies and procedures described in this Prospectus and approved by the Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Fund’s service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control. The Fund’s policies and procedures include:

 

 

Shareholders are restricted from making more than four (4) “round trips” into or out of the Fund per calendar year. If a shareholder exceeds this amount, the Fund and/or its service providers may, at their discretion, reject any additional purchase or exchange orders. The Fund defines a “round trip” as a purchase into the Fund by a shareholder, followed by a subsequent redemption out of the Fund, of an amount the Adviser reasonably believes would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase or exchange request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

The Fund and/or its service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. The Fund does not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders. Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in the Fund will occur. Systematic purchases and redemptions are exempt from these policies.

 

Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Fund has entered into “information sharing agreements” with these financial intermediaries, which permit the Fund to obtain,

 

18

 

 

upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary’s customers that invest in the Fund. If the Fund or its service providers identify omnibus account level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Fund, the Fund or its service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Fund or its service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Fund, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Fund by that customer. If the Fund is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Fund may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Fund’s shares is requested by the Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Fund on behalf of other persons.

 

The Fund and its service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Fund to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary’s customers. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

What this means to you: When you open an account, the Fund will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Fund to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.

 

The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

 

In certain instances, the Fund is required to collect documents to fulfill its legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.

 

Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker. If this information cannot be obtained within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund, your application will be rejected.

 

Upon receipt of your application in good order (or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application), your investment will be accepted and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV.

 

The Fund reserves the right to close or liquidate your account at the next-determined NAV and remit proceeds to you via check if it is unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund. Further, the Fund reserves the right to hold your proceeds until your original check clears the bank, which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

Customer identification and verification is part of the Fund’s overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Fund has adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Fund reserves the right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account

 

19

 

 

and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund or in cases when the Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Fund is required to withhold such proceeds.

 

Unclaimed Property

 

Each state has unclaimed property rules that generally provide for escheatment (or transfer) to the state of unclaimed property under various circumstances. Such circumstances include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or “RPO,” as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once it flags property as unclaimed, the Fund will attempt to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state.

 

Shareholders that reside in the state of Texas may designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that can be found on the website of the Texas Comptroller. While the designated representative does not have any rights to claim or access the shareholder’s account or assets, the escheatment period will cease if the representative communicates knowledge of the shareholder’s location and confirms that the shareholder has not abandoned his or her property. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Fund (if shares are held directly with the Fund) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if shares are not held directly with the Fund).

 

More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

 

The Fund and/or the Adviser may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to the Fund and/or its shareholders. Financial intermediaries include affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates. This section briefly describes how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing these services. For more information please see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

Distribution Plan

 

The Fund has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, for Investor Class Shares that allows the Fund to pay distribution and/or service fees for the sale and distribution of Fund shares, and for services provided to shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The maximum annual Rule 12b-1 fee for Investor Class Shares of the Fund is 0.25%.

 

Payments by the Adviser

 

From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support for the Fund. These payments are sometimes characterized as “revenue sharing” payments and are made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own legitimate profits or other resources, and may be in addition to any payments made to financial intermediaries by the Fund. A financial intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (e.g., individual

 

20

 

 

or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments for making shares of the Fund available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Fund with “shelf space,” placing it on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Fund in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries.

 

The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary or the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV or price of the Fund’s shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders.

 

In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, commissions or transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Fund, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

The Fund distributes its net investment income and makes distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Fund shares on the Fund’s record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.

 

You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you must notify the Fund in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Fund receives your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Fund written notice.

 

Taxes

 

Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific questions about U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax issues that affect the Fund and its shareholders. This summary is based on current tax laws, which may change. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future.

 

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) within the meaning of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable whether you receive them in cash or you reinvest them in additional shares of the Fund. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Fund as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax

 

21

 

 

brackets). Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain foreign countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). Once a year the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year. The Fund’s investment strategy may limit its ability to make distributions eligible for the reduced tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information for Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

Each sale of Fund shares may be a taxable event. Assuming a shareholder holds Fund shares as a capital asset the gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for 12 months or less or as a long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to the Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund).

 

Because the Fund invests in foreign securities, it may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund received from sources in foreign countries. If more than 50% of the total assets of the Fund at the close of its taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to and intends to file an election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. If the Fund makes the election, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions.

 

Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

More information about taxes is included in the SAI.

 

22

 

 

Additional Information

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this Prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

 

23

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

The tables that follow present performance information about the Fund. This information is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Some of this information reflects financial information for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information provided below has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund. The financial statements and the unqualified opinion of Ernst & Young LLP are included in the 2023 Annual Report of the Fund, which is available upon request by calling the Fund at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

For a share outstanding throughout each year ended October 31,

 

 

 

Net Asset
Value
Beginning
of Year

   

Net
Investment
Income
(1)

   

Realized
and
Unrealized
Gains
(Losses) on
Investments

   

Total from
Operations

   

Dividends
from Net
Investment
Income

   

Distributions
from
Realized
Gains

   

Total
Dividends
and
Distributions

   

Net Asset
Value
End of
Year

   

Total
Return

   

Net
Assets
End of
Year
(000)

   

Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets

   

Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
(Excluding
Waivers,
Reimbursements
and Fees Paid
Indirectly)

   

Ratio of Net
Investment
Income to
Average
Net Assets

   

Portfolio
Turnover
Rate

 

LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund

                                                                                       

Institutional Class Shares

                                                                                       

2023

  $ 10.66     $ 0.35     $ 0.24     $ 0.59     $ (0.28 )   $ (0.07 )   $ (0.35 )   $ 10.90       5.58 %   $ 11,632       0.75 %     1.14 %     3.15 %     19 %

2022

    11.68       0.35       (1.00 )     (0.65 )     (0.37 )           (0.37 )     10.66       (5.84 )     32,476       0.75       1.25       3.13       15  

2021

    9.22       0.29       2.43       2.72       (0.26 )           (0.26 )     11.68       29.91       17,249       0.75       1.37       2.66       20  

2020

    11.36       0.26       (1.53 )     (1.27 )     (0.44 )     (0.43 )     (0.87 )     9.22       (12.40 )     14,915       0.75       1.39       2.68       24  

2019

    10.94       0.33       0.48       0.81       (0.26 )     (0.13 )     (0.39 )     11.36       7.89       13,926       0.75       1.33       3.08       27  

Investor Class Shares

2023

  $ 10.70     $ 0.31     $ 0.25     $ 0.56     $ (0.24 )   $ (0.07 )   $ (0.31 )   $ 10.95       5.30 %   $ 189       1.00 %     1.48 %     2.80 %     19 %

2022

    11.73       0.33       (1.02 )     (0.69 )     (0.34 )           (0.34 )     10.70       (6.14 )     192       1.00       1.49       2.95       15  

2021

    9.24       0.30       2.41       2.71       (0.22 )           (0.22 )     11.73       29.67       134       1.00       1.59       2.70       20  

2020

    11.38       0.24       (1.53 )     (1.29 )     (0.42 )     (0.43 )     (0.85 )     9.24       (12.60 )     111       1.00       1.63       2.43       24  

2019

    10.96       0.30       0.48       0.78       (0.23 )     (0.13 )     (0.36 )     11.38       7.59       210       1.00       1.61       2.77       27  

 

Total return is for the period indicated and has not been annualized. Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fee. Total returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(1)

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the period.

Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

24

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

LSV Funds

 

Investment Adviser

 

LSV Asset Management
155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600
Chicago, Illinois 60606

 

Distributor

 

SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

 

Legal Counsel

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
2222 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

 

More information about the Fund is available, without charge, through the following:

 

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI, dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time, includes detailed information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund and the LSV Funds. The SAI is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this Prospectus.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports: These reports list the Fund’s holdings and contain information from the Adviser about investment strategies, and recent market conditions and trends and their impact on Fund performance. The reports also contain detailed financial information about the Fund.

 

To Obtain an SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report, or More Information:

 

By Telephone:

1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578)

By Mail:

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009

By Internet:

www.lsvasset.com

 

From the SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act registration number is 811-06400.

 

LSV-PS-008-1100

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

 

LSV Global Value Fund

 

Institutional Class Shares: LSVGX
Investor Class Shares: LVAGX

 

PROSPECTUS

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

 

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

 

 

About This Prospectus

 

This Prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this important information. For detailed information about the Fund, please see:

 

 

 

Page

Fund Summary

1

Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategies

2

Principal Risks

2

Performance Information

4

Investment Adviser

5

Portfolio Managers

5

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

5

Tax Information

5

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

6

More Information about Risk

7

More Information about the Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategies

8

Information about Portfolio Holdings

8

More Information about the Investment Adviser

8

Portfolio Managers

9

Related Performance Data of the Adviser

9

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

11

Other Policies

18

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

20

Dividends and Distributions

21

Taxes

21

Additional Information

23

Financial Highlights

24

How to Obtain More Information about the Fund

Back Cover

 

 

 

LSVGX Institutional Class Shares

LVAGX Investor Class Shares

MSCI All Country World Index Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

LSV GLOBAL VALUE FUND

 

Investment Objective

 

The LSV Global Value Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is long-term growth of capital.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Fund. You may be required to pay commissions and/or other forms of compensation to a broker for transactions in Institutional Class Shares, which are not reflected in the table or the example below.

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor Class
Shares

Management Fees

0.75%

0.75%

12b-1 Fees

None

0.25%

Other Expenses

0.30%

0.30%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

1.05%

1.30%

Less Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1

(0.15)%

(0.15)%

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

0.90%

1.15%

 

1

LSV Asset Management (“LSV” or the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.90% and 1.15% of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ and Investor Class Shares’ average daily net assets, respectively, until February 28, 2025. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses (including one year of capped expenses in each period) remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$92

$319

$565

$1,269

Investor Class Shares

$117

$397

$699

$1,555

 

1

 

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 18% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

The Fund invests primarily in equity securities of companies located throughout the world. The equity securities in which the Fund invests are mainly common stocks, but may also include American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs” and, together with ADRs, “Depositary Receipts”). Depositary Receipts are certificates issued by a bank or trust company that represent ownership of shares of a foreign issuer and generally trade on an established market, in the United States or elsewhere. Although the Fund may invest in securities of companies of any size, the Fund generally invests in companies with market capitalizations of $100 million or more at the time of purchase.

 

Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest in at least three countries, including the United States, and at least 40% of its assets will be invested in non-U.S. companies, in both developed and emerging market countries. The Fund considers a company to be a non-U.S. company if (i) the company’s primary issue trades on a non-U.S. exchange; or (ii) the company is organized, maintains its principal place of business, or primarily generates its revenues outside of the United States.

 

In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser focuses on companies whose securities, in the Adviser’s opinion, are out-of-favor (undervalued) in the marketplace at the time of purchase in light of factors such as the company’s earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow, but show signs of recent improvement. The Adviser believes that these out-of-favor securities will produce superior future returns if their future growth exceeds the market’s low expectations.

 

The Adviser uses a quantitative investment model to make investment decisions for the Fund. The investment model ranks securities based on fundamental measures of value (such as the price-to-earnings ratio) and indicators of near-term appreciation potential (such as recent price appreciation). The investment model selects stocks to buy from the higher-ranked stocks and selects stocks to sell from those whose rankings have decreased, subject to overall risk controls.

 

Principal Risks

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

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Investing in foreign companies, including direct investments and through Depositary Receipts, which are traded on exchanges and represent an ownership in a foreign security, poses additional risks since political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. These risks will not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or similar issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign companies are generally denominated in a foreign currency. As a result, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect (positively or negatively) the value of the Fund’s investments. These currency movements may occur separately from, and in response to, events that do not otherwise affect the value of the security in the issuer’s home country. Securities of foreign companies may not be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and foreign companies are generally not subject to the regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign securities than is available about domestic securities. Income from foreign securities owned by the Fund may be reduced by a withholding tax at the source, which would reduce income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Foreign securities may also be more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers. In addition, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may require the Fund to sell such investments at inopportune times, which could result in losses to the Fund. While Depositary Receipts provide an alternative to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their respective national markets and currencies, investments in Depositary Receipts continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.

 

Investments in emerging markets securities are considered speculative and subject to heightened risks in addition to the general risks of investing in foreign securities. Unlike more established markets, emerging markets may have governments that are less stable, markets that are less liquid and economies that are less developed. In addition, the securities markets of emerging market countries may consist of companies with smaller market capitalizations and may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; and possible restrictions on repatriation of investment income and capital. Furthermore, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales, and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies.

 

Since the Fund pursues a “value style” of investing, if the Adviser’s assessment of market conditions, or a company’s value or prospects for exceeding earnings expectations is wrong, the Fund could suffer losses or produce poor performance relative to other funds. In addition, “value stocks” can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time.

 

There is potential for shortfall in any investment process due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, data and system imperfections, analyst judgment, the complex nature of designing, coding, and maintaining portfolio construction systems, and/or other technology used in a quantitative model. Such shortfalls in systematic or quantitative processes in particular pose broader risk because they may be more pervasive in nature. Furthermore, the Adviser’s systems may not necessarily perform in a manner in which they have historically performed or were intended to perform and the Fund can perform differently from the market as a whole based on the factors used in the Adviser’s quantitative model, the weight placed on each factor and changes from the factors’ historical trends. These issues could negatively impact investment returns. Such risks should be viewed as an inherent element of investing in an investment strategy that relies heavily upon a quantitative model.

 

As a result of the Fund’s investments in securities or other investments denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies, the Fund will be subject to currency risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, in which case, the dollar value of an investment in the Fund would be adversely affected.

 

The medium- and smaller-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in these medium- and small-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because

 

3

 

 

these companies tend to have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, medium- and small-capitalization stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. These securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

Performance Information

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for 1 and 5 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling the Fund at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

 

 

Best Quarter

Worst Quarter

20.17%

(30.69)%

12/31/2020

3/31/2020

 

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns will depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns are shown only for Institutional Class Shares. After-tax returns for Investor Class Shares will vary.

 

4

 

 

LSV GLOBAL VALUE FUND

1 Year

5 Year

Since Inception
(6/25/2014)

Fund Returns Before Taxes

 

 

 

Institutional Class Shares

19.06%

10.26%

6.10%

Investor Class Shares

18.76%

9.97%

5.84%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

     

Institutional Class Shares

18.24%

9.57%

5.40%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

     

Institutional Class Shares

11.87%

8.07%

4.74%

MSCI All Country World Index Return (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

22.20%

11.72%

7.70%

 

Investment Adviser

 

LSV Asset Management

 

Portfolio Managers

 

Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D., CEO, CIO, and Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2014.

 

Menno Vermeulen, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2014.

 

Puneet Mansharamani, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2014.

 

Greg Sleight, Partner, has managed the Fund since 2014.

 

Guy Lakonishok, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since 2014.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $100,000, including for IRAs. To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $1,000, including for IRAs. There are no minimum subsequent investment amounts for the Fund. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business (a “Business Day”) by contacting the Fund directly by mail at: LSV Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail: LSV Funds c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105) or telephone at 1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578).

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to redeem your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

Tax Information

 

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as qualified dividend income, ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distributions will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

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Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

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

 

6

 

 

More Information about Risk

 

Investing in the Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good of a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund, just as you could with similar investments.

 

The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the value of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets in which they trade. The effect on the Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings.

 

Equity securities include common and preferred stocks, warrants, rights to subscribe to common stock, convertible securities, Depositary Receipts, as well as shares of exchange-traded funds that attempt to track the price movement of equity indices. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stock provides a fixed dividend that is paid before any dividends are paid to common stock holders, and which takes precedence over common stock in the event of a liquidation. Like common stock, preferred stocks represent partial ownership in a company, although preferred stock shareholders do not enjoy any of the voting rights of common stockholders. Also, unlike common stock, a preferred stock pays a fixed dividend that does not fluctuate, although the company does not have to pay this dividend if it lacks the financial ability to do so. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. The value of securities convertible into equity securities, such as warrants or convertible debt, is also affected by prevailing interest rates, the credit quality of the issuer and any call provision. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations, and by businesses, including changes to operations and reducing staff. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) to fluctuate. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

 

Investments in securities of foreign companies (including direct investments as well as investments through Depositary Receipts) can be more volatile than investments in U.S. companies. Diplomatic, political or economic developments, including nationalization or appropriation, could affect investments in foreign companies. Foreign securities markets generally have less trading volume and less liquidity than U.S. markets. In addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies, and of dividends from such securities, can change significantly when foreign currencies strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. dollar. Financial statements of foreign issuers are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards than U.S. issuers and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Thus, there may be less information publicly available about foreign issuers than about most U.S. issuers. Transaction costs are generally higher than those in the United States and expenses for custodial arrangements of foreign securities may be somewhat greater than typical expenses for custodial arrangements of similar U.S. securities. Some foreign governments levy withholding taxes against dividend and interest income. Although in some countries a portion of these taxes are recoverable, the non-recovered portion will reduce the income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Additionally, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in the Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a

 

7

 

 

result of such U.S. Government designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses. These risks may be heightened with respect to emerging market countries since political turmoil and rapid changes in economic conditions are more likely to occur in these countries.

 

Because non-U.S. securities are usually denominated in currencies other than the dollar, the value of the Fund’s portfolio may be influenced by currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. The currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by the Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries.

 

More Information about the Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategies

 

The Fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The investment objective may not be changed without shareholder approval.

 

The investments and strategies described in this Prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments and other cash equivalents that would not ordinarily be consistent with its investment objective. If the Fund invests in this manner, it may not achieve its investment objective. The Fund will only make temporary defensive investments if the Adviser believes that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity for total return or capital growth.

 

This Prospectus describes the Fund’s principal investment strategies, and the Fund will normally invest in the types of securities described in this Prospectus. In addition to the investments and strategies described in this Prospectus, the Fund also may invest, to a lesser extent, in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and strategies, as well as those described in this Prospectus, are described in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”). For information on how to obtain a copy of the SAI, see the back cover of this Prospectus. For liquidity purposes, the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in cash, money market instruments or equity index futures contracts. However, the Fund intends to remain as fully invested as practicable regardless of market conditions. Of course, the Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment goal.

 

Information about Portfolio Holdings

 

A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the circumstances under which the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings is available in the SAI.

 

More Information about the Investment Adviser

 

Formed in 1994 as a Delaware general partnership, LSV Asset Management provides active, quantitative value equity management through the application of a proprietary model. The Adviser is a partnership between the Adviser’s management team and current and retired employee partners, owners of a majority position, and SEI Funds, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company and the owner of a minority position. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $96 billion in assets under management. The Adviser’s principal place of business is located at 155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, IL 60606.

 

The Adviser makes investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Fund’s investment program. The Board oversees the Adviser and establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its management activities. For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to an investment advisory fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

 

8

 

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses of the Fund in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.90% and 1.15% of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ and Investor Class Shares’ average daily net assets, respectively, until February 28, 2025. The contractual expense limitation agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board, for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025. To maintain these expense limits, the Adviser may reduce a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses of the Fund.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid 0.60% of its average daily net assets in advisory fees (after fee waivers) to the Adviser.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders dated April 30, 2024, which will cover the period from November 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

The Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D., has served as CEO, CIO, Partner and portfolio manager for LSV since its founding in 1994. He has more than 47 years of investment and research experience.

 

Menno Vermeulen, CFA, has served as a portfolio manager for LSV since 1995 and a Partner since 1998. He has more than 32 years of investment and research experience.

 

Puneet Mansharamani, CFA, has served as a Partner and portfolio manager for LSV since 2006. He has more than 25 years of investment experience.

 

Greg Sleight has served as a Quantitative Analyst of LSV since 2006, a Partner since 2012 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 18 years of investment experience.

 

Guy Lakonishok, CFA, has served as a Quantitative Analyst of LSV since 2009, a Partner since 2013 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 23 years of investment experience.

 

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

 

Related Performance Data of the Adviser

 

The following tables give the related performance of all the actual separate accounts (each, an “Account”), referred to as a “Composite,” managed by the Adviser that have investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those of the Fund. The data does not represent the performance of the Fund. Performance is historical and does not represent the future performance of the Fund or of the Adviser.

 

The manner in which the performance was calculated for the Composite differs from that of registered mutual funds such as the Fund. If the performance was calculated in accordance with SEC standardized performance methodology, the performance results may have been different. The Adviser claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (“GIPS®”) and has prepared and presented the following in compliance with the GIPS® standards. The policies for valuing portfolios, calculating performance, and preparing compliant presentations are available upon request.

 

All returns presented were calculated on a total return basis and include all dividends and interest, accrued income, and realized and unrealized gains and losses. All fees and expenses, except custodial fees, if any, were included in the calculations. Securities are valued as of trade-date. Each Account was

 

9

 

 

under management by the Adviser for the entire reporting period in which the Account was included in the Composite. The currency used to express performance in the Composite is U.S. dollars. Performance results are presented both net of fees and gross of fees. Because of variation in fee levels, the “net of fees” Composite returns may not be reflective of performance in any one particular Account. Therefore, the performance information shown below is not necessarily representative of the performance information that typically would be shown for a registered mutual fund.

 

The Accounts that are included in the Composite are not subject to the same type of expenses to which the Fund is subject and are not subject to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions, and investment limitations imposed by the federal securities and tax laws. Consequently, the performance results for the Composite could have been adversely affected if the Accounts in the Composite were subject to the same fees and expenses or federal securities and tax laws as the Fund.

 

The investment results for the Composite presented below are not intended to predict or suggest the future returns of the Fund. The performance data shown below should not be considered a substitute for the Fund’s own performance information. Investors should be aware that the use of a methodology different than that used below to calculate performance could result in different performance data.

 

THE FOLLOWING DATA DOES NOT REPRESENT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND

 

Performance Information for the Adviser’s Substantially Similar Composite1

(July 1, 2006 through December 31, 2023)

 

Year

Total Pre-Tax
Return
(Net of Fees)

Total Pre-Tax
Return
(Gross of Fees)

MSCI All Country
World Index
2 (reflects
no deduction for fees,
expenses or taxes)

Number of
Portfolios

Total Assets at
End of Period
($ Millions)

2023

16.26%

17.18%

22.20%

33

$17,691

2022

(8.70)%

(7.96)%

(18.36)%

32

$15,564

2021

20.87%

21.83%

18.54%

30

$15,795

2020

1.08%

1.89%

16.25%

32

$12,714

2019

22.93%

23.90%

26.60%

43

$18,469

2018

(14.19)%

(13.53)%

(8.71)%

49

$16,989

2017

22.44%

23.40%

23.97%

44

$17,544

2016

12.42%

13.31%

7.86%

20

$6,861

2015

(4.75)%

(3.98)%

(2.36)%

17

$5,871

2014

5.00%

5.84%

4.16%

15

$6,351

2013

29.29%

30.30%

22.80%

12

$5,128

2012

17.24%

18.17%

16.13%

10

$3,541

2011

(7.11)%

(6.41)%

(7.36)%

5

$1,354

2010

12.95%

13.79%

12.67%

4

$795

2009

37.01%

38.01%

34.63%

4

$472

2008

(41.08)%

(40.61)%

(42.21)%

3

$224

2007

5.39%

6.18%

11.65%

1

$44

20063

15.07%

15.52%

13.97%

1

$41

 

10

 

 

Average Annual Total Pre-Tax Returns (as of 12/31/23)

Time Period

Adviser’s Composite Returns

MSCI All Country World
Index
2 (reflects no deduction for
fees, expenses or taxes)

Net of Fees

Gross of Fees

1 Year

16.26%

17.18%

22.20%

5 Years

9.78%

10.65%

11.72%

10 Years

6.55%

7.40%

7.93%

Since Inception3

6.35%

7.18%

6.80%

 

1

Returns include the reinvestment of all income. Net results are calculated using the highest management fee in the Adviser’s standard fee schedule (0.75%), or, if higher, the performance-based management fee charged to an Account, and doing so results in performance figures that are no higher than those that would have resulted if the actual fees had been deducted. Returns are based on fully discretionary accounts under management, including, for certain time periods, those accounts no longer with the Adviser.

 

2

The MSCI All Country World Index captures large- and mid-cap representation across 23 developed market countries and 24 emerging market countries. The index covers approximately 85% of the global investable equity opportunity set.

 

3

Inception date (the initial date of the Composite’s performance record) of the Composite is July 1, 2006.

 

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

 

This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called “redeem”) and exchange Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Fund.

 

For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Taxes.”

 

How to Choose a Share Class

 

The Fund offers two classes of shares to investors, Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Each share class has its own shareholder eligibility criteria, investment minimums, cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Contact your financial intermediary or the Fund for more information about the Fund’s share classes and how to choose between them.

 

Class Name

Eligible Investors

Investment Minimums

Fees

Institutional Class Shares

Primarily institutional investors and individual investors who meet the initial investment minimum

Initial – $100,000 (including for IRAs)

 

Subsequent – None

No 12b-1 Fee.

Investor Class Shares

Primarily individual investors

Initial – $1,000 (including for IRAs)

 

Subsequent – None

0.25% 12b-1 Fee.

 

Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares are offered to investors who purchase shares directly from the Fund or through certain financial intermediaries such as financial planners, investment advisers, broker-dealers or other financial institutions. An investor may be eligible to purchase more than one share class. However, if you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, you may only purchase that class of shares which your financial intermediary sells or services. Your financial intermediary can tell you which class of shares is available through the intermediary.

 

The Fund reserves the right to change the criteria for eligible investors and accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

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How to Purchase Fund Shares

 

To purchase shares directly from the Fund, complete and send in the application. If you need an application or have questions, please call 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

All investments must be made by check, Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), or wire. All checks must be made payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept purchases made by third-party checks, credit cards, credit card checks, cash, traveler’s checks, money orders or cashier’s checks.

 

You may also buy shares through accounts with brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. If you invest through an authorized institution, you will have to follow its procedures, which may be different from the procedures for investing directly. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund. You will also generally have to address your correspondence or questions regarding the Fund to your institution.

 

The Fund reserves the right to suspend all sales of new shares or to reject any specific purchase order, including exchange purchases, for any reason. The Fund is not intended for excessive trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For more information about the Fund’s policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

The Fund does not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Fund subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Fund for more information.

 

By Mail

 

You can open an account with the Fund by sending a check and your account application to the address below. You can add to an existing account by sending the Fund a check and, if possible, the “Invest By Mail” stub that accompanies your confirmation statement. Be sure your check identifies clearly your name, your account number, the Fund’s name and the share class. Make your check payable to “LSV Global Value Fund.”

 

Regular Mail Address

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

LSV Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of purchase orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Wire

 

To open an account by wire, first call 1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578) for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the wiring instructions set forth below (be sure to include the Fund’s name, your account number and the share class). The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the wire in good order.

 

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Wiring Instructions

UMB Bank, NA
ABA #101000695
LSV Funds
DDA Account #9870523965
Ref: Fund name/account name/account number/share class

 

By Automatic Investment Plan (via ACH)

 

You may not open an account via ACH. However, once you have established an account, you can set up an automatic investment plan by mailing a completed application to the Fund. These purchases can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually in amounts of at least $25. To cancel or change a plan, write to the Fund at: LSV Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009, (Express Mail Address: LSV Funds, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105). Please allow up to 15 days to create the plan and 3 days to cancel or change it.

 

Purchases In-Kind

 

Subject to the approval of the Fund, an investor may purchase shares of the Fund with liquid securities and other assets that are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an appropriate investment for the Fund. Assets purchased by the Fund in such a transaction will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

 

General Information

 

You may purchase shares on any day that the NYSE is open for business (a “Business Day”). Shares cannot be purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days when either the NYSE or the Federal Reserve is closed. The price per share will be the next determined NAV after the Fund or an authorized institution (defined below) receives and accepts your purchase order in good order. “Good order” means that the Fund was provided a complete and signed account application, including the investor’s social security number or tax identification number, and other identification required by law or regulation, as well as sufficient purchase proceeds. Purchase orders that are not in good order cannot be accepted and processed even if money to purchase shares has been submitted by wire, check or ACH.

 

The Fund calculates its NAV once each Business Day as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day’s NAV, the Fund or an authorized institution must receive and accept your purchase order in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE. If your purchase order is not received and accepted in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV calculated on the subsequent Business Day on which your order is received and accepted in good order. If the NYSE closes early, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading, the Fund reserves the right to calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. The Fund will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or any other special conditions. Shares will only be priced on Business Days. Since securities that are traded on foreign exchanges may trade on days that are not Business Days, the value of the Fund’s assets may change on days when you are unable to purchase or redeem shares.

 

Buying or Selling Shares through a Financial Intermediary

 

In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from the Fund through its transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of the Fund through accounts with financial intermediaries, such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. When you purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to the financial intermediary at an earlier time for

 

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your transaction to become effective that day. This allows the financial intermediary time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund prior to the time the Fund calculates its NAV that day. Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. If your financial intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses. Unless your financial intermediary is an authorized institution, orders transmitted by the financial intermediary and received by the Fund after the time NAV is calculated for a particular day will receive the following day’s NAV.

 

Certain financial intermediaries, including certain broker-dealers and shareholder organizations, are authorized to act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to the receipt of purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares (“authorized institutions”). Authorized institutions are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized institution or, if applicable, an authorized institution’s designee, receives the order. Orders will be priced at the Fund’s next computed NAV after they are received by an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee. To determine whether your financial intermediary is an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee such that it may act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

If you deal directly with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with the Fund. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for your purchase and/or redemption transactions. For more information about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

How the Fund Calculates NAV

 

The NAV of a class of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets attributable to the class, less any liabilities attributable to the class, by the total number of shares outstanding of the class.

 

In calculating NAV, the Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price. If market prices are not readily available or are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that is assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

With respect to non-U.S. securities held by the Fund, the Adviser may take factors influencing specific markets or issuers into consideration in determining the fair value of a non-U.S. security. International securities markets may be open on days when the U.S. markets are closed. In such cases, the value of any international securities owned by the Fund may be significantly affected on days when investors cannot buy or sell shares. In addition, due to the difference in times between the close of the international markets and the time the Fund prices its shares, the value the Adviser assigns to securities generally will not be the same as the quoted or published prices of those securities on their primary markets or exchanges. In determining fair value prices, the Adviser may consider the performance of securities on their primary exchanges, foreign currency appreciation/depreciation, securities market movements in the United States, or other relevant information as related to the securities.

 

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There may be limited circumstances in which the Adviser would price securities at fair value for stocks of U.S. companies that are traded on U.S. exchanges – for example, if the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closed early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time the Fund calculated its NAV.

 

Minimum Purchases

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $100,000, including for IRAs. To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $1,000, including for IRAs. There are no minimum subsequent investment amounts for the Fund. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

Fund Codes

 

The reference information listed below will be helpful to you when you contact the Fund to purchase shares, check daily NAV or obtain additional information.

 

Fund Name

Ticker Symbol

CUSIP

Fund Code

LSV Global Value Fund

Institutional Class Shares

LSVGX

00769G352

4509

Investor Class Shares

LVAGX

00769G360

4510

 

How to Sell Your Fund Shares

 

If you own your shares directly, you may sell your shares on any Business Day by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to sell your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

If you would like to have your sales proceeds, including proceeds generated as a result of closing your account, sent to a third party or an address other than your own, please notify the Fund in writing.

 

Certain redemption requests will require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor institution. Eligible guarantors include commercial banks, savings and loans, savings banks, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any other member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. For example, signature guarantees may be required if your address of record has changed in the last 30 days, if you want the proceeds sent to a bank other than the bank of record on your account, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Please note that a notary public is not an acceptable provider of a signature guarantee and that the Fund must be provided with the original guarantee. Signature guarantees are for the protection of Fund shareholders. Before it grants a redemption request, the Fund may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to ensure proper authorization.

 

Accounts held by a corporation, trust, fiduciary or partnership may require additional documentation along with a signature guaranteed letter of instruction. The Fund participates in the Paperless Legal Program (the “Program”), which eliminates the need for accompanying paper documentation on legal securities transfers. Requests received with a Medallion Signature Guarantee will be reviewed for the proper criteria to meet the guidelines of the Program and may not require additional documentation. Please contact Shareholder Services at 1-888-FUND-LSV for more information.

 

The sale price of each share will be the next determined NAV after the Fund receives your request in good order.

 

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By Mail

 

To redeem shares by mail, please send a letter to the Fund signed by all registered parties on the account specifying:

 

 

The Fund name;

 

 

The share class;

 

 

The account number;

 

 

The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;

 

 

The account name(s); and

 

 

The address to which redemption (sale) proceeds should be sent.

 

All registered shareholders must sign the letter in the exact name(s) in which their account is registered and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.

 

Regular Mail Address

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

LSV Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of sale orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the sale order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Telephone

 

You must first establish the telephone redemption privilege (and, if desired, the wire or ACH redemption privilege) by completing the appropriate sections of the account application. Call 1-888-FUND-LSV to redeem your shares. Based on your instructions, the Fund will mail your proceeds to you, or send them to your bank via wire or ACH.

 

By Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH)

 

If your account balance is at least $500,000 for Institutional Class Shares or $5,000 for Investor Class Shares, you may transfer as little as $100 per month from your account to another financial institution through a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH). To participate in this service you must complete the appropriate sections of the account application and mail it to the Fund.

 

Receiving Your Money

 

Normally, the Fund will send your sale proceeds within one Business Day after it receives your redemption request. The Fund, however, may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account (may be subject to a $10 fee), sent to you by check or sent via ACH to your bank account if you have established banking instructions with the Fund. If you are selling shares that

 

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were recently purchased by check or through ACH, redemption proceeds may not be available until your check has cleared or the ACH transaction has been completed (which may take up to 15 days from your date of purchase).

 

The Fund typically expects to sell portfolio assets and/or hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. On a less regular basis, the Fund may also meet redemption requests by using short-term borrowings from its custodian and/or redeeming shares in-kind (as described below). These methods may be used during both normal and stressed market conditions.

 

Redemptions In-Kind

 

The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders, the Fund might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in-kind). The Fund may also redeem in-kind to discourage short-term trading of shares. It is highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in-kind, but if they were you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption. In addition, you would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in-kind until they are sold.

 

Involuntary Redemptions of Your Shares

 

If your account balance drops below $100,000 with respect to Institutional Class Shares and $1,000 with respect to Investor Class Shares because of redemptions, you may be required to sell your shares. The Fund generally will provide you at least 30 days’ written notice to give you time to add to your account and avoid the involuntary redemption of your shares. The Fund reserves the right to waive the minimum account value requirements in its sole discretion.

 

Suspension of Your Right to Sell Your Shares

 

The Fund may suspend your right to sell your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC. More information about this is in the SAI.

 

How to Exchange Fund Shares

 

At no charge, you may exchange Investor Class Shares or Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for shares of the same class of another LSV Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Fund. At no charge, you may also convert Investor Class Shares of the Fund directly to Institutional Class Shares of the Fund or Institutional Class Shares of the Fund directly to Investor Class Shares of the Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Fund, subject to the fees and expenses of the share class you are converting, and provided that you meet the eligibility requirements applicable to investing in such share class, as set forth in the Prospectus. You may only exchange or convert shares between accounts with identical registrations (i.e., the same names and addresses). An exchange between share classes of the Fund is not a taxable event.

 

The exchange privilege is not intended as a vehicle for short-term or excessive trading. The Fund may suspend or terminate your exchange privilege if you engage in a pattern of exchanges that is excessive, as determined in the sole discretion of the Fund. For more information about the Fund’s policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

Telephone Transactions

 

Purchasing, selling and exchanging Fund shares over the telephone is extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or costs incurred by following telephone instructions it reasonably believes to be genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund over the telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.

 

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Other Policies

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourages shareholders from engaging in “market timing” or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Fund may present risks to the Fund’s long-term shareholders and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests and experiencing increased transaction costs.

 

Because the Fund invests in small- and mid-cap securities, which often trade in lower volumes and may be less liquid, the Fund may be more susceptible to the risks posed by frequent trading because frequent transactions in the Fund’s shares may have a greater impact on the market prices of these types of securities.

 

In addition, because the Fund invests in foreign securities traded primarily on markets that close prior to the time the Fund determines its NAV, the risks posed by frequent trading may have a greater potential to dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders than a fund investing exclusively in U.S. securities. In instances where a significant event that affects the value of one or more foreign securities held by the Fund takes place after the close of the primary foreign market, but before the time that the Fund determines its NAV, certain investors may seek to take advantage of the fact that there will be a delay in the adjustment of the market price for a security caused by this event until the foreign market reopens (sometimes referred to as “price” or “time zone” arbitrage). Shareholders who attempt this type of arbitrage may dilute the value of the Fund’s shares by virtue of their Fund share transaction, if those prices reflect the fair value of the foreign securities. Although the Adviser has procedures designed to determine the fair value of foreign securities for purposes of calculating the Fund’s NAV when such an event has occurred, fair value pricing, because it involves judgments which are inherently subjective, may not always eliminate the risk of price arbitrage. For more information about how the Fund uses fair value pricing, see “How the Fund Calculates NAV.”

 

The Fund’s service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Fund’s policies and procedures described in this Prospectus and approved by the Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Fund’s service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control. The Fund’s policies and procedures include:

 

 

Shareholders are restricted from making more than four (4) “round trips” into or out of the Fund per calendar year. If a shareholder exceeds this amount, the Fund and/or its service providers may, at their discretion, reject any additional purchase or exchange orders. The Fund defines a “round trip” as a purchase into the Fund by a shareholder, followed by a subsequent redemption out of the Fund, of an amount the Adviser reasonably believes would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase or exchange request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

The Fund and/or its service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. The Fund does not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders. Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in the Fund will occur. Systematic purchases and redemptions are exempt from these policies.

 

Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Fund has entered into “information sharing agreements” with these financial intermediaries, which permit the Fund to obtain,

 

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upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary’s customers that invest in the Fund. If the Fund or its service providers identify omnibus account level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Fund, the Fund or its service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Fund or its service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Fund, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Fund by that customer. If the Fund is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Fund may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Fund’s shares is requested by the Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Fund on behalf of other persons.

 

The Fund and its service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Fund to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary’s customers. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

What this means to you: When you open an account, the Fund will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Fund to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.

 

The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

 

In certain instances, the Fund is required to collect documents to fulfill its legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.

 

Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker. If this information cannot be obtained within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund, your application will be rejected.

 

Upon receipt of your application in good order (or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application), your investment will be accepted and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV.

 

The Fund reserves the right to close or liquidate your account at the next-determined NAV and remit proceeds to you via check if it is unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund. Further, the Fund reserves the right to hold your proceeds until your original check clears the bank, which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

Customer identification and verification is part of the Fund’s overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Fund has adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Fund

 

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reserves the right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund or in cases when the Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Fund is required to withhold such proceeds.

 

Unclaimed Property

 

Each state has unclaimed property rules that generally provide for escheatment (or transfer) to the state of unclaimed property under various circumstances. Such circumstances include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or “RPO,” as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once it flags property as unclaimed, the Fund will attempt to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state.

 

Shareholders that reside in the state of Texas may designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that can be found on the website of the Texas Comptroller. While the designated representative does not have any rights to claim or access the shareholder’s account or assets, the escheatment period will cease if the representative communicates knowledge of the shareholder’s location and confirms that the shareholder has not abandoned his or her property. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Fund (if shares are held directly with the Fund) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if shares are not held directly with the Fund).

 

More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

 

The Fund and/or the Adviser may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to the Fund and/or its shareholders. Financial intermediaries include affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates. This section briefly describes how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing these services. For more information please see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

Distribution Plan

 

The Fund has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, for Investor Class Shares that allows the Fund to pay distribution and/or service fees for the sale and distribution of Fund shares, and for services provided to shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The maximum annual Rule 12b-1 fee for Investor Class Shares of the Fund is 0.25%.

 

Payments by the Adviser

 

From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support for the Fund. These payments are sometimes characterized as “revenue sharing” payments and are made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own legitimate profits or other resources, and may be in addition to any payments made to financial intermediaries by the Fund. A financial intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets,

 

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fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments for making shares of the Fund available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Fund with “shelf space,” placing it on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Fund in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries.

 

The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary or the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV or price of the Fund’s shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders.

 

In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, commissions or transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Fund, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

The Fund distributes its net investment income and makes distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Fund shares on the Fund’s record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.

 

You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you must notify the Fund in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Fund receives your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Fund written notice.

 

Taxes

 

Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific questions about U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax issues that affect the Fund and its shareholders. This summary is based on current tax laws, which may change. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future.

 

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) within the meaning of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable whether you receive them in cash or you reinvest them in additional shares of the Fund. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Fund as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains

 

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currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain foreign countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). Once a year the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year. The Fund’s investment strategy may limit its ability to make distributions eligible for the reduced tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information for Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

Each sale of Fund shares may be a taxable event. Assuming a shareholder holds Fund shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for 12 months or less or as a long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly), are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund).

 

Because Fund invests in foreign securities, it may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund receives from sources in foreign countries. If more than 50% of the total assets of the Fund at the close of its taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to and intends to file an election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. If the Fund makes the election, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions.

 

Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

More information about taxes is included in the SAI.

 

22

 

 

Additional Information

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this Prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

 

23

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

The tables that follow present performance information about the Fund. This information is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Some of this information reflects financial information for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information provided below has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund. The financial statements and the unqualified opinion of Ernst & Young LLP are included in the 2023 Annual Report of the Fund, which is available upon request by calling the Fund at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

For a share outstanding throughout each year ended October 31,

 

 

 

Net Asset
Value
Beginning
of Year

   

Net
Investment
Income
(1)

   

Realized
and
Unrealized
Gains
(Losses) on
Investments

   

Total
from
Operations

   

Dividends
from Net
Investment
Income

   

Distributions
from
Realized
Gains

   

Total
Dividends
and
Distributions

   

Net Asset
Value
End of
Year

   

Total
Return

   

Net
Assets
End of
Year
(000)

   

Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets

   

Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
(Excluding
Waivers,
Reimbursements
and Fees Paid
Indirectly)

   

Ratio of
Net
Investment
Income to
Average
Net Assets

   

Portfolio
Turnover
Rate

 

LSV Global Value Fund

                                                                                       

Institutional Class Shares

                                                                                       

2023

  $ 11.57     $ 0.34     $ 0.75     $ 1.09     $ (0.29 )   $ (0.18 )   $ (0.47 )   $ 12.19       9.57 %   $ 64,048       0.90 %     1.05 %     2.75 %     18 %

2022

    13.26       0.37       (1.78 )     (1.41 )     (0.13 )     (0.15 )     (0.28 )     11.57       (10.89 )     30,874       0.90       1.10       3.01       21  

2021

    9.35       0.28       3.84       4.12       (0.21 )           (0.21 )     13.26       44.51       11,486       0.90       2.07       2.21       29  

2020

    10.91       0.20       (1.51 )     (1.31 )     (0.25 )           (0.25 )     9.35       (12.43 )     4,907       0.90       2.54       2.04       13  

2019

    10.65       0.26       0.47       0.73       (0.20 )     (0.27 )     (0.47 )     10.91       7.56       5,098       0.90       3.19       2.55       10  

Investor Class Shares

2023

  $ 11.51     $ 0.27     $ 0.80     $ 1.07     $     $ (0.18 )   $ (0.18 )   $ 12.40       9.38 %   $ 1,618       1.13 %     1.30 %     2.22 %     18 %

2022

    13.23       0.31       (1.76 )     (1.45 )     (0.12 )     (0.15 )     (0.27 )     11.51       (11.21 )     24,159       1.15       1.35       2.50       21  

2021

    9.33       0.19       3.90       4.09       (0.19 )           (0.19 )     13.23       44.16       39,918       1.15       1.92       1.44       29  

2020

    10.89       0.18       (1.51 )     (1.33 )     (0.23 )           (0.23 )     9.33       (12.62 )     1,088       1.15       2.80       1.85       13  

2019

    10.64       0.23       0.47       0.70       (0.18 )     (0.27 )     (0.45 )     10.89       7.23       967       1.15       3.47       2.24       10  

 

Total return is for the period indicated and has not been annualized. Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fee. Total returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares.

(1)

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the period.

Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

24

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

LSV Funds

 

Investment Adviser

 

LSV Asset Management
155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600
Chicago, Illinois 60606

 

Distributor

 

SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

 

Legal Counsel

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
2222 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

 

More information about the Fund is available, without charge, through the following:

 

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI, dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time, includes detailed information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund and the LSV Funds. The SAI is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this Prospectus.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports: These reports list the Fund’s holdings and contain information from the Adviser about investment strategies, and recent market conditions and trends and their impact on Fund performance. The reports also contain detailed financial information about the Fund.

 

To Obtain an SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report, or More Information:

 

By Telephone:

1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578)

By Mail:

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009

By Internet:

www.lsvasset.com

 

From the SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act registration number is 811-06400.

 

LSV-PS-009-1100

 

 

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

 

LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund

 

Institutional Class Shares: LSVZX
Investor Class Shares: LVAZX

 

PROSPECTUS

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

 

 

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

 

 

About This Prospectus

 

This Prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this important information. For detailed information about the Fund, please see:

 

   

Page

Fund Summary

1

Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategies

2

Principal Risks

2

Performance Information

4

Investment Adviser

5

Portfolio Managers

5

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

5

Tax Information

5

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

6

More Information about Risk

7

More Information about the Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategies

8

Information about Portfolio Holdings

8

More Information about the Investment Adviser

8

Portfolio Managers

9

Related Performance Data of the Adviser

9

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

11

Other Policies

18

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

20

Dividends and Distributions

21

Taxes

21

Additional Information

23

Financial Highlights

24

How to Obtain More Information about the Fund

Back Cover

 

 

 

LSVZX Institutional Class Shares

LVAZX Investor Class Shares

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

LSV EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY FUND

 

Investment Objective

 

The LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is long-term growth of capital.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Fund. You may be required to pay commissions and/or other forms of compensation to a broker for transactions in Institutional Class Shares, which are not reflected in the table or the example below.

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Investor Class
Shares

Management Fees

1.00%

1.00%

12b-1 Fees

None

0.25%

Other Expenses

0.85%

0.84%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

1.85%

2.09%

Less Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements1

(0.90)%

(0.89)%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements2

0.95%

1.20%

 

1

LSV Asset Management (“LSV” or the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Fee Waivers and/or Expense Reimbursements (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.95% and 1.20% of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ and Investor Class Shares’ average daily net assets, respectively, until February 28, 2025. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025. Prior to December 1, 2023, the Fund’s maximum annual operating expense limits were 1.20% and 1.45% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares, respectively.

 

2

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements have been restated to reflect the Fund’s current contractual expense limit effective as of December 1, 2023.

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses (including one year of capped expenses in each period) remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

Institutional Class Shares

$97

$494

$917

$2,095

Investor Class Shares

$122

$569

$1,042

$2,350

 

1

 

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 17% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of emerging market companies. This investment policy can be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The equity securities in which the Fund invests are mainly common stocks, but may also include preferred stocks, American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs” and, together with ADRs, “Depositary Receipts”). Depositary Receipts are certificates issued by a bank or trust company that represent ownership of shares of a foreign issuer and generally trade on an established market, in the United States or elsewhere. Although the Fund may invest in securities of companies of any size, the Fund generally invests in companies with market capitalizations of $50 million or more at the time of initial purchase.

 

The Fund considers a company to be an emerging market company if: (i) the company’s primary issue trades on the exchange of an emerging markets country; (ii) the company is organized or maintains its principal place of business in an emerging markets country; or (iii) the company primarily generates its revenues in emerging markets countries. The Fund considers an “emerging market country” to include any country that is included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (the “Index”) or that is publicly announced to be added to the Index.

 

In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser focuses on companies whose securities, in the Adviser’s opinion, are out-of-favor (undervalued) in the marketplace at the time of purchase in light of factors such as the company’s earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow, but show signs of recent improvement. The Adviser believes that these out-of-favor securities will produce superior future returns if their future growth exceeds the market’s low expectations.

 

The Adviser uses a quantitative investment model to make investment decisions for the Fund. The investment model ranks securities based on fundamental measures of value (such as the price-to-earnings ratio) and indicators of near-term appreciation potential (such as recent price appreciation). The investment model selects stocks to buy from the higher-ranked stocks and selects stocks to sell from those whose rankings have decreased, subject to overall risk controls.

 

Principal Risks

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely

 

2

 

 

affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

Investments in emerging markets securities are considered speculative and subject to heightened risks in addition to the general risks of investing in foreign securities. Unlike more established markets, emerging markets may have governments that are less stable, markets that are less liquid and economies that are less developed. In addition, the securities markets of emerging market countries may consist of companies with smaller market capitalizations and may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; and possible restrictions on repatriation of investment income and capital. Furthermore, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales, and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies.

 

Investing in foreign companies, including direct investments and through Depositary Receipts, which are traded on exchanges and represent an ownership in a foreign security, poses additional risks since political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. These risks will not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or similar issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign companies are generally denominated in a foreign currency. As a result, changes in the value of those currencies compared to the U.S. dollar may affect (positively or negatively) the value of the Fund’s investments. These currency movements may occur separately from, and in response to, events that do not otherwise affect the value of the security in the issuer’s home country. Securities of foreign companies may not be registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and foreign companies are generally not subject to the regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign securities than is available about domestic securities. Income from foreign securities owned by the Fund may be reduced by a withholding tax at the source, which would reduce income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Foreign securities may also be more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers. In addition, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may require the Fund to sell such investments at inopportune times, which could result in losses to the Fund. While Depositary Receipts provide an alternative to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their respective national markets and currencies, investments in Depositary Receipts continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.

 

Value investing focuses on companies with stocks that appear undervalued in light of factors such as the company’s earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow. If the Adviser’s assessment of market conditions, or a company’s value or prospects for exceeding earnings expectations, is wrong, the Fund could suffer losses or produce poor performance relative to other funds.

 

There is potential for shortfall in any investment process due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, data and system imperfections, analyst judgment, the complex nature of designing, coding, and maintaining portfolio construction systems, and/or other technology used in a quantitative model. Such shortfalls in systematic or quantitative processes in particular pose broader risk because they may be more pervasive in nature. Furthermore, the Adviser’s systems may not necessarily perform in a manner in which they have historically performed or were intended to perform and the Fund can perform differently from the market as a whole based on the factors used in the Adviser’s quantitative model, the weight placed on each factor and changes from the factors’ historical trends. These issues could negatively impact investment returns. Such risks should be viewed as an inherent element of investing in an investment strategy that relies heavily upon a quantitative model.

 

As a result of the Fund’s investments in securities or other investments denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies, the Fund will be subject to currency risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar, in which case, the dollar value of an investment in the Fund would be adversely affected.

 

3

 

 

The medium- and smaller-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in these medium- and small-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, medium- and small-capitalization stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. These securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

Preferred stocks in which the Fund may invest are sensitive to interest rate changes, and are also subject to equity risk, which is the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. The rights of preferred stocks on the distribution of a company’s assets in the event of a liquidation are generally subordinate to the rights associated with a company’s debt securities.

 

Performance Information

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns for 1 year and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling the Fund at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

 

 

 

Best Quarter

Worst Quarter

21.35%

(28.64)%

12/31/2020

3/31/2020

 

Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns will depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”). After-tax returns are shown only for Institutional Class Shares. After-tax returns for Investor Class Shares will vary.

 

4

 

 

LSV EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY FUND

1 Year

Since Inception
(1/17/2019)

Fund Returns Before Taxes

   

Institutional Class Shares

21.52%

6.66%

Investor Class Shares

21.20%

6.46%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

   

Institutional Class Shares

20.22%

5.60%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

   

Institutional Class Shares

13.70%

5.18%

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

9.83%

2.80%

 

 

Investment Adviser

 

LSV Asset Management

 

Portfolio Managers

 

Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D., CEO, CIO, and Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2018.

 

Menno Vermeulen, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2018.

 

Puneet Mansharamani, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2018.

 

Greg Sleight, Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2018.

 

Guy Lakonishok, CFA, Partner, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2018.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $100,000, including for IRAs. To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $1,000, including for IRAs. There are no minimum subsequent investment amounts for the Fund. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business (a “Business Day”) by contacting the Fund directly by mail at: LSV Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail: LSV Funds c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105) or telephone at 1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578).

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to redeem your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

Tax Information

 

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as qualified dividend income, ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distributions will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

5

 

 

 

LSVZX Institutional Class Shares

LVAZX Investor Class Shares

MSCI Emerging Markets Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

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

 

6

 

 

More Information about Risk

 

Investing in the Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good of a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund, just as you could with similar investments.

 

The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the value of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets in which they trade. The effect on the Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings.

 

Equity securities include common and preferred stocks and Depositary Receipts. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stock provides a fixed dividend that is paid before any dividends are paid to common stock holders, and which takes precedence over common stock in the event of a liquidation. Like common stock, preferred stocks represent partial ownership in a company, although preferred stock shareholders do not enjoy any of the voting rights of common stockholders. Also, unlike common stock, a preferred stock pays a fixed dividend that does not fluctuate, although the company does not have to pay this dividend if it lacks the financial ability to do so. Depositary receipts are described below. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations, and by businesses, including changes to operations and reducing staff. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) to fluctuate. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

 

Investments in securities of foreign companies (including direct investments as well as investments through Depositary Receipts) can be more volatile than investments in U.S. companies. Diplomatic, political or economic developments, including nationalization or appropriation, could affect investments in foreign companies. Foreign securities markets generally have less trading volume and less liquidity than U.S. markets. In addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies, and of dividends from such securities, can change significantly when foreign currencies strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. dollar. Financial statements of foreign issuers are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards than U.S. issuers and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Thus, there may be less information publicly available about foreign issuers than about most U.S. issuers. Transaction costs are generally higher than those in the United States and expenses for custodial arrangements of foreign securities may be somewhat greater than typical expenses for custodial arrangements of similar U.S. securities. Some foreign governments levy withholding taxes against dividend and interest income. Although in some countries a portion of these taxes are recoverable, the non-recovered portion will reduce the income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Additionally, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in the Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. Government designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses. These risks may be heightened with respect to emerging market countries since political turmoil and rapid changes in economic conditions are more likely to occur in these countries.

 

7

 

 

Value investing focuses on companies with stocks that appear undervalued in light of factors such as the company’s earnings, book value, revenues or cash flow. If the Adviser’s assessment of market conditions, or a company’s value or prospects for exceeding earnings expectations, is wrong, the Fund could suffer losses or produce poor performance relative to other funds. In addition, “value stocks” can continue to be undervalued by the market for long periods of time.

 

Because non-U.S. securities are usually denominated in currencies other than the dollar, the value of the Fund’s portfolio may be influenced by currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. The currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by the Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries.

 

More Information about the Fund’s Investment Objective and Strategies

 

The Fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The investment objective may not be changed without shareholder approval.

 

The investments and strategies described in this Prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments and other cash equivalents that would not ordinarily be consistent with its investment objective. If the Fund invests in this manner, it may not achieve its investment objective. The Fund will only make temporary defensive investments if the Adviser believes that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity for total return or capital growth.

 

This Prospectus describes the Fund’s principal investment strategies, and the Fund will normally invest in the types of securities described in this Prospectus. In addition to the investments and strategies described in this Prospectus, the Fund also may invest, to a lesser extent, in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and strategies, as well as those described in this Prospectus, are described in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”). For information on how to obtain a copy of the SAI, see the back cover of this Prospectus. For liquidity purposes, the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in cash, money market instruments or equity index futures contracts. However, the Fund intends to remain as fully invested as practicable regardless of market conditions. Of course, the Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment goal.

 

Information about Portfolio Holdings

 

A description of the Fund’s policies and procedures with respect to the circumstances under which the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings is available in the SAI.

 

More Information about the Investment Adviser

 

Formed in 1994 as a Delaware general partnership, LSV Asset Management provides active, quantitative value equity management through the application of a proprietary model. The Adviser is a partnership between the Adviser’s management team and current and retired employee partners, owners of a majority position, and SEI Funds, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company and the owner of a minority position. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $96 billion in assets under management. The Adviser’s principal place of business is located at 155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, IL 60606.

 

The Adviser makes investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Fund’s investment program. The Board oversees the Adviser and establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its management activities. For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to an investment advisory fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 1.00% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

 

8

 

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse expenses of the Fund in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 0.95% and 1.20% of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ and Investor Class Shares’ average daily net assets, respectively, until February 28, 2025. The contractual expense limitation agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board, for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025. To maintain these expense limits, the Adviser may reduce a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses of the Fund. Prior to December 1, 2023, the Fund’s maximum annual operating expense limits were 1.20% and 1.45% of the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares, respectively.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid 0.36% of its average daily net assets in advisory fees (after fee waivers) to the Adviser.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders dated April 30, 2024, which will cover the period from November 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

The Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals who are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Josef Lakonishok, Ph.D., has served as CEO, CIO, Partner and portfolio manager for LSV since its founding in 1994. He has more than 47 years of investment and research experience.

 

Menno Vermeulen, CFA, has served as a portfolio manager for LSV since 1995 and a Partner since 1998. He has more than 32 years of investment and research experience.

 

Puneet Mansharamani, CFA, has served as a Partner and portfolio manager for LSV since 2006. He has more than 25 years of investment experience.

 

Greg Sleight has served as a Quantitative Analyst of LSV since 2006, a Partner since 2012 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 18 years of investment experience.

 

Guy Lakonishok, CFA, has served as a Quantitative Analyst of LSV since 2009, a Partner since 2013 and portfolio manager since 2014. He has more than 23 years of investment experience.

 

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

 

Related Performance Data of the Adviser

 

The following tables give the related performance of all the actual separate accounts (each, an “Account”), referred to as a “Composite,” managed by the Adviser that have investment objectives, policies and strategies substantially similar to those of the Fund. The data does not represent the performance of the Fund. Performance is historical and does not represent the future performance of the Fund or of the Adviser.

 

The manner in which the performance was calculated for the Composite differs from that of registered mutual funds such as the Fund. If the performance was calculated in accordance with SEC standardized performance methodology, the performance results may have been different. The Adviser claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (“GIPS®”) and has prepared and presented the following in compliance with the GIPS® standards. The policies for valuing portfolios, calculating performance, and preparing compliant presentations are available upon request.

 

9

 

 

All returns presented were calculated on a total return basis and include all dividends and interest, accrued income, and realized and unrealized gains and losses. All fees and expenses, except custodial fees, if any, were included in the calculations. Securities are valued as of trade-date. Each Account was under management by the Adviser for the entire reporting period in which the Account was included in the Composite. The currency used to express performance in the Composite is U.S. dollars. Performance results are presented both net of fees and gross of fees. The “net of fees” Composite returns are provided net of all actual fees and expenses (including sales loads and account fees, if any) other than custodial fees, if any. Because of variation in fee levels, the “net of fees” Composite returns may not be reflective of performance in any one particular Account. Therefore, the performance information shown below is not necessarily representative of the performance information that typically would be shown for a registered mutual fund.

 

The Accounts that are included in the Composite are not subject to the same type of expenses to which the Fund is subject and are not subject to the diversification requirements, specific tax restrictions, and investment limitations imposed by the federal securities and tax laws. Consequently, the performance results for the Composite could have been adversely affected if the Accounts in the Composite were subject to the same fees and expenses or federal securities and tax laws as the Fund.

 

The investment results for the Composite presented below are not intended to predict or suggest the future returns of the Fund. The performance data shown below should not be considered a substitute for the Fund’s own performance information. Investors should be aware that the use of a methodology different than that used below to calculate performance could result in different performance data.

 

THE FOLLOWING DATA DOES NOT REPRESENT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE FUND

 

Performance Information for the Adviser’s Substantially Similar Composite1
(July 1, 2005 through December 31, 2023)

 

Year

Total Pre-Tax
Return
(Net of Fees)

Total Pre-Tax
Return
(Gross of Fees)

MSCI Emerging
Markets
Index
2 (Net)

Number of
Portfolios

Total Assets at
End of Period
($ Millions)

2023

23.93%

25.15%

9.83%

14

$6,674

2022

(12.69)%

(11.80)%

(20.09)%

15

$5,937

2021

12.91%

14.04%

(2.54)%

12

$6,953

2020

1.27%

2.29%

18.31%

12

$5,759

2019

13.09%

14.21%

18.44%

17

$7,511

2018

(13.70)%

(12.82)%

(14.58)%

15

$6,247

2017

31.64%

32.93%

37.28%

15

$7,220

2016

17.36%

18.53%

11.19%

13

$5,073

2015

(18.86)%

(18.03)%

(14.92)%

14

$4,549

2014

(0.54)%

0.46%

(2.19)%

14

$5,811

2013

(0.93)%

0.06%

(2.60)%

13

$5,192

2012

21.73%

22.94%

18.23%

12

$4,858

2011

(18.16)%

(17.32)%

(18.42)%

7

$2,938

2010

26.07%

27.31%

18.86%

7

$3,164

2009

93.47%

95.31%

78.50%

6

$2,297

2008

(51.96)%

(51.44)%

(53.33)%

7

$690

2007

45.34%

46.76%

39.37%

7

$1,369

 

10

 

 

Year

Total Pre-Tax
Return
(Net of Fees)

Total Pre-Tax
Return
(Gross of Fees)

MSCI Emerging
Markets
Index
2 (Net)

Number of
Portfolios

Total Assets at
End of Period
($ Millions)

2006

32.70%

34.00%

32.16%

7

$876

20053

22.63%

23.23%

26.42%

Five or fewer

$239

 

Average Annual Total Pre-Tax Returns (as of 12/31/23)

 

Adviser’s Composite Returns

 

Time Period

Net of Fees

Gross of Fees

MSCI Emerging Markets
Index (Net)
2

1 Year

23.93%

25.15%

9.83%

5 Years

6.95%

8.02%

3.68%

10 Years

4.18%

5.22%

2.66%

Since Inception4

7.95%

9.03%

5.76%

 

1

Returns include the reinvestment of all income. Net results are calculated using the highest non-performance-based management fee in the Adviser’s standard fee schedule, which is applicable to the majority of the Accounts included in the Composite. Returns are based on fully discretionary accounts under management, including, for certain time periods, those accounts no longer with the Adviser.

 

2

The MSCI Emerging Markets Index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization index designed to measure the equity market performance of emerging markets.

 

3

Performance information is for the period July 1, 2005 to December 31, 2005.

 

4

The Composite was created in July 2005.

 

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

 

This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called “redeem”) and exchange Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares of the Fund.

 

For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Taxes.”

 

How to Choose a Share Class

 

The Fund offers two classes of shares to investors, Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Each share class has its own shareholder eligibility criteria, investment minimums, cost structure and other features. The following summarizes the primary features of Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. Contact your financial intermediary or the Fund for more information about the Fund’s share classes and how to choose between them.

 

Class Name

Eligible Investors

Investment Minimums

Fees

Institutional Class Shares

Primarily institutional investors and individual investors who meet the initial investment minimum

Initial – $100,000
(including for IRAs)

 

Subsequent – None

No 12b-1 Fee.

Investor Class Shares

Primarily individual investors

Initial – $1,000
(including for IRAs)

 

Subsequent – None

0.25% 12b-1 Fee.

 

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Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares are offered to investors who purchase shares directly from the Fund or through certain financial intermediaries such as financial planners, investment advisers, broker-dealers or other financial institutions. An investor may be eligible to purchase more than one share class. However, if you purchase shares through a financial intermediary, you may only purchase that class of shares which your financial intermediary sells or services. Your financial intermediary can tell you which class of shares is available through the intermediary.

 

The Fund reserves the right to change the criteria for eligible investors and accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

How to Purchase Fund Shares

 

To purchase shares directly from the Fund, complete and send in the application. If you need an application or have questions, please call 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

All investments must be made by check, Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), or wire. All checks must be made payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept purchases made by third-party checks, credit cards, credit card checks, cash, traveler’s checks, money orders or cashier’s checks.

 

You may also buy shares through accounts with brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. If you invest through an authorized institution, you will have to follow its procedures, which may be different from the procedures for investing directly. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund. You will also generally have to address your correspondence or questions regarding the Fund to your institution.

 

The Fund reserves the right to suspend all sales of new shares or to reject any specific purchase order, including exchange purchases, for any reason. The Fund is not intended for excessive trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For more information about the Fund’s policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

The Fund does not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Fund subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Fund for more information.

 

By Mail

 

You can open an account with the Fund by sending a check and your account application to the address below. You can add to an existing account by sending the Fund a check and, if possible, the “Invest By Mail” stub that accompanies your confirmation statement. Be sure your check identifies clearly your name, your account number, the Fund’s name and the share class. Make your check payable to “LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund.”

 

Regular Mail Address

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

LSV Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

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The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of purchase orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Wire

 

To open an account by wire, first call 1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578) for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the wiring instructions set forth below (be sure to include the Fund’s name, your account number and the share class). The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the wire in good order.

 

Wiring Instructions

UMB Bank, NA
ABA #101000695
LSV Funds
DDA Account #9870523965
Ref: Fund name/account name/account number/share class

 

By Automatic Investment Plan (via ACH)

 

You may not open an account via ACH. However, once you have established an account, you can set up an automatic investment plan by mailing a completed application to the Fund. These purchases can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually in amounts of at least $25. To cancel or change a plan, write to the Fund at: LSV Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009, (Express Mail Address: LSV Funds, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105). Please allow up to 15 days to create the plan and 3 days to cancel or change it.

 

Purchases In-Kind

 

Subject to the approval of the Fund, an investor may purchase shares of the Fund with liquid securities and other assets that are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an appropriate investment for the Fund. Assets purchased by the Fund in such a transaction will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

 

General Information

 

You may purchase shares on any day that the NYSE is open for business (a “Business Day”). Shares cannot be purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days when either the NYSE or the Federal Reserve is closed. The price per share will be the next determined NAV after the Fund or an authorized institution (defined below) receives and accepts your purchase order in good order. “Good order” means that the Fund was provided a complete and signed account application, including the investor’s social security number or tax identification number, and other identification required by law or regulation, as well as sufficient purchase proceeds. Purchase orders that are not in good order cannot be accepted and processed even if money to purchase shares has been submitted by wire, check or ACH.

 

The Fund calculates its NAV once each Business Day as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day’s NAV, the Fund or an authorized institution must receive and accept your purchase order in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE. If your purchase order is not received and accepted in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV calculated on the subsequent Business Day on which your order is received and accepted in good order. If the NYSE closes early, as in the case of scheduled half-day

 

13

 

 

trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading, the Fund reserves the right to calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. The Fund will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or any other special conditions. Shares will only be priced on Business Days. Since securities that are traded on foreign exchanges may trade on days that are not Business Days, the value of the Fund’s assets may change on days when you are unable to purchase or redeem shares.

 

Buying or Selling Shares through a Financial Intermediary

 

In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from the Fund through its transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of the Fund through accounts with financial intermediaries, such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. When you purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to the financial intermediary at an earlier time for your transaction to become effective that day. This allows the financial intermediary time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund prior to the time the Fund calculates its NAV that day. Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. If your financial intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses. Unless your financial intermediary is an authorized institution, orders transmitted by the financial intermediary and received by the Fund after the time NAV is calculated for a particular day will receive the following day’s NAV.

 

Certain financial intermediaries, including certain broker-dealers and shareholder organizations, are authorized to act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to the receipt of purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares (“authorized institutions”). Authorized institutions are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized institution or, if applicable, an authorized institution’s designee, receives the order. Orders will be priced at the Fund’s next computed NAV after they are received by an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee. To determine whether your financial intermediary is an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee such that it may act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

If you deal directly with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with the Fund. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for your purchase and/or redemption transactions. For more information about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

How the Fund Calculates NAV

 

The NAV of a class of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets attributable to the class, less any liabilities attributable to the class, by the total number of shares outstanding of the class.

 

In calculating NAV, the Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price. If market prices are not readily available or are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value is assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

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With respect to non-U.S. securities held by the Fund, the Adviser may take factors influencing specific markets or issuers into consideration in determining the fair value of a non-U.S. security. International securities markets may be open on days when the U.S. markets are closed. In such cases, the value of any international securities owned by the Fund may be significantly affected on days when investors cannot buy or sell shares. In addition, due to the difference in times between the close of the international markets and the time the Fund prices its shares, the value the Adviser assigns to securities generally will not be the same as the quoted or published prices of those securities on their primary markets or exchanges. In determining fair value prices, the Adviser may consider the performance of securities on their primary exchanges, foreign currency appreciation/depreciation, securities market movements in the United States, or other relevant information as related to the securities.

 

Minimum Purchases

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $100,000, including for IRAs. To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $1,000, including for IRAs. There are no minimum subsequent investment amounts for the Fund. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion.

 

Fund Codes

 

The reference information listed below will be helpful to you when you contact the Fund to purchase shares, check daily NAV or obtain additional information.

 

Fund Name

Ticker Symbol

CUSIP

Fund Code

LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund

Institutional Class Shares

LSVZX

0075W0361

4511

Investor Class Shares

LVAZX

0075W0353

4512

 

How to Sell Your Fund Shares

 

If you own your shares directly, you may sell your shares on any Business Day by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to sell your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

If you would like to have your sales proceeds, including proceeds generated as a result of closing your account, sent to a third party or an address other than your own, please notify the Fund in writing.

 

Certain redemption requests will require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor institution. Eligible guarantors include commercial banks, savings and loans, savings banks, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any other member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. For example, signature guarantees may be required if your address of record has changed in the last 30 days, if you want the proceeds sent to a bank other than the bank of record on your account, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Please note that a notary public is not an acceptable provider of a signature guarantee and that the Fund must be provided with the original guarantee. Signature guarantees are for the protection of Fund shareholders. Before it grants a redemption request, the Fund may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to ensure proper authorization.

 

Accounts held by a corporation, trust, fiduciary or partnership may require additional documentation along with a signature guaranteed letter of instruction. The Fund participates in the Paperless Legal Program (the “Program”), which eliminates the need for accompanying paper documentation on legal securities transfers.

 

15

 

 

Requests received with a Medallion Signature Guarantee will be reviewed for the proper criteria to meet the guidelines of the Program and may not require additional documentation. Please contact Shareholder Services at 1-888-FUND-LSV for more information.

 

The sale price of each share will be the next determined NAV after the Fund receives your request in good order.

 

By Mail

 

To redeem shares by mail, please send a letter to the Fund signed by all registered parties on the account specifying:

 

 

The Fund name;

 

 

The share class;

 

 

The account number;

 

 

The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;

 

 

The account name(s); and

 

 

The address to which redemption (sale) proceeds should be sent.

 

All registered shareholders must sign the letter in the exact name(s) in which their account is registered and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.

 

Regular Mail Address

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

LSV Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of sale orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the sale order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Telephone

 

You must first establish the telephone redemption privilege (and, if desired, the wire or ACH redemption privilege) by completing the appropriate sections of the account application. Call 1-888-FUND-LSV to redeem your shares. Based on your instructions, the Fund will mail your proceeds to you, or send them to your bank via wire or ACH.

 

By Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH)

 

If your account balance is at least $500,000 for Institutional Class Shares or $5,000 for Investor Class Shares, you may transfer as little as $100 per month from your account to another financial institution through a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH). To participate in this service you must complete the appropriate sections of the account application and mail it to the Fund.

 

16

 

 

Receiving Your Money

 

Normally, the Fund will send your sale proceeds within one Business Day after it receives your redemption request. The Fund, however, may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account (may be subject to a $10 fee), sent to you by check or sent via ACH to your bank account if you have established banking instructions with the Fund. If you are selling shares that were recently purchased by check or through ACH, redemption proceeds may not be available until your check has cleared or the ACH transaction has been completed (which may take up to 15 days from your date of purchase).

 

The Fund typically expects to sell portfolio assets and/or hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. On a less regular basis, the Fund may also meet redemption requests by using short-term borrowings from its custodian and/or redeeming shares in-kind (as described below). These methods may be used during both normal and stressed market conditions.

 

Redemptions In-Kind

 

The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders, the Fund might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in-kind). The Fund may also redeem in-kind to discourage short-term trading of shares. It is highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in-kind, but if they were you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption. In addition, you would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in-kind until they are sold.

 

Involuntary Redemptions of Your Shares

 

If your account balance drops below $100,000 with respect to Institutional Class Shares and $1,000 with respect to Investor Class Shares because of redemptions, you may be required to sell your shares. The Fund generally will provide you at least 30 days’ written notice to give you time to add to your account and avoid the involuntary redemption of your shares. The Fund reserves the right to waive the minimum account value requirements in its sole discretion.

 

Suspension of Your Right to Sell Your Shares

 

The Fund may suspend your right to sell your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC. More information about this is in the SAI.

 

How to Exchange Fund Shares

 

At no charge, you may exchange Investor Class Shares or Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for shares of the same class of another LSV Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Fund. At no charge, you may also convert Investor Class Shares of the Fund directly to Institutional Class Shares of the Fund or Institutional Class Shares of the Fund directly to Investor Class Shares of the Fund, where offered, by writing to or calling the Fund, subject to the fees and expenses of the share class you are converting, and provided that you meet the eligibility requirements applicable to investing in such share class, as set forth in the Prospectus. You may only exchange or convert shares between accounts with identical registrations (i.e., the same names and addresses). An exchange between share classes of the Fund is not a taxable event.

 

The exchange privilege is not intended as a vehicle for short-term or excessive trading. The Fund may suspend or terminate your exchange privilege if you engage in a pattern of exchanges that is excessive, as determined in the sole discretion of the Fund. For more information about the Fund’s policy on excessive trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

17

 

 

Telephone Transactions

 

Purchasing, selling and exchanging Fund shares over the telephone is extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or costs incurred by following telephone instructions it reasonably believes to be genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund over the telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.

 

Other Policies

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourages shareholders from engaging in “market timing” or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Fund may present risks to the Fund’s long-term shareholders and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests and experiencing increased transaction costs.

 

Because the Fund invests in small- and mid-cap securities, which often trade in lower volumes and may be less liquid, the Fund may be more susceptible to the risks posed by frequent trading because frequent transactions in the Fund’s shares may have a greater impact on the market prices of these types of securities.

 

In addition, because the Fund invests in foreign securities traded primarily on markets that close prior to the time the Fund determines its NAV, the risks posed by frequent trading may have a greater potential to dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders than a fund investing exclusively in U.S. securities. In instances where a significant event that affects the value of one or more foreign securities held by the Fund takes place after the close of the primary foreign market, but before the time that the Fund determines its NAV, certain investors may seek to take advantage of the fact that there will be a delay in the adjustment of the market price for a security caused by this event until the foreign market reopens (sometimes referred to as “price” or “time zone” arbitrage). Shareholders who attempt this type of arbitrage may dilute the value of the Fund’s shares by virtue of their Fund share transaction, if those prices reflect the fair value of the foreign securities. Although the Adviser has procedures designed to determine the fair value of foreign securities for purposes of calculating the Fund’s NAV when such an event has occurred, fair value pricing, because it involves judgments which are inherently subjective, may not always eliminate the risk of price arbitrage. For more information about how the Fund uses fair value pricing, see “How the Fund Calculates NAV.”

 

The Fund’s service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Fund’s policies and procedures described in this Prospectus and approved by the Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Fund’s service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control. The Fund’s policies and procedures include:

 

 

Shareholders are restricted from making more than four (4) “round trips” into or out of the Fund per calendar year. If a shareholder exceeds this amount, the Fund and/or its service providers may, at their discretion, reject any additional purchase or exchange orders. The Fund defines a “round trip” as a purchase into the Fund by a shareholder, followed by a subsequent redemption out of the Fund, of an amount the Adviser reasonably believes would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase or exchange request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

18

 

 

The Fund and/or its service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. The Fund does not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders. Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in the Fund will occur. Systematic purchases and redemptions are exempt from these policies.

 

Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Fund has entered into “information sharing agreements” with these financial intermediaries, which permit the Fund to obtain, upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary’s customers that invest in the Fund. If the Fund or its service providers identify omnibus account level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Fund, the Fund or its service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Fund or its service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Fund, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Fund by that customer. If the Fund is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Fund may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Fund’s shares is requested by the Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Fund on behalf of other persons.

 

The Fund and its service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Fund to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary’s customers. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

What this means to you: When you open an account, the Fund will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Fund to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.

 

The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

 

In certain instances, the Fund is required to collect documents to fulfill its legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.

 

Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker. If this information cannot be obtained within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund, your application will be rejected.

 

Upon receipt of your application in good order (or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application), your investment will be accepted and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV.

 

The Fund reserves the right to close or liquidate your account at the next-determined NAV and remit proceeds to you via check if it is unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund. Further, the Fund

 

19

 

 

reserves the right to hold your proceeds until your original check clears the bank, which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

Customer identification and verification is part of the Fund’s overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Fund has adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Fund reserves the right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund or in cases when the Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Fund is required to withhold such proceeds.

 

Unclaimed Property

 

Each state has unclaimed property rules that generally provide for escheatment (or transfer) to the state of unclaimed property under various circumstances. Such circumstances include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or “RPO,” as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once it flags property as unclaimed, the Fund will attempt to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state.

 

Shareholders that reside in the state of Texas may designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that can be found on the website of the Texas Comptroller. While the designated representative does not have any rights to claim or access the shareholder’s account or assets, the escheatment period will cease if the representative communicates knowledge of the shareholder’s location and confirms that the shareholder has not abandoned his or her property. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Fund (if shares are held directly with the Fund) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if shares are not held directly with the Fund).

 

More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

 

The Fund and/or the Adviser may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to the Fund and/or its shareholders. Financial intermediaries include affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates. This section briefly describes how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing these services. For more information please see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

Distribution Plan

 

The Fund has adopted a distribution plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, for Investor Class Shares that allows the Fund to pay distribution and/or service fees for the sale and distribution of Fund shares, and for services provided to shareholders. Because these fees are paid out of the Fund’s assets on an on-going basis, over time these fees will increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges. The maximum annual Rule 12b-1 fee for Investor Class Shares of the Fund is 0.25%.

 

20

 

 

Payments by the Adviser

 

From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support for the Fund. These payments are sometimes characterized as “revenue sharing” payments and are made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own legitimate profits or other resources, and may be in addition to any payments made to financial intermediaries by the Fund. A financial intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments for making shares of the Fund available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Fund with “shelf space,” placing it on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Fund in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries.

 

The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary or the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV or price of the Fund’s shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders.

 

In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, commissions or transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Fund, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

The Fund distributes its net investment income and makes distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Fund shares on the Fund’s record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.

 

You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you must notify the Fund in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Fund receives your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Fund written notice.

 

Taxes

 

Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific questions about U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax issues that affect the Fund and its shareholders. This summary is based on current tax laws, which may change. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future.

 

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) within the meaning of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains

 

21

 

 

from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable whether you receive them in cash or you reinvest them in additional shares of the Fund. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains, but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Fund as long-term capital gain and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain foreign countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). Once a year the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year. The Fund’s investment strategy may limit its ability to make distributions eligible for the reduced tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information for purchases of Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review any cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

Each sale of Fund shares may be a taxable event. Assuming a shareholder holds Fund shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for 12 months or less or as a long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund).

 

22

 

 

Because the Fund invests in foreign securities, it may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund receives from sources in foreign countries. If more than 50% of the total assets of the Fund at the close of its taxable year consists of stock or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to and intends to file an election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. If the Fund makes the election, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions.

 

Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

More information about taxes is included in the SAI.

 

Additional Information

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this Prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

23

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

The tables that follow present performance information about the Fund. This information is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the period of the Fund’s operations. Some of this information reflects financial information for a single Fund share. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and distributions). The information provided below has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm of the Fund. The financial statements and the unqualified opinion of Ernst & Young LLP are included in the 2023 Annual Report of the Fund, which is available upon request by calling the Fund at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

For a share outstanding throughout each period or year ended October 31,

 

 

 

Net Asset
Value
Beginning
of Year

   

Net
Investment
Income
(1)

   

Realized
and
Unrealized
Gains
(Losses) on
Investments

   

Total
from
Operations

   

Dividends
from Net
Investment
Income

   

Distributions
from
Realized
Gains

   

Total
Dividends
and
Distributions

   

Net Asset
Value
End of
Year

   

Total
Return

   

Net
Assets
End of
Year
(000)

   

Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets

   

Ratio of
Expenses
to Average
Net Assets
(Excluding
Waivers,
Reimbursements
and Fees Paid
Indirectly)

   

Ratio of
Net
Investment
Income to
Average
Net Assets

   

Portfolio
Turnover
Rate

 

LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund

                                                                                       

Institutional Class Shares

                                                                                       

2023

  $ 8.67     $ 0.39     $ 1.44     $ 1.83     $ (0.32 )   $     $ (0.32 )   $ 10.18       21.39 %   $ 18,960       1.19 %     1.85 %     3.87 %     17 %

2022

    12.09       0.45       (2.88 )     (2.43 )     (0.36 )     (0.63 )     (0.99 )     8.67       (21.97 )     15,780       1.19       2.45       4.33       38  

2021

    9.11       0.37       2.91       3.28       (0.21 )     (0.09 )     (0.30 )     12.09       36.38       13,451       1.19       2.68       3.18       19  

2020

    10.28       0.26       (1.11 )     (0.85 )     (0.31 )     (0.01 )     (0.32 )     9.11       (8.67 )     6,384       1.19       3.20       2.85       19  

2019**

    10.00       0.27       0.01       0.28                         10.28       2.80       6,416       1.20       4.20       3.38       5  

Investor Class Shares

2023

  $ 8.65     $ 0.37     $ 1.43     $ 1.80     $ (0.30 )   $     $ (0.30 )   $ 10.15       21.02 %   $ 1,327       1.45 %     2.09 %     3.65 %     17 %

2022

    12.07       0.43       (2.89 )     (2.46 )     (0.33 )     (0.63 )     (0.96 )     8.65       (22.18 )     812       1.45       2.63       4.04       38  

2021

    9.10       0.37       2.88       3.25       (0.19 )     (0.09 )     (0.28 )     12.07       36.06       1,031       1.45       2.95       3.15       19  

2020

    10.28       0.25       (1.12 )     (0.87 )     (0.30 )     (0.01 )     (0.31 )     9.10       (8.83 )     350       1.45       3.50       2.79       19  

2019**

    10.00       0.15       0.13       0.28                         10.28       2.80       184       1.48 (2)      3.89       1.92       5  

 

**

Commenced operations on January 17, 2019. All ratios for the period have been annualized

Total return is for the period indicated and has not been annualized. Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived a portion of its fee. Total returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Capital shares.

Portfolio turnover rate is for the period indicated and has not been annualized.

(1)

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the period.

(2)

Ratio reflects the impact of the low level of average Net Assets. Under normal asset levels, the ratio of expenses to Average Net Assets would have been 1.45%.

Amounts designated as “—” are $0 or have been rounded to $0.

 

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The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

LSV Funds

 

Investment Adviser

 

LSV Asset Management
155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600
Chicago, Illinois 60606

 

Distributor

 

SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

 

Legal Counsel

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
2222 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

 

More information about the Fund is available, without charge, through the following:

 

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI, dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time, includes detailed information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund and the LSV Funds. The SAI is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this Prospectus.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports: These reports list the Fund’s holdings and contain information from the Adviser about investment strategies, and recent market conditions and trends and their impact on Fund performance. The reports also contain detailed financial information about the Fund.

 

To Obtain an SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report, or More Information:

 

By Telephone:

1-888-FUND-LSV (1-888-386-3578)

By Mail:

LSV Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009

By Internet:

www.lsvasset.com

 

From the SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund’s Investment Company Act registration number is 811-06400.

 

LSV-PS-010-0700

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

LSV VALUE EQUITY FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: LSVEX)

(Investor Class Shares: LVAEX)

 

LSV CONSERVATIVE VALUE EQUITY FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: LSVVX)

(Investor Class Shares: LVAVX)

 

LSV SMALL CAP VALUE FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: LSVQX)

(Investor Class Shares: LVAQX)

 

LSV U.S. MANAGED VOLATILITY FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: LSVMX)

(Investor Class Shares: LVAMX)

 

LSV GLOBAL MANAGED VOLATILITY FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: LSVFX)

(Investor Class Shares: LVAFX)

 

LSV GLOBAL VALUE FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: LSVGX)

(Investor Class Shares: LVAGX)

 

LSV EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY FUND

(Institutional Class Shares: LSVZX)

(Investor Class Shares: LVAZX)

 

each, a series of THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND

 

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

LSV ASSET MANAGEMENT

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”) and the LSV Value Equity Fund, LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund, LSV Small Cap Value Fund, LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund, LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund, LSV Global Value Fund and LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund (each, a “Fund,” and collectively, the “Funds”). This SAI is incorporated by reference into and should be read in conjunction with the Funds’ prospectuses dated March 1, 2024, as they may be amended from time to time (each, a “Prospectus,” and together, the “Prospectuses”). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Prospectuses. The most recent Annual Reports for the Funds, which include the Funds’ audited financial statements dated October 31, 2023, are incorporated by reference into this SAI. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Prospectuses or Annual Reports, free of charge, by writing to the Funds at LSV Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, MO 64121-9009 (Express Mail Address: LSV Funds, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105) or calling the Funds at 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

 

Page

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

THE TRUST S-1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES S-2
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS S-2
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS S-25
THE ADVISER S-29
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS S-31
THE ADMINISTRATOR S-34
THE DISTRIBUTOR S-35
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES S-35
THE TRANSFER AGENT S-37
THE CUSTODIAN S-37
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM S-37
LEGAL COUNSEL S-37
SECURITIES LENDING S-37
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST S-37
PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES S-47
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE S-48
TAXES S-49
FUND TRANSACTIONS S-58
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS S-60
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES S-62
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY S-62
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY S-62
PROXY VOTING S-62
CODES OF ETHICS S-63
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS S-63
APPENDIX A – DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS A-1
APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES B-1
   
March 1, 2024 LSV-SX-002-2700

 

 

 

THE TRUST

 

General. Each Fund is a separate series of the Trust. The Trust is an open-end investment management company established under Massachusetts law as a Massachusetts voluntary association (commonly known as a business trust) under a Declaration of Trust dated July 18, 1991, as amended and restated February 18, 1997 and amended May 15, 2012 and August 18, 2020 (the “Declaration of Trust”). The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series (“funds”) of shares of beneficial interest (“shares”). The Trust reserves the right to create and issue shares of additional funds. Each fund is a separate mutual fund or exchange traded fund ("ETF"), and each share of each fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund and all assets of such fund belong solely to that fund and would be subject to liabilities related thereto. Each fund of the Trust pays its (i) operating expenses, including fees of its service providers, expenses of preparing prospectuses, proxy solicitation material and reports to shareholders, costs of custodial services and registering its shares under federal and state securities laws, pricing and insurance expenses, brokerage costs, interest charges, taxes and organization expenses, and (ii) pro rata share of the fund’s other expenses, including audit and legal expenses. Expenses attributable to a specific fund shall be payable solely out of the assets of that fund. Expenses not attributable to a specific fund are allocated across all of the funds on the basis of relative net assets. The other funds of the Trust are described in one or more separate statements of additional information.

 

Description of Multiple Classes of Shares. The Trust is authorized to offer shares of the Funds in Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares. The different classes provide for variations in certain distribution expenses and minimum investment requirements. Minimum investment requirements and investor eligibility are described in the Prospectuses. For more information on distribution expenses, see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in this SAI. The Trust reserves the right to create and issue additional classes of shares.

 

Voting Rights. Each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote for each share held on the record date for the meeting. Each Fund will vote separately on matters relating solely to it. As a Massachusetts voluntary association, the Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Approval of shareholders will be sought, however, for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (each, a “Trustee” and together, the “Board”) under certain circumstances. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to liquidate each Fund without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they may do so if a Fund fails to reach a viable size within a reasonable amount of time or for such other reasons as may be determined by the Board.

 

In addition, a Trustee may be removed by the remaining Trustees or by shareholders at a special meeting called upon written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.

 

Any series of the Trust created on or after November 11, 1996 may reorganize or merge with one or more other series of the Trust or of another investment company. Any such reorganization or merger shall be pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization authorized and approved by the Trustees and entered into by the relevant series in connection therewith. In addition, such reorganization or merger may be authorized by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office and, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the Declaration of Trust, without the approval of shareholders of any series.

 

S-1 

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES

 

Each Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies are described in the Prospectuses. The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectuses. For a description of certain permitted investments discussed below, see “Description of Permitted Investments” in this SAI.

 

Each Fund seeks long-term growth of capital. This goal is fundamental, and may not be changed without the consent of shareholders. There can be no assurance that a Fund will be able to achieve its investment objective. Each Fund is classified as a “diversified” investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). This means that with respect to 75% of their total assets, the Funds may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of a Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer’s voting securities would be held by the Fund. Under applicable federal securities laws, the diversification of a mutual fund’s holdings is measured at the time a fund purchases a security. If a Fund holds securities that perform well on a relative basis, the value of those securities could appreciate such that the value of the Fund’s securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, in the aggregate, might exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets. In these circumstances, the Adviser might determine that it is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders not to reduce one or more of the Fund’s holdings in securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. If the Adviser makes such a determination, the Fund’s holdings in such securities would continue to exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets, and the Fund would not purchase any additional shares of securities that constituted more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. A Fund would continue to qualify as a diversified fund under applicable federal securities laws. If more than 25% of the Fund’s assets were invested, in the aggregate, in securities of issuers that individually represented more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, the Fund would be subject to the risk that its performance could be disproportionately affected by the performance of such securities.

 

Although each Fund will normally be as fully invested as practicable in equity securities, including warrants, rights to purchase common stocks, debt securities convertible into common stocks and preferred stocks, a portion of a Fund’s assets may also be invested in investment grade fixed income securities, cash and money market securities. Investment grade fixed income securities are debt securities that are rated in one of the four highest rating categories (“investment grade”) by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (an “NRSRO”) or that the Funds’ investment adviser, LSV Asset Management (“LSV” or the “Adviser”), determines are of comparable quality. Each Fund may also make limited use of equity index futures contracts for liquidity purposes. In order to generate additional income, each Fund may lend securities that it owns as well as invest in repurchase agreements.

 

DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS

 

The following are descriptions of the permitted investments and the associated risk factors. Each Fund may invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices unless such investment or activity is inconsistent with or is not permitted by its stated investment policies, including those stated below.

 

Equity Securities. Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company and consist of common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock, and securities convertible into common stock. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Funds invest will cause the net asset value of the Funds to fluctuate. The Funds purchase equity securities traded in the United States on registered exchanges or the over-the-counter market. Equity securities are described in more detail below:

 

Common Stock. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.

S-2 

 

 

Preferred Stock. Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock.

 

Rights and Warrants. A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life, usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price. Warrants are freely transferable and are traded on major exchanges. Unlike rights, warrants normally have a life that is measured in years and entitles the holder to buy common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. Corporations often issue warrants to make the accompanying debt security more attractive.

 

An investment in warrants and rights may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. Investing in rights and warrants increases the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities.

 

Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio. A convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue. If a convertible security held by a Fund is called for redemption or conversion, the Fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.

 

Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Because of this higher yield, convertible securities generally sell at a price above their “conversion value,” which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion. The difference between this conversion value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline in value, convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities. However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder. When the underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible securities may also be expected to increase. At the same time, however, the difference between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks. Because convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk, and are often lower-quality securities.

 

Small and Medium Capitalization Issuers. Investing in equity securities of small and medium capitalization companies often involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investments in larger capitalization companies. This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of smaller size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines and frequent lack of depth of management. The securities of smaller companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and even if listed on a national securities exchange may not be traded in volumes typical for that exchange. Consequently, the securities of smaller companies are less likely to be liquid, may have limited market stability, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established growth companies or the market averages in general.

 

S-3 

 

Foreign Securities

 

Types of Foreign Securities:

 

Foreign securities are debt and equity securities that are traded in markets outside of the U.S. The markets in which these securities are located can be developed or emerging. The Funds can invest in foreign securities in a number of ways, including:

 

The Funds can invest directly in foreign securities denominated in a foreign currency;
The Funds can invest in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and other similar global instruments; and
The Funds can invest in investment funds.

 

American Depositary Receipts. ADRs as well as other “hybrid” forms of ADRs, including EDRs and GDRs are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. A custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer’s home country holds the underlying shares in trust. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. ADRs are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. EDRs are similar to ADRs, except that they are typically issued by European banks or trust companies.

 

ADRs can be sponsored or unsponsored. While these types are similar, there are differences regarding a holder’s rights and obligations and the practices of market participants. A depository may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or acquiescence of) the underlying issuer; typically, however, the depository requests a letter of non-objection from the underlying issuer prior to establishing the facility. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of the facility. The depository usually charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the underlying securities, the conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars or other currency, the disposition of non-cash distributions, and the performance of other services. Sponsored depositary receipt facilities are created in generally the same manner as unsponsored facilities, except that sponsored depositary receipts are established jointly by a depository and the underlying issuer through a deposit agreement. The deposit agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of the underlying issuer, the depository, and the depositary receipt holders. With sponsored facilities, the underlying issuer typically bears some of the costs of the depositary receipts (such as dividend payment fees of the depository), although most sponsored depositary receipts holders may bear costs such as deposit and withdrawal fees. Depositories of most sponsored depositary receipts agree to distribute notices of shareholder meetings, voting instructions, and other shareholder communications and information to the depositary receipt holders at the underlying issuer’s request. The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Emerging Markets. An “emerging market” country is any country that is included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (the "Index") or that is publicly announced to be added to the Index. Typically, emerging markets are in countries that are in the process of industrialization, with lower gross national products (“GNPs”) than more developed countries. There are currently over 150 countries that the international financial community generally considers to be emerging or developing countries, approximately 50 of which currently have stock markets.

 

S-4 

 

Sovereign Debt Obligations. Sovereign debt obligations are issued or guaranteed by foreign governments or their agencies. Sovereign debt may be in the form of conventional securities or other types of debt instruments such as loans or loan participations. Governmental entities responsible for repayment of the debt may be unable or unwilling to repay principal and pay interest when due, and may require renegotiation or reschedule of debt payments. In addition, prospects for repayment of principal and payment of interest may depend on political as well as economic factors. Although some sovereign debt, such as Brady Bonds, is collateralized by U.S. government securities, repayment of principal and payment of interest is not guaranteed by the U.S. government.

 

Investment Funds. Some emerging countries currently prohibit direct foreign investment in the securities of their companies. Certain emerging countries, however, permit indirect foreign investment in the securities of companies listed and traded on their stock exchanges through investment funds that they have specifically authorized. Investments in these investment funds are subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act. If a Fund invests in such investment funds, shareholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund (including operating expenses and the fees of the Adviser), but also will indirectly bear similar expenses of the underlying investment funds. In addition, these investment funds may trade at a premium over their net asset value.

 

Risks of Foreign Securities:

 

Foreign securities, foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.

 

Political and Economic Factors. Local political, economic, regulatory, or social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments may affect the value of foreign investments. Listed below are some of the more important political and economic factors that could negatively affect an investment in foreign securities:

 

The economies of foreign countries may differ from the economy of the United States in such areas as growth of GNP, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, budget deficits and national debt;
Foreign governments sometimes participate to a significant degree, through ownership interests or regulation, in their respective economies. Actions by these governments could significantly influence the market prices of securities and payment of dividends;
The economies of many foreign countries are dependent on international trade and their trading partners and they could be severely affected if their trading partners were to enact protective trade barriers and economic conditions;
The internal policies of a particular foreign country may be less stable than in the United States. Other countries face significant external political risks, such as possible claims of sovereignty by other countries or tense and sometimes hostile border clashes;
A foreign government may act adversely to the interests of U.S. investors, including expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation and other restrictions on U.S. investment. A country may restrict or control foreign investments in its securities markets. These restrictions could limit a Fund’s ability to invest in a particular country or make it very expensive for the Fund to invest in that country. Some countries require prior governmental approval, limit the types or amount of securities or companies in which a foreigner can invest, or may restrict the ability of foreign investors to repatriate their investment income and capital gains; and
Periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in a Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. Government designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses.

 

S-5 

 

Given the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, region or market might adversely affect financial conditions or issuers in other countries, regions or markets. For example, on January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) formally withdrew from the EU (commonly referred to as “Brexit”). Following a transition period, the UK and the EU signed a post-Brexit trade agreement governing their future economic relationship on December 30, 2020. This agreement became effective on a provisional basis on January 1, 2021 and formally entered into force on May 1, 2021. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets. The effects of Brexit on the UK and EU economies and the broader global economy could be significant, resulting in negative impacts, such as business and trade disruptions, increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth of markets in the UK, EU and globally, which could negatively impact the value of a Fund’s investments. Brexit could also lead to legal uncertainty and politically divergent national laws and regulations while the new relationship between the UK and EU is further defined and the UK determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Additionally, depreciation of the British pound sterling and/or the euro in relation to the U.S. dollar following Brexit could adversely affect Fund investments denominated in the British pound sterling and/or the euro, regardless of the performance of the investment.

 

In addition, on February 24, 2022, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia, Ukraine, Europe, NATO, and the West. Following Russia’s actions, various countries, including the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, as well as the European Union, issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia. The sanctions consist of the prohibition of trading in certain Russian securities and engaging in certain private transactions, the prohibition of doing business with certain Russian corporate entities, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs, and the freezing of Russian assets. The extent and duration of the war in Ukraine and the longevity and severity of sanctions remain unknown, but they could have a significant adverse impact on the European economy as well as the price and availability of certain commodities, including oil and natural gas, throughout the world. These sanctions, and the resulting disruption of the Russian economy, may cause volatility in other regional and global markets and may negatively impact the performance of various sectors and industries, as well as companies in other countries, which could have a negative effect on the performance of a Fund, even if the Fund does not have direct exposure to securities of Russian issuers.

 

Whether or not a Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments due to the interconnected nature of the global economy and capital markets.

 

Information and Supervision. There is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than companies based in the United States. For example, there are often no reports and ratings published about foreign companies comparable to the ones written about U.S. companies. Foreign companies are typically not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. The lack of comparable information makes investment decisions concerning foreign companies more difficult and less reliable than those concerning domestic companies.

 

Stock Exchange and Market Risk. The Adviser anticipates that in most cases an exchange or over-the-counter market located outside of the United States will be the best available market for foreign securities. Foreign stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as the markets in the United States. Foreign stock markets tend to differ from those in the United States in a number of ways.

 

S-6 

 

Foreign stock markets:

 

Are generally more volatile than, and not as developed or efficient as, those in the United States;
Have substantially less volume;
Trade securities that tend to be less liquid and experience rapid and erratic price movements;
Have generally higher commissions and are subject to set minimum rates, as opposed to negotiated rates;
Employ trading, settlement and custodial practices less developed than those in U.S. markets; and
May have different settlement practices, which may cause delays and increase the potential for failed settlements.

 

Foreign markets may offer less protection to shareholders than U.S. markets because:

 

Foreign accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements may render a foreign corporate balance sheet more difficult to understand and interpret than one subject to U.S. law and standards.
Adequate public information on foreign issuers may not be available, and it may be difficult to secure dividends and information regarding corporate actions on a timely basis.
In general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the United States.
Over-the-counter markets tend to be less regulated than stock exchange markets and, in certain countries, may be totally unregulated.
Economic or political concerns may influence regulatory enforcement and may make it difficult for shareholders to enforce their legal rights.
Restrictions on transferring securities within the United States or to U.S. persons may make a particular security less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions.

 

Foreign Currency Risk. While each Fund denominates its net asset value in U.S. dollars, the securities of foreign companies are frequently denominated in foreign currencies. Thus, a change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in value of securities denominated in that currency. Some of the factors that may impair the investments denominated in a foreign currency are:

 

It may be expensive to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa;
Complex political and economic factors may significantly affect the values of various currencies, including the U.S. dollar, and their exchange rates;
Government intervention may increase risks involved in purchasing or selling foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts, since exchange rates may not be free to fluctuate in response to other market forces;
There may be no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies or regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis;
Available quotation information is generally representative of very large round-lot transactions in the inter-bank market and thus may not reflect exchange rates for smaller odd-lot transactions (less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable; and
The inter-bank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that a market is closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, certain markets may not always reflect significant price and rate movements.

 

S-7 

 

Taxes. Certain foreign governments levy withholding taxes on dividend and interest income. Although in some countries it is possible for a Fund to recover a portion of these taxes, the portion that cannot be recovered will reduce the income the Fund receives from its investments.

 

Emerging Markets. Investing in emerging markets may magnify the risks of foreign investing. Security prices in emerging markets can be significantly more volatile than those in more developed markets, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, countries with emerging markets may:

 

Have relatively unstable governments;
Present greater risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets;
Offer less protection of property rights than more developed countries; and
Have economies that are based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates.

 

Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times.

 

Money Market Securities. Money market securities include short-term U.S. government securities; custodial receipts evidencing separately traded interest and principal components of securities issued by the U.S. Treasury; commercial paper rated in the highest short-term rating category by an NRSRO, such as S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase; short-term bank obligations (certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances) of U.S. commercial banks with assets of at least $1 billion as of the end of their most recent fiscal year; and repurchase agreements involving such securities. Each of these money market securities are described below. For a description of ratings, see “Appendix A – Description of Ratings” to this SAI.

 

U.S. Government Securities. Each Fund may invest in U.S. government securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years. U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi-annually and repay the principal at maturity. Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (“Farmer Mac”).

 

Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency. Additionally, some obligations are issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, which are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so, since the U.S. government is not so obligated by law. Guarantees of principal by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Funds’ shares.

 

S-8 

 

On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), placing the two federal instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the takeover, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and obtained warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality (the “Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement” or “Agreement”). Under the Agreement, the U.S. Treasury pledged to provide up to $200 billion per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. This was intended to ensure that the instrumentalities maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was amending the Agreement to allow the $200 billion cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in net worth through the end of 2012. The unlimited support the U.S. Treasury extended to the two companies expired at the beginning of 2013 – Fannie Mae’s support is now capped at $125 billion and Freddie Mac has a limit of $149 billion.

 

On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to terminate the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each pay a 10 percent annual dividend. Instead, the companies will transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceed a capital reserve amount. The capital reserve amount was $3 billion in 2013, and decreased by $600 million in each subsequent year through 2017. It is believed that this amendment put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a better position to service their debt because it eliminated the need for the companies to have to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to make fixed dividend payments. As part of the new terms, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also will be required to reduce their investment portfolios over time. On December 21, 2017, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to reinstate the $3 billion capital reserve amount. On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was further amending the Agreement, now permitting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to retain earnings beyond the $3 billion capital reserves previously allowed through the 2017 amendment. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now permitted to maintain capital reserves of $25 billion and $20 billion, respectively.

 

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the subject of several continuing class action lawsuits and investigations by federal regulators over certain accounting, disclosure or corporate governance matters, which (along with any resulting financial restatements) may adversely affect the guaranteeing entities. Importantly, the future of the entities is in serious question as the U.S. government reportedly is considering multiple options, ranging from nationalization, privatization, consolidation, or abolishment of the entities.

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations. U.S. Treasury obligations consist of direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, including Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations, including those transferable through the Federal book-entry system known as Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities (“STRIPS”). The STRIPS program lets investors hold and trade the individual interest and principal components of eligible Treasury notes and bonds as separate securities. Under the STRIPS program, the principal and interest components are separately issued by the U.S. Treasury at the request of depository financial institutions, which then trade the component parts separately.

 

Commercial Paper. Commercial paper is the term used to designate unsecured short-term promissory notes issued by corporations and other entities. Maturities on these issues vary from a few days to 270 days.

 

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Obligations of Domestic Banks, Foreign Banks and Foreign Branches of U.S. Banks. The Funds may invest in obligations issued by banks and other savings institutions. Investments in bank obligations include obligations of domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks. Such investments in domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks may involve risks that are different from investments in securities of domestic branches of U.S. banks. These risks may include future unfavorable political and economic developments, possible withholding taxes on interest income, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations, or other governmental restrictions which might affect the payment of principal or interest on the securities held by the Funds. Additionally, these institutions may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements and to different accounting, auditing, reporting and recordkeeping requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks. Bank obligations include the following:

 

Bankers’ Acceptances. Bankers’ acceptances are bills of exchange or time drafts drawn on and accepted by a commercial bank. Corporations use bankers’ acceptances to finance the shipment and storage of goods and to furnish dollar exchange. Maturities are generally six months or less.
Certificates of Deposit. Certificates of deposit are interest-bearing instruments with a specific maturity. They are issued by banks and savings and loan institutions in exchange for the deposit of funds and normally can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Certificates of deposit with penalties for early withdrawal will be considered illiquid.
Time Deposits. Time deposits are non-negotiable receipts issued by a bank in exchange for the deposit of funds. Like a certificate of deposit, it earns a specified rate of interest over a definite period of time; however, it cannot be traded in the secondary market. Time deposits with a withdrawal penalty or that mature in more than seven days are considered to be illiquid investments.

 

Repurchase Agreements. Each Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions in order to increase its income. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which a fund acquires a fixed income security (generally a security issued by the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a banker’s acceptance, or a certificate of deposit) from a commercial bank, broker, or dealer, and simultaneously agrees to resell such security to the seller at an agreed upon price and date (normally, the next business day). Because the security purchased constitutes collateral for the repurchase obligation, a repurchase agreement may be considered a loan that is collateralized by the security purchased. The acquisition of a repurchase agreement may be deemed to be an acquisition of the underlying securities as long as the obligation of the seller to repurchase the securities is collateralized fully. The Funds follow certain procedures designed to minimize the risks inherent in such agreements. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with creditworthy financial institutions whose condition will be continually monitored by the Adviser. The repurchase agreements entered into by the Funds will provide that the underlying collateral at all times shall have a value at least equal to 102% of the resale price stated in the agreement and consist only of securities permissible under Section 101(47)(A)(i) of the Bankruptcy Code (the Adviser monitors compliance with this requirement). Under all repurchase agreements entered into by the Funds, the custodian or its agent must take possession of the underlying collateral. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Funds will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Funds’ right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Funds could suffer a loss. A Fund may enter into “tri-party” repurchase agreements. In “tri-party” repurchase agreements, an unaffiliated third party custodian maintains accounts to hold collateral for the Fund and its counterparties and, therefore, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of those custodians. The investments of the Funds in repurchase agreements, at times, may be substantial when, in the view of the Adviser, liquidity or other considerations so warrant.

 

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Reverse Repurchase Agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are transactions in which a Fund sells portfolio securities to financial institutions, such as banks and broker-dealers, and agrees to repurchase them at a mutually agreed-upon date and price that is higher than the original sale price. Reverse repurchase agreements are similar to a fully collateralized borrowing by a Fund.

 

Reverse repurchase agreements involve risks. Reverse repurchase agreements are a form of leverage, and the use of reverse repurchase agreements by a Fund may increase the Fund’s volatility. Reverse repurchase agreements are also subject to the risk that the other party to the reverse repurchase agreement will be unable or unwilling to complete the transaction as scheduled, which may result in losses to a Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by a Fund may decline below the price at which it is obligated to repurchase the securities. In addition, when a Fund invests the proceeds it receives in a reverse repurchase transaction, there is a risk that those investments may decline in value. In this circumstance, the Fund could be required to sell other investments in order to meet its obligations to repurchase the securities.

 

The Derivatives Rule (defined below) permits the Fund to enter into reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions, notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the 1940 Act. The Derivatives Rule permits the Fund to elect whether to treat a reverse repurchase agreement as a borrowing, subject to the asset coverage requirements of Section 18 of the 1940 Act, or as a derivatives transactions under the Derivatives Rule.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”). Each Fund may invest in ETFs. ETFs may be structured as investment companies that are registered under the 1940 Act, typically as open-end funds or unit investment trusts. These ETFs are generally based on specific domestic and foreign market securities indices. An “index-based ETF” seeks to track the performance of an index by holding in its portfolio either the contents of the index or a representative sample of the securities in the index. Alternatively, ETFs may be structured as grantor trusts or other forms of pooled investment vehicles that are not registered or regulated under the 1940 Act. These ETFs typically hold commodities, precious metals, currency or other non-securities investments. ETFs, like mutual funds, have expenses associated with their operation, such as advisory and custody fees. When a Fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, including the brokerage costs associated with the purchase and sale of shares of the ETF, the Fund will bear a pro rata portion of the ETF’s expenses. In addition, it may be more costly to own an ETF than to directly own the securities or other investments held by the ETF because of ETF expenses. The risks of owning shares of an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities or other investments held by the ETF, although lack of liquidity in the market for the shares of an ETF could result in the ETF’s value being more volatile than the underlying securities or other investments.

 

Securities of Other Investment Companies. Each Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies, to the extent permitted by applicable law subject to certain restrictions. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by a Fund. A Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying the Fund’s expenses.

 

Generally, the federal securities laws limit the extent to which a Fund can invest in securities of other investment companies, subject to certain exceptions. For example, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act prohibits a fund from (i) acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any one investment company, (ii) investing more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, and (iii) investing more than 10% of its total assets in all investment companies combined, including its ETF investments.

 

The Funds may rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, which provides an exemption from Section 12(d)(1) that allows a Fund to invest all of its assets in other registered funds, including ETFs, if, among other conditions, the Fund, together with its affiliates, acquires no more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any acquired fund. The Funds may also rely on Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 12d1-4, which became effective on January 19, 2021, permits a Fund to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions specified in the Rule including, among other conditions, that a Fund and its advisory group will not control (individually or in the aggregate) an acquired fund (e.g., hold more than 25% of the outstanding voting securities of an acquired fund that is a registered open-end management investment company). In addition, a Fund may be able to rely on certain other rules under the 1940 Act to invest in shares of money market funds or other investment companies beyond the statutory limits noted above, but subject to certain conditions.

 

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For hedging or other purposes, a Fund may invest in investment companies that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific indexes or portions of specific indexes. Certain of these investment companies, known as ETFs, are traded on a securities exchange. (See “Exchange-Traded Funds” above). The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with changes in the underlying portfolio securities of the investment company and also due to supply and demand of the investment company’s shares on the exchange upon which the shares are traded. Index-based investments may not replicate or otherwise match the composition or performance of their specified index due to transaction costs, among other things.

 

Securities Lending. The Funds may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial organizations that meet capital and other credit requirements or other criteria established by the Board. These loans, if and when made, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the total asset value of a Fund (including the loan collateral). The Funds will not lend portfolio securities to the Adviser or their affiliates unless permissible under the 1940 Act and the rules and promulgations thereunder. Loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized by cash, letters of credit or U.S. government securities, and the collateral will be maintained in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities by marking to market daily. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the account of the Funds.

 

The Funds may pay a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral, or other fee, to an unaffiliated third party for acting as the Funds’ securities lending agent, but will bear all of any losses from the investment of collateral.

 

By lending their securities, the Funds may increase their income by receiving payments from the borrower that reflect the amount of any interest or any dividends payable on the loaned securities as well as by either investing cash collateral received from the borrower in short-term instruments or obtaining a fee from the borrower when U.S. government securities or letters of credit are used as collateral. Investing cash collateral subjects the Funds to market risk. A Fund remains obligated to return all collateral to the borrower under the terms of its securities lending arrangements, even if the value of investments made with the collateral decline. Accordingly, if the value of a security in which the cash collateral has been invested declines, the loss would be borne by a Fund, and the Fund may be required to liquidate other investments in order to return collateral to the borrower at the end of the loan. Each Fund will adhere to the following conditions whenever its portfolio securities are loaned: (i) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral or equivalent securities of the type discussed above from the borrower; (ii) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (iii) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan on demand; (iv) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in market value; (v) the Fund may pay only reasonable fees in connection with the loan (which fees may include fees payable to the lending agent, the borrower, the Fund’s administrator and the custodian); and (vi) voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, provided, however, that if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs, the Fund must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities. The Board has adopted procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the foregoing criteria will be met. Loan agreements involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the borrower, including possible delays or restrictions upon the Funds’ ability to recover the loaned securities or dispose of the collateral for the loan, which could give rise to loss because of adverse market action, expenses and/or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying securities.

 

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Derivatives

 

Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is based on an underlying asset (such as a stock or a bond), an underlying economic factor (such as an interest rate) or a market benchmark. Unless otherwise stated in the Prospectuses, the Funds may use derivatives for a number of purposes including managing risk, gaining exposure to various markets in a cost-efficient manner, reducing transaction costs, remaining fully invested and speculating. The Funds may also invest in derivatives with the goal of protecting themselves from broad fluctuations in market prices, interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates (a practice known as “hedging”). When hedging is successful, a Fund will have offset any depreciation in the value of its portfolio securities by the appreciation in the value of the derivative position. Although techniques other than the sale and purchase of derivatives could be used to control the exposure of the Funds to market fluctuations, the use of derivatives may be a more effective means of hedging this exposure. In the future, to the extent such use is consistent with the Funds’ investment objectives and is legally permissible, the Funds may use instruments and techniques that are not presently contemplated, but that may be subsequently developed.

 

There can be no assurance that a derivative strategy, if employed, will be successful. Because many derivatives have a leverage or borrowing component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself.

 

Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Derivatives Rule”) provides a comprehensive framework for the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. The Derivatives Rule permits a registered investment company, subject to various conditions described below, to enter into derivatives transactions and certain other transactions notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior securities” under Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other things, prohibits open-end funds, including the Funds, from issuing or selling any “senior security,” other than borrowing from a bank (subject to a requirement to maintain 300% “asset coverage”).

 

Registered investment companies that don’t qualify as “limited derivatives users” as defined below, are required by the Derivatives Rule to, among other things, (i) adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program (“DRMP”) and new testing requirements; (ii) comply with a relative or absolute limit on fund leverage risk calculated based on value-at-risk (“VaR”); and (iii) comply with new requirements related to Board and SEC reporting. The DRMP is administered by a “derivatives risk manager,” who is appointed by the Board and periodically reviews the DRMP and reports to the Board.

 

The Derivatives Rule provides an exception from the DRMP, VaR limit and certain other requirements for a registered investment company that limits its “derivatives exposure” to no more than 10% of its net assets (as calculated in accordance with the Derivatives Rule) (a “limited derivatives user”), provided that the registered investment company establishes appropriate policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage derivatives risks, including the risk of exceeding the 10% “derivatives exposure” threshold.

 

The requirements of the Derivatives Rule may limit a Fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may also increase the cost of a Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments and/or the performance of the Fund. The rule also may not be effective to limit a Fund’s risk of loss. In particular, measurements of VaR rely on historical data and may not accurately measure the degree of risk reflected in a Fund’s derivatives or other investments. There may be additional regulation of the use of derivatives transactions by registered investment companies, which could significantly affect their use. The ultimate impact of the regulations remains unclear. Additional regulation of derivatives transactions may make them more costly, limit their availability or utility, otherwise adversely affect their performance or disrupt markets.

 

CFTC Regulations. Pursuant to rules adopted under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), a Fund must either operate within certain guidelines and restrictions with respect to the Fund’s use of futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps, or the Adviser will be subject to registration with the CFTC as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”).

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Consistent with the CFTC’s regulations, the Adviser, on behalf of the Funds, has filed a notice of exclusion from the definition of the term CPO under the CEA pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 with respect to each Fund's operation. Therefore, the Funds are not subject to regulation as commodity pools under the CEA and the Adviser is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA with respect to the Funds. As a result, the Funds will be limited in their ability to use futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps. Complying with the limitations may restrict the Adviser’s ability to implement the Funds’ investment strategies and may adversely affect the Funds’ performance.

 

Types of Derivatives:

 

Futures. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties whereby one party agrees to sell and the other party agrees to buy a specified amount of a financial instrument at an agreed upon price and time. The financial instrument underlying the contract may be a stock, stock index, bond, bond index, interest rate, foreign exchange rate or other similar instrument. Agreeing to buy the underlying financial instrument is called buying a futures contract or taking a long position in the contract. Likewise, agreeing to sell the underlying financial instrument is called selling a futures contract or taking a short position in the contract.

 

Futures contracts are traded in the United States on commodity exchanges or boards of trade (known as “contract markets”) approved for such trading and regulated by the CFTC. These contract markets standardize the terms, including the maturity date and underlying financial instrument, of all futures contracts.

 

Unlike other securities, the parties to a futures contract do not have to pay for or deliver the underlying financial instrument until some future date (the “delivery date”). Contract markets require both the purchaser and seller to deposit “initial margin” with a futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant or custodian bank, when they enter into the contract. Initial margin deposits are typically equal to a percentage of the contract’s value. Initial margin is similar to a performance bond or good faith deposit on a contract and is returned to the depositing party upon termination of the futures contract if all contractual obligations have been satisfied. After they open a futures contract, the parties to the transaction must compare the purchase price of the contract to its daily market value. If the value of the futures contract changes in such a way that a party’s position declines, that party must make additional “variation margin” payments so that the margin payment is adequate. On the other hand, the value of the contract may change in such a way that there is excess margin on deposit, possibly entitling the party that has a gain to receive all or a portion of this amount. This process is known as “marking to the market.” Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by a party but is instead a settlement between the party and the futures broker of the amount one party would owe the other if the futures contract terminated. In computing daily net asset value, each party marks to market its open futures positions.

 

Although the terms of a futures contract call for the actual delivery of and payment for the underlying security, in many cases the parties may close the contract early by taking an opposite position in an identical contract. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is less than the original purchase price, the party closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is more than the original purchase price, the party closing out the contract will realize a gain. Conversely, if the purchase price upon closing out the contract is more than the original sale price, the party closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the purchase price upon closing out the contract is less than the original sale price, the party closing out the contract will realize a gain.

 

A Fund may incur commission expenses when it opens or closes a futures position.

 

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Options. An option is a contract between two parties for the purchase and sale of a financial instrument for a specified price (known as the “strike price” or “exercise price”) at any time during the option period. Unlike a futures contract, an option grants a right (not an obligation) to buy or sell a financial instrument. Generally, a seller of an option can grant a buyer two kinds of rights: a “call” (the right to buy the security) or a “put” (the right to sell the security). Options have various types of underlying instruments, including specific securities, indices of securities prices, foreign currencies, interest rates and futures contracts. Options may be traded on an exchange (exchange-traded options) or may be customized agreements between the parties (over-the-counter or “OTC” options). Like futures, a financial intermediary, known as a clearing corporation, financially backs exchange-traded options. However, OTC options have no such intermediary and are subject to the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligations under the contract. The principal factors affecting the market value of an option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market value of the underlying instrument relative to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until the option expires.

 

Purchasing Put and Call Options

 

When a Fund purchases a put option, it buys the right to sell the instrument underlying the option at a fixed strike price. In return for this right, the Fund pays the current market price for the option (known as the “option premium”). A Fund may purchase put options to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of its securities (“protective puts”) or to benefit from a decline in the price of securities that it does not own. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs. However, if the price of the underlying instrument does not fall enough to offset the cost of purchasing the option, a put buyer would lose the premium and related transaction costs.

 

Call options are similar to put options, except that a Fund obtains the right to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the option’s strike price. A Fund would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase in the market value of securities it owns or wants to buy. A Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying instrument exceeded the exercise price plus the premium paid and related transaction costs. Otherwise, the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.

 

The purchaser of an option may terminate its position by:

 

Allowing it to expire and losing its entire premium;
Exercising the option and either selling (in the case of a put option) or buying (in the case of a call option) the underlying instrument at the strike price; or
Closing it out in the secondary market at its current price.

 

Selling (Writing) Put and Call Options

 

When a Fund writes a call option it assumes an obligation to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a fixed strike price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. Similarly, when a Fund writes a put option it assumes an obligation to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a fixed strike price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. The Fund may terminate its position in an exchange-traded put option before exercise by buying an option identical to the one it has written. Similarly, the Fund may cancel an OTC option by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparty to the option.

 

A Fund could try to hedge against an increase in the value of securities it would like to acquire by writing a put option on those securities. If security prices rise, the Fund would expect the put option to expire and the premium it received to offset the increase in the security’s value. If security prices remain the same over time, the Fund would hope to profit by closing out the put option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the Fund may lose an amount of money equal to the difference between the value of the security and the premium it received. Writing covered put options may deprive a Fund of the opportunity to profit from a decrease in the market price of the securities it would like to acquire.

 

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The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, except that call writers expect to profit if prices remain the same or fall. A Fund could try to hedge against a decline in the value of securities it already owns by writing a call option. If the price of that security falls as expected, the Fund would expect the option to expire and the premium it received to offset the decline of the security’s value. However, the Fund must be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, which may deprive it of the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the securities it holds.

 

The Funds are permitted to write only "covered" options. At the time of selling a call option, a Fund may cover the option by owning, among other things:

 

The underlying security (or securities convertible into the underlying security without additional consideration), index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract;

 

A call option on the same security or index with the same or lesser exercise price;

 

Cash or liquid securities equal to at least the market value of the optioned securities, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract; or

 

In the case of an index, the portfolio of securities that corresponds to the index.

 

At the time of selling a put option, a Fund may cover the option by, among other things:

 

Entering into a short position in the underlying security;

 

Purchasing a put option on the same security, index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract with the same or greater exercise price; or

 

Maintaining the entire exercise price in liquid securities.

 

Options on Securities Indices

 

Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

Options on Credit Default Swaps

 

An option on a credit default swap (“CDS”) gives the holder the right to enter into a CDS at a specified future date and under specified terms in exchange for a purchase price or premium. The writer of the option bears the risk of any unfavorable move in the value of the CDS relative to the market value on the exercise date, while the purchaser may allow the option to expire unexercised.

 

Options on Futures

 

An option on a futures contract provides the holder with the right to buy a futures contract (in the case of a call option) or sell a futures contract (in the case of a put option) at a fixed time and price. Upon exercise of the option by the holder, the contract market clearing house establishes a corresponding short position for the writer of the option (in the case of a call option) or a corresponding long position (in the case of a put option). If the option is exercised, the parties will be subject to the futures contracts. In addition, the writer of an option on a futures contract is subject to initial and variation margin requirements on the option position. Options on futures contracts are traded on the same contract market as the underlying futures contract.

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The buyer or seller of an option on a futures contract may terminate the option early by purchasing or selling an option of the same series (i.e., the same exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously purchased or sold. The difference between the premiums paid and received represents the trader’s profit or loss on the transaction.

 

A Fund may purchase put and call options on futures contracts instead of selling or buying futures contracts. The Fund may buy a put option on a futures contract for the same reasons it would sell a futures contract. It also may purchase such a put option in order to hedge a long position in the underlying futures contract. A Fund may buy a call option on a futures contract for the same purpose as the actual purchase of a futures contract, such as in anticipation of favorable market conditions.

 

A Fund may write a call option on a futures contract to hedge against a decline in the prices of the instrument underlying the futures contracts. If the price of the futures contract at expiration were below the exercise price, the Fund would retain the option premium, which would offset, in part, any decline in the value of its portfolio securities.

 

The writing of a put option on a futures contract is similar to the purchase of the futures contracts, except that, if the market price declines, a Fund would pay more than the market price for the underlying instrument. The premium received on the sale of the put option, less any transaction costs, would reduce the net cost to the Fund.

 

Options on Foreign Currencies

 

A put option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell a foreign currency at the exercise price until the option expires. A call option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to purchase the currency at the exercise price until the option expires. The Funds may purchase or write put and call options on foreign currencies for the purpose of hedging against changes in future currency exchange rates.

 

The Funds may use foreign currency options given the same circumstances under which they could use forward foreign currency exchange contracts. For example, a decline in the U.S. dollar value of a foreign currency in which a Fund’s securities are denominated would reduce the U.S. dollar value of the securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remained constant. In order to hedge against such a risk, the Fund may purchase a put option on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency then declined, the Fund could sell the currency for a fixed amount in U.S. dollars and thereby offset, at least partially, the negative effect on its securities that otherwise would have resulted. Conversely, if a Fund anticipates a rise in the U.S. dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated, the Fund may purchase call options on the currency in order to offset, at least partially, the effects of negative movements in exchange rates. If currency exchange rates do not move in the direction or to the extent anticipated, the Funds could sustain losses on transactions in foreign currency options.

 

Combined Positions

 

The Funds may purchase and write options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward contracts or swap agreements, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall position. For example, a Fund could construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract by purchasing a put option and writing a call option on the same underlying instrument. Alternatively, a Fund could write a call option at one strike price and buy a call option at a lower price to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.

 

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Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts. A forward foreign currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific amount of currency at a future date or date range at a specific price. In the case of a cancelable forward contract, the holder has the unilateral right to cancel the contract at maturity by paying a specified fee. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts differ from foreign currency futures contracts in certain respects. Unlike futures contracts, forward contracts:

 

Do not have standard maturity dates or amounts (i.e., the parties to the contract may fix the maturity date and the amount);

 

Are typically traded directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers in the inter-bank markets, as opposed to on exchanges regulated by the CFTC (note, however, that under definitions adopted by the CFTC and SEC, many non-deliverable foreign currency forwards will be considered swaps for certain purposes, including determination of whether such instruments must be traded on exchanges and centrally cleared);

 

Do not require an initial margin deposit; and

 

May be closed by entering into a closing transaction with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract, as opposed to with a commodities exchange.

 

Foreign Currency Hedging Strategies

 

A “settlement hedge” or “transaction hedge” is designed to protect a Fund against an adverse change in foreign currency values between the date a security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received. Entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in an underlying security transaction for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars “locks in” the U.S. dollar price of the security. A Fund may also use forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency when it anticipates purchasing or selling securities denominated in foreign currency, even if it has not yet selected the specific investments.

 

A Fund may use forward contracts to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. Such a hedge, sometimes referred to as a “position hedge,” would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations, but would not offset changes in security values caused by other factors. The Fund could also hedge the position by selling another currency expected to perform similarly to the currency in which the Fund’s investment is denominated. This type of hedge, sometimes referred to as a “proxy hedge,” could offer advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but generally would not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a direct hedge into U.S. dollars. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.

 

Transaction and position hedging do not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities that a Fund owns or intends to purchase or sell. They simply establish a rate of exchange that one can achieve at some future point in time. Additionally, these techniques tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency and to limit any potential gain that might result from the increase in value of such currency.

 

A Fund may enter into forward contracts to shift its investment exposure from one currency into another. Such transactions may call for the delivery of one foreign currency in exchange for another foreign currency, including currencies in which its securities are not then denominated. This may include shifting exposure from U.S. dollars to a foreign currency, or from one foreign currency to another foreign currency. This type of strategy, sometimes known as a “cross-hedge,” will tend to reduce or eliminate exposure to the currency that is sold, and increase exposure to the currency that is purchased. Cross-hedges may protect against losses resulting from a decline in the hedged currency but will cause the Fund to assume the risk of fluctuations in the value of the currency it purchases. Cross-hedging transactions also involve the risk of imperfect correlation between changes in the values of the currencies involved.

 

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It is difficult to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration or maturity of a forward or futures contract. Accordingly, a Fund may have to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot (cash) market if the market value of a security it is hedging is less than the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver. Conversely, the Fund may have to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency it received upon the sale of a security if the market value of such security exceeds the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver.

 

Equity-Linked Securities. The Funds may invest in privately issued securities whose investment results are designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified stock index or “basket” of securities, or sometimes a single stock (referred to as “equity-linked securities”). These securities are used for many of the same purposes as derivative instruments and share many of the same risks. Equity-linked securities may be considered illiquid and thus subject to the Funds’ restrictions on investments in illiquid investments.

 

Swap Agreements. A swap agreement is a financial instrument that typically involves the exchange of cash flows between two parties on specified dates (settlement dates), where the cash flows are based on agreed-upon prices, rates, indices, etc. The nominal amount on which the cash flows are calculated is called the notional amount. Swap agreements are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, such as interest rates, foreign currency rates, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, security prices or inflation rates.

 

Swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of a Fund and its share price. The performance of swap agreements may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterparty’s creditworthiness declined, the value of a swap agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses.

 

Generally, swap agreements have a fixed maturity date that will be agreed upon by the parties. The agreement can be terminated before the maturity date under certain circumstances, such as default by one of the parties or insolvency, among others, and can be transferred by a party only with the prior written consent of the other party. A Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or by other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. If the counterparty is unable to meet its obligations under the contract, declares bankruptcy, defaults or becomes insolvent, a Fund may not be able to recover the money it expected to receive under the swap agreement. The Funds will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Adviser believes that the counterparty to the transaction is creditworthy.

 

A swap agreement can be a form of leverage, which can magnify the Funds’ gains or losses.

 

Equity Swaps

 

In a typical equity swap, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, stock index or basket of stocks in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Equity index swaps involve not only the risk associated with investment in the securities represented in the index, but also the risk that the performance of such securities, including dividends, will not exceed the return on the interest rate that a Fund will be committed to pay.

 

§Total Return Swaps

 

Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from a reference instrument—which may be a single asset, a pool of assets or an index of assets—during a specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from another underlying reference instrument. The total return includes appreciation or depreciation on the underlying asset, plus any interest or dividend payments. Payments under the swap are based upon an agreed upon principal amount but, since the principal amount is not exchanged, it represents neither an asset nor a liability to either counterparty, and is referred to as notional. Total return swaps are marked to market daily using different sources, including quotations from counterparties, pricing services, brokers or market makers. The unrealized appreciation or depreciation related to the change in the valuation of the notional amount of the swap is combined with the amount due to a Fund at termination or settlement. The primary risks associated with total return swaps are credit risks (if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations) and market risk (if there is no liquid market for the swap or unfavorable changes occur to the underlying reference instrument).

 

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Interest Rate Swaps

 

Interest rate swaps are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. Some of the different types of interest rate swaps are “fixed-for-floating rate swaps,” “termed basis swaps” and “index amortizing swaps.” Fixed-for-floating rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed interest rate cash flows for floating rate cash flows. Termed basis swaps entail cash flows to both parties based on floating interest rates, where the interest rate indices are different. Index amortizing swaps are typically fixed-for-floating rate swaps where the notional amount changes if certain conditions are met.

 

As with a traditional investment in a debt security, a Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely. For example, if a Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest, the Fund may have to pay more money than it receives. Similarly, if a Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a fixed rate of interest for a floating rate of interest, the Fund may receive less money than it has agreed to pay.

 

Currency Swaps

 

A currency swap is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make interest rate payments in one currency and the other promises to make interest rate payments in another currency. A Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has one currency and desires a different currency. Typically, the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the agreement and returned at the end of the agreement. Changes in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above, may negatively affect currency swaps.

 

Inflation Swaps

 

Inflation swaps are fixed-maturity, over-the-counter derivatives where one party pays a fixed rate in exchange for payments tied to an inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index. The fixed rate, which is set by the parties at the initiation of the swap, is often referred to as the “breakeven inflation” rate and generally represents the current difference between treasury yields and Treasury Inflation Protected Securities yields of similar maturities at the initiation of the swap agreement. Inflation swaps are typically designated as “zero coupon,” where all cash flows are exchanged at maturity. The value of an inflation swap is expected to fluctuate in response to changes in the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. An inflation swap can lose value if the realized rate of inflation over the life of the swap is less than the fixed market implied inflation rate (the breakeven inflation rate) the investor agreed to pay at the initiation of the swap.

 

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Credit Default Swaps

 

A credit default swap is an agreement between a “buyer” and a “seller” for credit protection. The credit default swap agreement may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not then held by a Fund. The protection buyer is generally obligated to pay the protection seller an upfront payment and/or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the agreement until a credit event on a reference obligation has occurred. If no default occurs, the seller would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the full notional amount (the “par value”) of the swap.

 

Caps, Collars and Floors

 

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

 

Risks of Derivatives:

 

While transactions in derivatives may reduce certain risks, these transactions themselves entail certain other risks. For example, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance of the Funds than if they had not entered into any derivatives transactions. Derivatives may magnify the Funds’ gains or losses, causing them to make or lose substantially more than they invested.

 

When used for hedging purposes, increases in the value of the securities a Fund holds or intends to acquire should offset any losses incurred with a derivative. Purchasing derivatives for purposes other than hedging could expose the Fund to greater risks.

 

Use of derivatives involves transaction costs, which may be significant, and may also increase the amount of taxable income to shareholders.

 

Correlation of Prices. The Funds’ ability to hedge their securities through derivatives depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index or instrument correlate with price movements in the relevant securities. In the case of poor correlation, the price of the securities a Fund is hedging may not move in the same amount, or even in the same direction as the hedging instrument. The Adviser will try to minimize this risk by investing in only those contracts whose behavior it expects to correlate with the behavior of the portfolio securities it is trying to hedge. However, if the Adviser’s prediction of interest and currency rates, market value, volatility or other economic factors is incorrect, a Fund may lose money, or may not make as much money as it expected.

 

Derivative prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the characteristics of the underlying instruments are very similar to the derivative. Listed below are some of the factors that may cause such a divergence:

 

Current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract;

 

A difference between the derivatives and securities markets, including different levels of demand, how the instruments are traded, the imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or discontinued trading of an instrument; and

 

Differences between the derivatives, such as different margin requirements, different liquidity of such markets and the participation of speculators in such markets.

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Derivatives based upon a narrower index of securities, such as those of a particular industry group, may present greater risk than derivatives based on a broad market index. Since narrower indices are made up of a smaller number of securities, they are more susceptible to rapid and extreme price fluctuations because of changes in the value of those securities.

 

While currency futures and options values are expected to correlate with exchange rates, they may not reflect other factors that affect the value of the investments of the Funds. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a yen-denominated security from a decline in the yen, but will not protect the Funds against a price decline resulting from deterioration in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Because the value of the Funds’ foreign-denominated investments changes in response to many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to match the amount of currency options and futures to the value of the Funds’ investments precisely over time.

 

Lack of Liquidity. Before a futures contract or option is exercised or expires, a Fund can terminate it only by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. Moreover, a Fund may close out a futures contract only on the exchange the contract was initially traded. Although the Funds intend to purchase options and futures only where there appears to be an active market, there is no guarantee that such a liquid market will exist. If there is no secondary market for the contract, or the market is illiquid, a Fund may not be able to close out its position. In an illiquid market, a Fund may:

 

Have to sell securities to meet its daily margin requirements at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so;
Have to purchase or sell the instrument underlying the contract;
Not be able to hedge its investments; and/or
Not be able to realize profits or limit its losses.

 

Derivatives may become illiquid (i.e., difficult to sell at a desired time and price) under a variety of market conditions. For example:

 

An exchange may suspend or limit trading in a particular derivative instrument, an entire category of derivatives or all derivatives, which sometimes occurs because of increased market volatility;
Unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations of an exchange;
The facilities of the exchange may not be adequate to handle current trading volume;
Equipment failures, government intervention, insolvency of a brokerage firm or clearing house or other occurrences may disrupt normal trading activity; or
Investors may lose interest in a particular derivative or category of derivatives.

 

Management Risk. Successful use of derivatives by the Funds is subject to the ability of the Adviser to forecast stock market and interest rate trends. If the Adviser incorrectly predicts stock market and interest rate trends, the Funds may lose money by investing in derivatives. For example, if a Fund were to write a call option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would fall, but the price were to rise instead, the Fund could be required to sell the security upon exercise at a price below the current market price. Similarly, if a Fund were to write a put option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would rise, but the price were to fall instead, the Fund could be required to purchase the security upon exercise at a price higher than the current market price.

 

Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if a Fund has valued its securities too high, shareholders may end up paying too much for Fund shares when they buy into the Fund. If the Fund underestimates its price, shareholders may not receive the full market value for their Fund shares when they sell.

 

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Margin. Because of the low margin deposits required upon the opening of a derivative position, such transactions involve an extremely high degree of leverage. Consequently, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to a Fund and it may lose more than it originally invested in the derivative.

 

If the price of a futures contract changes adversely, a Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so to meet its minimum daily margin requirement. A Fund may lose its margin deposits if a broker-dealer with whom it has an open futures contract or related option becomes insolvent or declares bankruptcy.

 

Volatility and Leverage. The Funds’ use of derivatives may have a leveraging effect. Leverage generally magnifies the effect of any increase or decrease in value of an underlying asset and results in increased volatility, which means the Funds will have the potential for greater gains, as well as the potential for greater losses, than if the Funds do not use derivative instruments that have a leveraging effect. The prices of derivatives are volatile (i.e., they may change rapidly, substantially and unpredictably) and are influenced by a variety of factors, including:

 

Actual and anticipated changes in interest rates;
Fiscal and monetary policies; and
National and international political events.

 

Most exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a derivative can change during a single trading day. Daily trading limits establish the maximum amount that the price of a derivative may vary from the settlement price of that derivative at the end of trading on the previous day. Once the price of a derivative reaches that value, the Funds may not trade that derivative at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a given day and does not limit potential gains or losses. Derivative prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days, preventing prompt liquidation of the derivative.

 

Government Regulation. The regulation of derivatives markets in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. For example, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law in 2010, granted significant new authority to the SEC and the CFTC to impose comprehensive regulations on the over-the-counter and cleared derivatives markets. These regulations include, but are not limited to, mandatory clearing of certain derivatives and requirements relating to disclosure, margin and trade reporting. The law and regulations may negatively impact the Funds by increasing transaction and/or regulatory compliance costs, limiting the availability of certain derivatives or otherwise adversely affecting the value or performance of the derivatives the Funds trade.

 

In addition, the SEC adopted the Derivatives Rule on October 28, 2020. Since its compliance date of August 19, 2022, the Derivatives Rule has replaced prior SEC and staff guidance with an updated, comprehensive framework for registered funds’ use of derivatives. See “Derivatives – Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act” above for additional information on the requirements imposed on registered funds by the Derivatives Rule. Complying with the Derivatives Rule may increase the cost of a Fund's investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors. Other potentially adverse regulatory obligations can develop suddenly and without notice. 

 

Illiquid Investments. Illiquid investments are investments that a Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Because of their illiquid nature, illiquid investments must be priced at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight. Despite such good faith efforts to determine fair value prices, a Fund’s illiquid investments are subject to the risk that the investment’s fair value price may differ from the actual price which the Fund may ultimately realize upon its sale or disposition. Difficulty in selling illiquid investments may result in a loss or may be costly to a Fund. Under the oversight of the Board, the Adviser determines the liquidity of a Fund’s investments. A Fund may not acquire an illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets.

 

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Restricted Securities. Restricted securities are securities that may not be sold freely to the public absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) or an exemption from registration. As consistent with a Fund’s investment objective, the Fund may invest in Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper. Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper is issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act and is generally sold to institutional investors who purchase for investment. Any resale of such commercial paper must be in an exempt transaction, usually to an institutional investor through the issuer or investment dealers who make a market in such commercial paper.

 

Short Sales. As is consistent with a Fund’s investment objective, the Fund may engage in short sales that are either “uncovered” or “against the box.” A short sale is “against the box” if at all times during which the short position is open, a Fund owns at least an equal amount of the securities or securities convertible into, or exchangeable without further consideration for, securities of the same issue as the securities that are sold short. A short sale against the box is a taxable transaction to a Fund with respect to the securities that are sold short.

 

Special Risks of Cyber Attacks. As with any entity that conducts business through electronic means in the modern marketplace, the Funds, and their service providers, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber attacks. Cyber attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized monitoring, release, misuse, loss, destruction or corruption of confidential information, unauthorized access to relevant systems, compromises to networks or devices that the Funds and their service providers use to service the Funds’ operations, ransomware, operational disruption or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Funds and their service providers, or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber attacks affecting the Funds or the Adviser, the Funds’ distributor, custodian, or any other of the Funds’ intermediaries or service providers may adversely impact the Funds and their shareholders, potentially resulting in, among other things, financial losses or the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Funds’ ability to calculate their net asset value, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Funds to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Funds may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes designed to mitigate or prevent the risk of cyber attacks. Such costs may be ongoing because threats of cyber attacks are constantly evolving as cyber attackers become more sophisticated and their techniques become more complex. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Funds may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Funds’ investments in such companies to lose value. There can be no assurance that the Funds, the Funds’ service providers, or the issuers of the securities in which the Funds invest will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches in the future.

 

LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Funds may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from, or continue to be tied to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. Such instruments may include bank loans, derivatives, floating rate securities, and other assets or liabilities. The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, has ceased publishing all LIBOR settings on a representative basis. In April 2023, however, the FCA announced that some USD LIBOR settings will continue to be published under a synthetic methodology until September 30, 2024 for certain legacy contracts.

 

The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market, has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. Under U.S. regulations that implement a statutory fallback mechanism to replace LIBOR, benchmark rates based on SOFR have replaced LIBOR in different categories of financial contracts.

 

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Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. While some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities, or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The Funds may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.

 

General Market Risk. An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus designated as COVID-19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in international, national and local border closings and other significant travel restrictions and disruptions, significant disruptions to business operations, supply chains and customer activity, event cancellations and restrictions, service cancellations, reductions and other changes, significant challenges in healthcare service preparation and delivery, and quarantines, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. These impacts also have caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, which have caused losses for investors. Health crises caused by viral or bacterial outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social, economic, market and financial risks. The impact of this outbreak, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which a Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

Fundamental Policies

 

In addition to the investment objective of each Fund, the following are fundamental policies of each Fund. Fundamental policies cannot be changed without the consent of the holders of a majority of a Fund’s outstanding shares. The phrase “majority of the outstanding shares” means the vote of (i) 67% or more of a Fund’s shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of a Fund’s outstanding shares, whichever is less.

 

Each Fund, except the LSV Value Equity Fund and the LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund, may not:

 

1.Purchase securities of an issuer that would cause the Fund to fail to satisfy the diversification requirement for a diversified management company under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
2.Concentrate investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as concentration is defined under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

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3.Borrow money or issue senior securities (as defined under the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
4.Make loans, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
5.Purchase or sell commodities or real estate, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.
6.Underwrite securities issued by other persons, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

The LSV Value Equity Fund may not:

 

1.Purchase securities of any issuer (except securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements involving such securities) if as a result more than 5% of the total assets of the Fund would be invested in the securities of such issuer. This restriction applies to 75% of the Fund’s total assets.
2.Purchase any securities which would cause 25% or more of the total assets of the Fund to be invested in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry, provided that this limitation does not apply to investments in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements involving such securities. For purposes of this limitation, (i) utility companies will be classified according to their services, for example, gas distribution, gas transmission, electric and telephone will each be considered a separate industry; and (ii) financial service companies will be classified according to the end users of their services, for example, automobile finance, bank finance and diversified finance will each be considered a separate industry.
3.Acquire more than 10% of the voting securities of any one issuer.
4.Invest in companies for the purpose of exercising control.
5.Issue any class of senior security or sell any senior security of which it is the issuer, except that the Fund may borrow from any bank, provided that immediately after any such borrowing there is asset coverage of at least 300% for all borrowings of the Fund, and further provided that, to the extent that such borrowings exceed 5% of the Fund’s total assets, all borrowings shall be repaid before the Fund makes additional investments. The term “senior security” shall not include any temporary borrowings that do not exceed 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the time the Fund makes such temporary borrowing. In addition, investment strategies that either obligate the Fund to purchase securities or require the Fund to segregate assets will not be considered borrowings or senior securities. This investment limitation shall not preclude the Fund from issuing multiple classes of shares in reliance on SEC rules or orders.
6.Make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that the Fund may (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) lend its securities.
7.Purchase or sell real estate, real estate limited partnership interests, physical commodities or commodities contracts except that the Fund may purchase commodities contracts relating to financial instruments, such as financial futures contracts and options on such contracts.

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8.Make short sales of securities, maintain a short position or purchase securities on margin, except that the Fund may obtain short-term credits as necessary for the clearance of security transactions and sell securities short “against the box.”
9.Act as an underwriter of securities of other issuers except as it may be deemed an underwriter in selling the Fund security.
10.Purchase securities of other investment companies except as permitted by the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

The LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund may:

 

1.Purchase securities of an issuer, except if such purchase would cause the Fund to fail to satisfy the diversification requirement for a diversified management company under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

2.Not concentrate investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as concentration is defined under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time, except that the Fund may invest without limitation in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements involving such securities or tax-exempt obligations of state or municipal governments and their political subdivisions.

 

3.Borrow money or issue senior securities (as defined under the 1940 Act), except as prohibited under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

4.Make loans, except as prohibited under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

5.Purchase or sell commodities or real estate, except as prohibited under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

6.Underwrite securities issued by other persons, except as prohibited under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

Non-Fundamental Policies

 

The following investment limitations of each Fund, except the LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund, are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval:

 

1.Each of the LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund, LSV Small Cap Value Fund, LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund, LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund and LSV Global Value Fund may not make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that the Fund may: (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) lend its securities.
2.Each of the LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund, LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund and LSV Global Value Fund may not purchase or sell real estate, physical commodities, or commodities contracts based on physical commodities, except that the Fund may purchase: (i) marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in real estate (including real estate investment trusts (“REITs”)); or (ii) physical commodities or commodities contracts based on physical commodities.

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3.Each of the LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund and LSV Small Cap Value Fund will not purchase or sell real estate, physical commodities, or commodities contracts, except that each Fund may purchase: (i) marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in real estate (including REITs), commodities, or commodities contracts; and (ii) commodities contracts relating to financial instruments, such as financial futures contracts and options on such contracts.
4.Under normal circumstances, each of the LSV Value Equity Fund and LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund shall invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowing for investment purposes, in equity securities. This non-fundamental policy may be changed by the Board upon at least 60 days’ written notice to Fund shareholders.
5.Under normal circumstances, the LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund shall invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowing for investment purposes, in equity securities of U.S. companies. This non-fundamental policy may be changed by the Board upon at least 60 days’ written notice to Fund shareholders.
6.Under normal circumstances, the LSV Small Cap Value Fund shall invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of small-capitalization companies. This non-fundamental policy may be changed by the Board upon at least 60 days’ written notice to Fund shareholders.

 

The following investment limitations of the LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval:

 

1.The Fund may not invest in unmarketable interests in real estate limited partnerships or invest directly in real estate. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing policy does not prevent the Fund from, among other things, purchasing marketable securities of companies that deal in real estate or interests therein (including REITs).

 

2.The Fund may purchase or sell financial and physical commodities, commodity contracts based on (or relating to) physical commodities or financial commodities and securities and derivative instruments whose values are derived from (in whole or in part) physical commodities or financial commodities.

 

Except with respect to Fund policies concerning borrowing, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of an investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from changes in values or assets will not constitute a violation of such restriction. With respect to the limitation on borrowing, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances causes a Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitations within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays).

 

The following descriptions of certain provisions of the 1940 Act may assist investors in understanding the above policies and restrictions:

 

Diversification. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified investment management company, as to 75% of its total assets, may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agents or instrumentalities or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer’s outstanding voting securities would be held by the fund.

 

Concentration. The 1940 Act requires that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy regarding concentration. The SEC has defined concentration as investing 25% or more of an investment company’s total assets in an industry or group of industries, with certain exceptions. For purposes of a Fund's concentration policy, the Fund may classify and re-classify companies in a particular industry and define and re-define industries in any reasonable manner, consistent with SEC and SEC staff guidance.

 

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Borrowing. The 1940 Act presently allows a fund to borrow from any bank in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) and to borrow for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of its total assets.

 

Senior Securities. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although the 1940 Act does provide allowances for certain borrowings. In addition, the Derivatives Rule permits a fund to enter into derivatives transactions, notwithstanding the prohibitions and restrictions on the issuance of senior securities under the 1940 Act, provided that the fund complies with the conditions of the Derivatives Rule.

 

Lending. Under the 1940 Act, a fund may only make loans if expressly permitted by its investment policies.

 

Underwriting. Under the 1940 Act, underwriting securities involves a fund purchasing securities directly from an issuer for the purpose of selling (distributing) them or participating in any such activity either directly or indirectly. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified fund may not make any commitment as underwriter, if immediately thereafter the amount of its outstanding underwriting commitments, plus the value of its investments in securities of issuers (other than investment companies) of which it owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities, exceeds 25% of the value of its total assets.

 

Commodities and Real Estate. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company’s ability to invest in commodities or real estate, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments.

 

THE ADVISER

 

General. LSV Asset Management is a professional investment management firm registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The Adviser was established in 1994 as a Delaware general partnership to provide active, quantitative value equity management through the application of a proprietary model. The Adviser is a partnership between the Adviser's management team and current and retired employee partners, owners of a majority position, and SEI Funds, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company and the owner of a minority position. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $96 billion in assets under management. The Adviser’s principal business address is 155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, IL 60606.

 

Advisory Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Adviser have entered into an investment advisory agreement dated March 15, 1999 (the “Advisory Agreement”) with respect to the Funds. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser serves as the investment adviser and makes investment decisions for the Funds and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the investment program of the Funds, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Trustees.

 

After the initial two year term, the continuance of the Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually: (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Funds; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees or, with respect to any Fund, by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, on not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ written notice to the Adviser, or by the Adviser on 90 days’ written notice to the Trust. As used in the Advisory Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested persons” and “assignment” have the same meaning as such terms in the 1940 Act.

 

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Advisory Fees Paid to the Adviser. For its services under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at the following annual rates based on the average daily net assets of each Fund:

 

Fund Advisory Fee Rate
LSV Value Equity Fund 0.55%
LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund 0.38%
LSV Small Cap Value Fund 0.70%
LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund 0.45%
LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund 0.60%
LSV Global Value Fund 0.75%
LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund 1.00%

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive fees and reimburse certain expenses of the following Funds in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding certain levels as set forth below until February 28, 2025. The fee waivers may be renewed by the Adviser on an annual basis. This agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board, for any reason at any time; or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025.

 

Fund Class Expense Limit
LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund Investor Class 0.60%
Institutional Class 0.35%
LSV Small Cap Value Fund Investor Class 1.10%
Institutional Class 0.85%
LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund Investor Class 0.80%
Institutional Class 0.55%
LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund Investor Class 1.00%
Institutional Class 0.75%
LSV Global Value Fund Investor Class 1.15%
Institutional Class 0.90%
LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund* Investor Class 1.20%
Institutional Class 0.95%

 

*Prior to December 1, 2023, the LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund's maximum annual operating expense limits were 1.20% and 1.45% of the average daily net assets of the Fund's Institutional Class Shares and Investor Class Shares, respectively.

 

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For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Funds paid the Adviser the following advisory fees:

 

 

Fund

Contractual Advisory Fees Fees Waived by the Adviser Total Fees Paid to the Adviser (After Waivers)1, 2
2021 2022 2023 2021 2022 2023 2021 2022 2023
LSV Value Equity Fund $11,393,936 $10,274,943 $7,870,813 $0 $0 $0 $11,393,936 $10,274,943 $7,870,813
LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund $445,605 $557,697 $533,743 $239,413 $278,690 $295,948 $206,192 $279,007 $237,795
LSV Small Cap Value Fund $2,656,722 $2,699,161 $2,671,187 $0 $0 $0 $2,656,722 $2,699,161 $2,671,187
LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund $269,387 $254,176 $180,329 $86,871 $97,151 $91,112 $182,516 $157,025 $89,217
LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund $98,179 $134,384 $156,240 $98,179 $111,987 $100,782 $0 $22,397 $55,458
LSV Global Value Fund $92,967 $395,602 $506,175 $92,967 $106,111 $99,336 $0 $289,491 $406,839
LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund $115,412 $162,647 $199,167 $115,412 $162,647 $128,353 $0 $0 $70,814

 

1For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2021, the Adviser additionally reimbursed fees of $2,980, $34,110 and $55,227 for the LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund, LSV Global Value Fund and LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund, respectively, to maintain the stated expense caps under its contractual expense limitation agreement with the Funds.
2For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2022, the Adviser additionally reimbursed fees of $39,634 for the LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund to maintain the stated expense cap under its contractual expense limitation agreement with the Fund.

 

Investment Management Personnel of the Adviser. Messrs. Lakonishok, Vermeulen, Mansharamani, Sleight, G. Lakonishok and Karceski have developed a proprietary computer model based on their research of investor behavior and the performance of contrarian investment strategies. The portfolio decision making process is quantitative and driven by (i) a proprietary computer model which ranks securities based on fundamental measures of value, indicators of recent improved performance and volatility, and (ii) a risk control process that controls for residual benchmark risk. Refinements to the model are made as suggested by advances in the Adviser’s research and these refinements are generally incremental in nature. The Adviser may modify the investment model used to manage the Funds at any time without notice.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

This section includes information about the Funds’ portfolio managers, including information about other accounts they manage, the dollar range of each Fund shares they own and how they are compensated.

 

Compensation. The Adviser compensates the portfolio managers for their management of the Funds. The portfolio managers’ compensation consists of a salary and discretionary bonus. Each of the portfolio managers is a Partner of the Adviser and thereby receives a portion of the overall profit of the firm as part of his ownership interests. The bonus is based upon the profitability of the firm and individual performance. Individual performance is subjective and may be based on a number of factors, such as the individual’s leadership and contribution to the strategic planning and development of the investment group.

 

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Fund Shares Owned by the Portfolio Managers. The Funds are required to show the dollar amount range of each portfolio manager’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Funds as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”).

 

 

Name

Dollar Range of Fund Shares

(Fund)1

Aggregate Dollar Range of Fund Shares (All Funds)1
Josef Lakonishok

Over $1 million (LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund)

Over $1 million (LSV Small Cap Value Fund)

Over $1 million (LSV Value Equity Fund)

Over $1 million (LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund)

Over $1 million (LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund)

Over $1 million (LSV Global Value Fund)

Over $1 million (LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund)

Over $1 million
Menno Vermeulen

Over $1 million (LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund)

Over $1 million (LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund)

$500,000 to $1 million (LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund)

Over $1 million (LSV Global Value Fund)

Over $1 million (LSV Small Cap Value Fund)

$500,000 to $1 million (LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund)

Over $1 million (LSV Value Equity Fund)

Over $1 million
Puneet Mansharamani

$50,001 to $100,000 (LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund)

$100,001 to $500,000 (LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund)

$100,001 to $500,000 (LSV Global Value Fund)

$100,001 to $500,000 (LSV Small Cap Value Fund)

$50,001 to $100,000 (LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund)

$100,001 to $500,000 (LSV Value Equity Fund)

$50,000 to $100,000 (LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund)

$500,000 to $1 million
Greg Sleight

$100,001 to $500,000 (LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund)

$100,001 to $500,000 (LSV Global Value Fund)

$100,001 to $500,000 (LSV Small Cap Value Fund)

$100,001 to $500,000 (LSV Value Equity Fund)

$100,001 to $500,000 (LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund)

$100,000 to $500,000
Guy Lakonishok

$10,001 to $50,000 (LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund)

$10,001 to $50,000 (LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund)

$100,001 to $500,000 (LSV Global Value Fund)

$500,000 to $1 million (LSV Small Cap Value Fund)

$10,001 to $50,000 (LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund)

$500,000 to $1 million (LSV Value Equity Fund)

$100,001 to $500,000 (LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund)

Over $1 million
Jason Karceski

$100,001 to $500,000 (LSV Value Equity Fund)

$100,001 to $500,000 (LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund)

$10,001 to $50,000 (LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund)

$100,001 to $500,000 (LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund)

$100,001 to $500,000

 

1Valuation date is October 31, 2023.

 

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Other Accounts. In addition to the Funds, the portfolio managers may also be responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as indicated by the following table. The information below is provided as of October 31, 2023.

 

Name Registered Investment Companies Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Other Accounts
Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in Millions)

Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in Millions)

Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in Millions)

Josef Lakonishok 27 $12,092 65¹ $20,766 312² $50,755
Menno Vermeulen 27 $12,092 65¹ $20,766 312² $50,755
Puneet Mansharamani 27 $12,092 65¹ $20,766 312² $50,755
Greg Sleight 27 $12,092 65¹ $20,766 312² $50,755
Guy Lakonishok 27 $12,092 65¹ $20,766 312² $50,755
Jason Karceski 5 $2,240 3 $900 11 $742

 

1Includes 6 accounts with aggregated assets under management of $1,685 million that are subject to performance-based advisory fees. These accounts are Limited Partnerships to which LSV acts as General Partner and are an aggregation of underlying investors who have negotiated a performance fee.
2Includes 69 accounts with aggregated assets under management of $12,934 million that are subject to performance-based advisory fees.

 

Conflicts of Interest. The same team of portfolio managers is responsible for the day-to-day management of all of LSV’s accounts. LSV uses a proprietary quantitative investment model to manage all of LSV’s accounts. LSV relies extensively on its quantitative investment model regarding the advisability of investing in a particular company. Any investment decisions are generally made based on whether a buy or sell signal is received from the proprietary quantitative investment model. Accounts or funds with performance-based fees and accounts or funds in which employees may be invested could create an incentive to favor those accounts or funds over other accounts or funds in the allocation of investment opportunities. In addition, it is possible that a short position may be taken on a security that is held long in another portfolio. LSV seeks to make allocations of investment opportunities in a manner that it considers fair, reasonable and equitable without favoring or disfavoring, consistently or consciously, any particular client. LSV has procedures designed to ensure that all clients are treated fairly and to prevent these potential conflicts from influencing the allocation of investment opportunities among clients. On a quarterly basis, the Forensic Testing Committee, consisting of the Chief Compliance Officer, Compliance Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Compliance Analyst, reviews, among other things, allocations of investment opportunities among clients and the allocation of partially-filled block trades, including allocations to accounts or funds with performance-based fees or in which employees may be invested, to confirm consistency with LSV's policies and procedures.

 

LSV provides model portfolios to a number of clients, (each a “Model Adviser” and collectively the “Model Advisers”) including SEI Investments Management Corporation (“SIMC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI. These model portfolios are currently utilized in relation to a managed account program and several registered investment company sub-advisory relationships and may be offered in additional ways in the future. The model portfolios utilize some of the same strategies that are offered to LSV’s other accounts. After LSV has provided the model portfolio to the Model Adviser, both initially and at each rebalance of the model portfolio, the Model Adviser or its delegates determine the timing and manner of purchase or sale with respect to the model portfolio recommendations. Some Model Advisers may generally implement the model portfolio recommendations as provided by LSV, while others may retain complete discretion as to the extent to which the model recommendations are implemented. The portfolio management team maintains a calendar of rebalance dates for the model portfolios similar to other LSV portfolios. In order to seek to ensure the fair treatment of all clients, LSV provides model portfolios to the Model Advisers on a staggered schedule relative to our other portfolios, so that the Portfolio Management team delivers the model portfolios on a rebalance schedule that differs from the rebalance schedule of the other portfolios. As a result, the model portfolios may experience different account performance, including potentially less favorable prices, than LSV’s accounts that it trades directly. However, the same software and procedures that are used for other LSV portfolios are also used with respect to the model portfolios. In addition, the model portfolios are constructed based on the most up-to-date rankings in LSV’s quantitative investment model. LSV’s policies require that the Chief Compliance Officer be made aware of any changes to this process. On a quarterly basis, the Forensic Testing Committee reviews a report which shows the timing of the submission of the model portfolios with respect to the rebalancing of certain portfolios in applicable strategies actively managed by LSV and the timing of the submission of model portfolios in the same strategies sent to the Model Advisers to be used to rebalance the applicable model portfolios.

 

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LSV or its funds may contract for services with an entity or person with whom LSV or its employees has a relationship or from which LSV or its employees otherwise derives financial or other benefits. The existence of and nature of such relationships raises conflicts of interest between LSV and/or its employees, on the one hand, and LSV’s clients and funds, on the other hand, in determining whether to engage such service providers and, if engaged, on what terms and conditions. LSV or its employees may, because of its or such person’s financial or other benefits, have an incentive to engage a service provider even if a different entity or person is more qualified to provide the applicable services and/or can provide such services at a lesser cost. These entities are subject to the same vendor management policies and procedures that apply to all third party vendors, which are designed to manage any such conflict, including an annual review by persons at LSV that do not have such a conflict. For example, LSV currently has a relationship with a data services provider in which certain of LSV’s employees have a minority investment. The services are provided directly to and paid for by LSV and not any client or fund. LSV believes the services offered by the provider are at least as good as or better than the services provided by the provider’s competitors and that the provider’s services have comparable (or in some cases, more desirable) terms and conditions. In addition, the provider’s services are subject to an annual review by persons at LSV that do not have such a conflict.

 

THE ADMINISTRATOR

 

General. SEI Investments Global Funds Services (the “Administrator”), a Delaware statutory trust, has its principal business offices at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. SEI Investments Management Corporation (“SIMC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company (“SEI Investments”), is the owner of all beneficial interest in the Administrator. SEI Investments and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including the Administrator, are leading providers of fund evaluation services, trust accounting systems, and brokerage and information services to financial institutions, institutional investors, and money managers. The Administrator and its affiliates also serve as administrator or sub-administrator to other mutual funds.

 

Administration Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Administrator have entered into an amended and restated administration agreement dated November 13, 2018, as amended (the “Administration Agreement”). Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides the Trust with administrative services, including regulatory reporting and all necessary office space, equipment, personnel and facilities.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Administration Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Administrator in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

Administration Fees Paid to the Administrator. For its services under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator is paid a fee, which varies based on the average daily net assets of the Funds, subject to certain minimums. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Funds paid the following amounts for these services:

 

 

Fund

Administration Fees Paid
2021 2022 2023
LSV Value Equity Fund $1,139,883 $1,040,065 $843,685
LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund $64,395 $81,828 $82,915
LSV Small Cap Value Fund $208,528 $214,921 $225,086
LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund $32,930 $31,470 $23,582
LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund $9,002 $12,556 $15,313
LSV Global Value Fund $6,805 $29,664 $39,910
LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund $6,340 $9,063 $11,775

 

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THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

The Trust and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the “Distributor”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SEI Investments and an affiliate of the Administrator, are parties to a distribution agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 14, 2005 and as amended August 30, 2010 and November 13, 2018 (the “Distribution Agreement”) whereby the Distributor acts as principal underwriter for the Trust’s shares.

 

The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act), and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or by the Distributor, upon not less than 60 days’ written notice to the other party.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

Distribution Plan. The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan with respect to the Investor Class Shares (the “Plan”) in accordance with the provisions of Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, which regulates circumstances under which an investment company may directly or indirectly bear expenses relating to the distribution of its shares. Continuance of the Plan must be approved annually by a majority of the Trustees and by a majority of the Trustees who are not interested persons (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the Plan or in any agreements related to the Plan (“Qualified Trustees”). The Plan requires that quarterly written reports of amounts spent under the Plan and the purposes of such expenditures be furnished to and reviewed by the Trustees. The Plan may not be amended to increase materially the amount that may be spent thereunder without approval by a majority of the outstanding shares of the affected Fund(s). All material amendments of the Plan will require approval by a majority of the Trustees and of the Qualified Trustees.

 

The Plan provides a method of paying for distribution and shareholder services, which may help the Fund(s) grow or maintain asset levels to provide operational efficiencies and economies of scale, provided by the Distributor or other financial intermediaries that enter into agreements with the Distributor. The Fund(s) may make payments to financial intermediaries, such as banks, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, investment counselors, broker-dealers, mutual fund “supermarkets” and the Distributor’s affiliates and subsidiaries, as compensation for services, reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with distribution assistance or provision of shareholder services. The Distributor may, at its discretion, retain a portion of such payments to compensate itself for distribution services and distribution related expenses such as the costs of preparation, printing, mailing or otherwise disseminating sales literature, advertising, and prospectuses (other than those furnished to current shareholders of a Fund), promotional and incentive programs, and such other marketing expenses that the Distributor may incur.

 

Under the Plan, the Distributor or financial intermediaries may receive up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of the Investor Class Shares as compensation for distribution and shareholder services. The Plan is characterized as a compensation plan since the distribution fee will be paid to the Distributor without regard to the distribution or shareholder service expenses incurred by the Distributor or the amount of payments made to financial intermediaries. The Trust intends to operate the Plan in accordance with its terms and with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules concerning sales charges.

S-35 

 

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Funds paid the Distributor the following fees pursuant to the Plan:

 

 

Fund

12b-1 Fees Paid 12b-1 Fees Retained by the Distributor
2021 2022 2023 2021 2022 2023
LSV Value Equity Fund $1,768,534 $1,288,638 $715,443 $111.35 $263.74 $267.75
LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund $807 $1,117 $1,046 $5.32 $0.47 $0.47
LSV Small Cap Value Fund $164,539 $100,080 $75,862 $44.48 $61.31 $73.64
LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund $822 $1,120 $942 $155.98 $166.12 $165.75
LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund $385 $637 $502 $22.06 $18.65 $18.71
LSV Global Value Fund $11,066 $78,087 $9,243 $102.99 $166.17 $276.08
LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund $1,909 $2,540 $2,887 $0.32 $0.32 $0.30

 

Payments by the Adviser. The Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments from their own resources and not from Fund assets to affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Funds, their service providers or their respective affiliates, as incentives to help market and promote the Funds and/or in recognition of their distribution, marketing, administrative services, and/or processing support.

 

These additional payments may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Funds, the Distributor or shareholders of the Funds through the financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel and/or fund supermarkets. Payments may also be made through the financial intermediary’s retirement, qualified tuition, fee-based advisory, wrap fee bank trust, or insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. These payments may include, but are not limited to, placing the Funds in a financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel or on a preferred or recommended fund list; providing business or shareholder financial planning assistance; educating financial intermediary personnel about the Funds; providing access to sales and management representatives of the financial intermediary; promoting sales of Fund shares; providing marketing and educational support; maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder transaction processing services. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services.

 

The Adviser and/or its affiliates may also make payments from their own resources to financial intermediaries for costs associated with the purchase of products or services used in connection with sales and marketing, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs, client and investor entertainment and other sponsored events. The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.

 

Revenue sharing payments may be negotiated based on a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the amount of Fund assets attributable to investments in the Funds by financial intermediaries’ customers, a flat fee or other measures as determined from time to time by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. A significant purpose of these payments is to increase the sales of Fund shares, which in turn may benefit the Adviser through increased fees as Fund assets grow.

 

Investors should understand that some financial intermediaries may also charge their clients fees in connection with purchases of shares or the provision of shareholder services.

 

S-36 

 

THE TRANSFER AGENT

 

SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 333 W. 11th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105 (the “Transfer Agent”), serves as the Funds’ transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent under a transfer agency agreement with the Trust.

 

THE CUSTODIAN

 

U.S. Bank National Association, 800 Nicollett Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-4302 (the “Custodian”), acts as the custodian of the Funds. The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Funds as required by the 1940 Act.

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Ernst & Young LLP, One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 700, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds. The financial statements and notes thereto incorporated by reference have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, as indicated in their reports with respect thereto, and are incorporated by reference in reliance on the authority of their reports as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 2222 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-3007, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

 

SECURITIES LENDING

 

The Funds did not engage in securities lending activities during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023.

 

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

 

Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series, including the Funds described in this SAI, are overseen by the Trustees. The Board has approved contracts, as described above, under which certain companies provide essential management services to the Trust.

 

Like most mutual funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of risk, is performed by third party service providers, such as the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, have oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the funds. The funds and their service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust’s business (e.g., the Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of each Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the funds’ service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

 

The Trustees’ role in risk oversight begins before the inception of a fund, at which time certain of the fund’s service providers present the Board with information concerning the investment objective, strategies and risks of the fund as well as proposed investment limitations for the fund. Additionally, the fund’s adviser provides the Board with an overview of, among other things, its investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the adviser and other service providers, such as the fund’s independent accountants, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the funds may be exposed.

 

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The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the funds by the adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the advisory agreement with the adviser, the Board meets with the adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the adviser’s adherence to the funds’ investment restrictions and compliance with various fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the funds’ investments, including, for example, reports on the adviser’s use of derivatives in managing the funds, if any, as well as reports on the funds’ investments in other investment companies, if any.

 

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues and fund and adviser risk assessments. At least annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the adviser. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report; any material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures; and any material compliance matters since the date of the last report.

 

The Board receives reports from the funds’ service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. The Adviser makes regular reports to the Board concerning investments for which market quotations are not readily available. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of the funds’ financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the funds and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the funds’ internal controls. Additionally, in connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees fund management’s implementation of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with the SEC are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust’s internal controls over financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Trust’s financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust’s financial statements.

 

From their review of these reports and discussions with the adviser, the Chief Compliance Officer, the independent registered public accounting firm and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee learn in detail about the material risks of the funds, thereby facilitating a dialogue about how management and service providers identify and mitigate those risks.

 

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the funds can be identified and/or quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the funds’ goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the funds’ investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the funds’ adviser and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the funds’ and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s ability to monitor and manage risk, as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.

 

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Members of the Board. There are seven members of the Board, five of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“independent Trustees”). Robert Nesher, an interested person of the Trust, serves as Chairman of the Board. Joseph T. Grause, Jr., an independent Trustee, serves as the lead independent Trustee. The Trust has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Trust made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the independent Trustees constitute more than two-thirds of the Board, the fact that the chairperson of each Committee of the Board is an independent Trustee, the amount of assets under management in the Trust, and the number of funds (and classes of shares) overseen by the Board. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the independent Trustees from fund management.

 

The Board has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and the Governance Committee. The Audit Committee and the Governance Committee are chaired by an independent Trustee and composed of all of the independent Trustees. In addition, the Board has a lead independent Trustee.

 

In his role as lead independent Trustee, Mr. Grause, among other things: (i) presides over Board meetings in the absence of the Chairman of the Board; (ii) presides over executive sessions of the independent Trustees; (iii) along with the Chairman of the Board, oversees the development of agendas for Board meetings; (iv) facilitates communication between the independent Trustees and management, and among the independent Trustees; (v) serves as a key point person for dealings between the independent Trustees and management; and (vi) has such other responsibilities as the Board or independent Trustees determine from time to time.

 

Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and principal occupations and other directorships held during at least the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee. There is no stated term of office for the Trustees. Nevertheless, an independent Trustee must retire from the Board as of the end of the calendar year in which such independent Trustee first attains the age of seventy-five years; provided, however, that, an independent Trustee may continue to serve for one or more additional one calendar year terms after attaining the age of seventy-five years (each calendar year a “Waiver Term”) if, and only if, prior to the beginning of such Waiver Term: (1) the Governance Committee (a) meets to review the performance of the independent Trustee; (b) finds that the continued service of such independent Trustee is in the best interests of the Trust; and (c) unanimously approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above; and (2) a majority of the Trustees approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each Trustee is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

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Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served

Principal Occupations

in the Past 5 Years

Other Directorships Held in the Past 5 Years
Interested Trustees

Robert Nesher

(Born: 1946)

 

Chairman of the Board of Trustees1

(since 1991)

SEI employee 1974 to present; currently performs various services on behalf of SEI Investments for which Mr. Nesher is compensated. President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. President and Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP. Vice Chairman of Winton Series Trust to 2017. Vice Chairman of Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund (closed-end investment company), The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Gallery Trust, Schroder Series Trust and Schroder Global Series Trust to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Catholic Responsible Investments Funds, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP, SEI Global Master Fund plc, SEI Global Assets Fund plc, SEI Global Investments Fund plc, SEI Investments—Global Funds Services, Limited, SEI Investments Global, Limited, SEI Investments (Europe) Ltd., SEI Investments—Unit Trust Management (UK) Limited, SEI Multi-Strategy Funds PLC and SEI Global Nominee Ltd.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

 

 

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N. Jeffrey Klauder

(Born: 1952)

 

Trustee1

(since 2018)

Senior Advisor of SEI Investments since 2018. Executive Vice President and General Counsel of SEI Investments, 2004 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds. Director of SEI Private Trust Company, SEI Global Fund Services Ltd., SEI Investments Global Limited, SEI Global Master Fund, SEI Global Investments Fund, SEI Global Assets Fund and SEI Investments - Guernsey Limited.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of SEI Investments Management Corporation, SEI Trust Company, SEI Investments (South Africa), Limited and SEI Investments (Canada) Company to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

Independent Trustees

Kathleen Gaffney

(Born: 1961)

Trustee

(since 2022)

Retired since 2019. Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Eaton Vance Management from 2012 to 2019. Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

Joseph T. Grause, Jr.

(Born: 1952)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Lead Independent Trustee

(since 2018)

Self-Employed Consultant since 2012. Director of Endowments and Foundations, Morningstar Investment Management, Morningstar, Inc., 2010 to 2011. Director of International Consulting and Chief Executive Officer of Morningstar Associates Europe Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2007 to 2010. Country Manager – Morningstar UK Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2005 to 2007.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Director of The Korea Fund, Inc. to 2019. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

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Robert Mulhall

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2019)

Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, from 1998 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of Villanova University Alumni Board of Directors to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

 

Bruce Speca

(Born: 1956)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Global Head of Asset Allocation, Manulife Asset Management (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2010 to 2011. Executive Vice President – Investment Management Services, John Hancock Financial Services (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2003 to 2010.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022. Director of Stone Harbor Investments Funds (8 Portfolios), Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Income Fund (closed-end fund) and Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Total Income Fund (closed-end fund) to 2022.

 

Monica Walker

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2022)

Retired. Private Investor since 2017. Co-Founder (1991-2017), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (2009 to 2017) and Chief Investment Officer – Equity (2007 to 2017) of Holland Capital Management, LLC (Chicago). Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

1Denotes Trustees who may be deemed to be “interested” persons of the Funds as that term is defined in the 1940 Act by virtue of their affiliation with the Distributor and/or its affiliates.

 

Individual Trustee Qualifications

 

The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of their ability to review and understand information about the Funds provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the Funds, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the Funds’ shareholders. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on their own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.

 

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The Trust has concluded that Mr. Nesher should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments Company, which he joined in 1974, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 1991.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Klauder should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 2004, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he gained serving as a partner of a large law firm.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Gaffney should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as a vice president and portfolio manager for a large asset management company, her experience in and knowledge of the asset management industry, and the experience she has gained serving in board and leadership positions in a variety of nonprofit and civic organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Grause should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with different financial institutions, his knowledge of the mutual fund and investment management industries, his past experience as an interested trustee and chair of the investment committee for a multi-managed investment company, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Mulhall should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with an audit firm and various financial services firms, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and his experience serving in a variety of leadership capacities for non-profit organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Speca should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained serving as president of a mutual fund company and portfolio manager for a $95 billion complex of asset allocation funds, his over 25 years of experience working in a management capacity with mutual fund boards, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Walker should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained in a variety of leadership roles with an asset management company that she co-founded, her experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience she has gained in various other corporate accounting, finance and investment roles.

 

In its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the funds.

 

Board Committees. The Board has established the following standing committees:

 

Audit Committee. The Board has a standing Audit Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee include: (i) recommending which firm to engage as each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this relationship; (ii) reviewing the independent registered public accounting firm’s compensation, the proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firm’s independence; (iii) pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; (iv) serving as a channel of communication between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; (v) reviewing the results of each external audit, including any qualifications in the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion, any related management letter, management’s responses to recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the audit, reports submitted to the Committee by the internal auditing department of the Administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and management’s responses to any such reports; (vi) reviewing each fund’s audited financial statements and considering any significant disputes between the Trust’s management and the independent registered public accounting firm that arose in connection with the preparation of those financial statements; (vii) considering, in consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trust’s senior internal accounting executive, if any, the independent registered public accounting firms’ reports on the adequacy of the Trust’s internal financial controls; (viii) reviewing, in consultation with each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed when preparing each fund’s financial statements; and (ix) other audit related matters. Ms. Gaffney, Mr. Grause, Mr. Mulhall, Mr. Speca and Ms. Walker currently serve as members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Mulhall serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met two (2) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

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Governance Committee. The Board has a standing Governance Committee (formerly the Nominating Committee) that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Governance Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Governance Committee include: (i) considering and reviewing Board governance and compensation issues; (ii) conducting a self-assessment of the Board’s operations; (iii) selecting and nominating all persons to serve as independent Trustees; and (iv) reviewing shareholder recommendations for nominations to fill vacancies on the Board if such recommendations are submitted in writing and addressed to the Committee at the Trust’s office. Ms. Gaffney, Mr. Grause, Mr. Mulhall, Mr. Speca and Ms. Walker currently serve as members of the Governance Committee. Mr. Speca serves as the Chairman of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met one (1) time during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Fund Shares Owned by Board Members. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each Trustee’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of each of the Funds as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act. The Trustees and officers of the Trust own less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.

 

Name Dollar Range of Fund Shares
(Fund)1
Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares
(All Funds in the Family of Investment Companies)1,2
Interested Trustees
Nesher None None
Klauder None None
Independent Trustees
Gaffney None None
Grause None None
Mulhall None None
Speca None None
Walker None None

 

1Valuation date is December 31, 2023.
2The Funds are the only funds in the family of investment companies.

 

Board Compensation. The Trust paid the following fees to the Trustees during the Funds’ most recently completed fiscal year.

 

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Name Aggregate Compensation from the Trust Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses

Estimated

Annual Benefits Upon Retirement

Total Compensation from the Trust and Fund Complex1
Interested Trustees
Nesher $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Klauder $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Independent Trustees
Gaffney $114,666 N/A N/A $114,666 for service on one (1) board
Grause $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Johnson2 $25,660 N/A N/A $25,660 for service on one (1) board
Krikorian3 $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Mulhall $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Speca $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Walker $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board

 

1All funds in the Fund Complex are series of the Trust.
2In accordance with the Trust’s retirement policy, Mr. Johnson retired from the Board effective December 31, 2022, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.
3In accordance with the Trust's retirement policy, Ms. Krikorian retired from the Board effective December 31, 2023, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.

 

Trust Officers. Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations for the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as executive officers of the Trust. There is no stated term of office for the officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each officer is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. The Chief Compliance Officer is the only officer who receives compensation from the Trust for his services.

 

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Certain officers of the Trust also serve as officers of one or more mutual funds for which SEI Investments Company or its affiliates act as investment manager, administrator or distributor.

 

Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served Principal Occupations in Past 5 Years
Michael Beattie
(Born: 1965)

President

(since 2011)

Managing Director, SEI Investments, since 2021. Director of Client Service, SEI Investments, from 2004 to 2021.

James Bernstein

(Born: 1962)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2017)

Attorney, SEI Investments, since 2017.

 

Prior Positions: Self-employed consultant, 2017. Associate General Counsel & Vice President, Nationwide Funds Group and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, from 2002 to 2016. Assistant General Counsel & Vice President, Market Street Funds and Provident Mutual Insurance Company, from 1999 to 2002.

 

John Bourgeois

(Born: 1973)

Assistant Treasurer

(since 2017)

Fund Accounting Manager, SEI Investments, since 2000.

Donald Duncan

(Born: 1964)

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer and Privacy Officer

(since 2023)

Chief Compliance Officer and Global Head of Anti-Money Laundering Strategy of SEI Investments Company since January 2023. Head of Global Anti-Money Laundering Program for Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC from August 2021 until December 2022. Senior VP and Supervising Principal of Hamilton Lane Securities, LLC from June 2016 to August 2021. Senior Director at AXA-Equitable from June 2011 until May 2016. Senior Director at PRUCO Securities, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. from October 2005 until December 2009.

Eric C. Griffith

(Born: 1969)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2019)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2019. Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co., from 2012 to 2018.

Matthew M. Maher

(Born: 1975)

Vice President

(since 2018)

 

Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2018. Attorney, Blank Rome LLP, from 2015 to 2018. Assistant Counsel & Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon, from 2013 to 2014. Attorney, Dilworth Paxson LLP, from 2006 to 2013.

Andrew Metzger

(Born: 1980)

Treasurer, Controller and Chief Financial Officer

(since 2021)

Director of Fund Accounting, SEI Investments, since 2020. Senior Director, Embark, from 2019 to 2020. Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, from 2002 to 2019.

Robert Morrow

(Born: 1968)

Vice President

(since 2017)

Account Manager, SEI Investments, since 2007.

 

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Stephen F. Panner

(Born: 1970)

Chief Compliance Officer

(since 2022)

Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds, SEI Structured Credit Fund LP, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds since September 2022. Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Alternative Income Fund since May 2023. Chief Compliance Officer of Symmetry Panoramic Trust since December 2023. Fund Compliance Officer of SEI Investments Company from February 2011 to September 2022. Fund Accounting Director and CFO and Controller for the SEI Funds from July 2005 to February 2011.

Alexander F. Smith

(Born: 1977)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary
(since 2020)
Counsel at SEI Investments since 2020. Associate Counsel & Manager, Vanguard, 2012 to 2020. Attorney, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, 2008 to 2012.

 

PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES

 

Purchases and redemptions may be made through the Transfer Agent on any day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business. Shares of the Funds are offered and redeemed on a continuous basis. Currently, the NYSE is closed for business when the following holidays are observed: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

It is currently the Trust’s policy to pay all redemptions in cash. The Trust retains the right, however, to alter this policy to provide for redemptions in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of securities held by a Fund in lieu of cash. Shareholders may incur brokerage charges on the sale of any such securities so received in payment of redemptions. A shareholder will at all times be entitled to aggregate cash redemptions from all funds of the Trust up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Trust’s net assets during any 90-day period.

 

The Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption and/or to postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, for any period on which trading on the NYSE is restricted (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation), or during the existence of an emergency (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation) as a result of which disposal or valuation of the Funds’ securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC has by order permitted. The Trust also reserves the right to suspend sales of shares of any Fund for any period during which the NYSE, the Adviser, the Administrator, the Transfer Agent and/or the Custodian are not open for business.

 

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DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

General Policy. The Funds adhere to Section 2(a)(41), and Rules 2a-4 and 2a-5 thereunder, of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other securities are valued at fair value by the Adviser in good faith, and subject to the oversight of the Board. In complying with the 1940 Act, the Trust relies on guidance provided by the SEC and by the SEC staff in various interpretive letters and other guidance.

 

Equity Securities. Securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system for which quotations are readily available (except for securities traded on NASDAQ), including securities traded over-the-counter, are valued at the last quoted sale price on an exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on the valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time if such exchange is normally open at that time), or, if there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recent quoted bid price. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price will be used. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Funds’ pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Money Market Securities and other Debt Securities. If available, money market securities and other debt securities are priced based upon valuations provided by recognized independent, third-party pricing agents. Such values generally reflect the last reported sales price if the security is actively traded. The third-party pricing agents may also value debt securities by employing methodologies that utilize actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations, or other methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities. Such methodologies generally consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. Money market securities and other debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less may be valued at their amortized cost, which approximates market value. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of each Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Foreign Securities. The prices for foreign securities are reported in local currency and converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates. Exchange rates are provided daily by recognized independent pricing agents.

 

Derivatives and Other Complex Securities. Exchange traded options on securities and indices purchased by the Funds generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last bid price. Exchange traded options on securities and indices written by the Funds generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last asked price. In the case of options traded in the over-the-counter market, if the OTC option is also an exchange traded option, the Funds will follow the rules regarding the valuation of exchange traded options. If the OTC option is not also an exchange traded option, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Futures and swaps cleared through a central clearing house (“centrally cleared swaps”) are valued at the settlement price established each day by the board of the exchange on which they are traded. The daily settlement prices for financial futures are provided by an independent source. On days when there is excessive volume or market volatility, or the future or centrally cleared swap does not end trading by the time the Funds calculate net asset value, the settlement price may not be available at the time at which each Fund calculates its net asset value. On such days, the best available price (which is typically the last sales price) may be used to value a Fund’s futures or centrally cleared swaps position.

 

Foreign currency forward contracts are valued at the current day’s interpolated foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day’s spot rate, and the thirty, sixty, ninety and one-hundred eighty day forward rates provided by an independent source.

 

S-48 

 

If available, non-centrally cleared swaps, collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations and bank loans are priced based on valuations provided by an independent third party pricing agent. If a price is not available from an independent third party pricing agent, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Use of Third-Party Independent Pricing Services. Pursuant to contracts with the Administrator, prices for most securities held by the Funds with readily available market quotations are provided by third-party independent pricing agents. The valuations for these securities are reviewed by the Administrator. In accordance with the Adviser’s Valuation Procedures, the Adviser may also use third-party independent pricing agents (reviewed and approved by the Adviser) to fair value certain securities without readily available market quotations (or where market quotations are unreliable).

 

Fair Value Procedures. Securities for which market prices are not “readily available” or which cannot be valued using the methodologies described above are valued in accordance with Fair Value Procedures established by the Adviser and implemented through the Adviser's Valuation Committee. In establishing a fair value for an investment, the Adviser will use valuation methodologies established by the Adviser and may consider inputs and methodologies provided by, among others, third-party independent pricing agents, independent broker dealers and/or the Adviser’s own personnel (including investment personnel).

 

Some of the more common reasons that may necessitate a security being valued using Fair Value Procedures include: the security’s trading has been halted or suspended; the security has been de-listed from a national exchange; the security’s primary trading market is temporarily closed at a time when under normal conditions it would be open; the security has not been traded for an extended period of time; the security’s primary pricing source is not able or willing to provide a price; trading of the security is subject to local government-imposed restrictions; or a significant event with respect to a security has occurred after the close of the market or exchange on which the security principally trades and before the time the Funds calculate net asset value. When a security is valued in accordance with the Fair Value Procedures, the Adviser's Valuation Committee will determine the value after taking into consideration relevant information reasonably available to the Committee.

 

Fair Valuation of Foreign Securities Based on U.S. Market Movements. A third party fair valuation vendor provides a fair value for foreign securities held by the LSV Global Value Fund, LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund and LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund based on certain factors and methodologies (involving, generally, tracking valuation correlations between the U.S. market and each foreign security) applied by the fair valuation vendor in the event that there are movements in the U.S. market that exceed a specific threshold that has been established by the Fair Value Pricing Committee. The Fair Value Pricing Committee has also established a “confidence interval” that is used to determine the level of correlation between the value of a foreign security and movements in the U.S. market that is required for a particular security to be fair valued when the threshold is exceeded. In the event that the threshold established by the Fair Value Pricing Committee is exceeded on a specific day, the Funds value the foreign securities in their portfolios that exceed the applicable “confidence interval” based upon the fair values provided by the fair valuation vendor. In such event, it is not necessary to hold a Fair Value Pricing Committee meeting. In the event that the Adviser believes that the fair values provided by the fair valuation vendor are not reliable, the Adviser can contact the Administrator and request that a meeting of the Fair Value Pricing Committee be held.

 

TAXES

 

The following is only a summary of certain additional U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Funds and their shareholders that is intended to supplement the discussion contained in the Prospectuses. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Funds or their shareholders, and the discussion here and in each Fund’s Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. In particular, it does not address investors subject to special rules, such as investors who hold shares through an individual retirement account (“IRA”), 401k, or other tax advantaged accounts. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations, including their state, local, and foreign tax liabilities.

 

S-49 

 

The following general discussion of certain federal income tax consequences is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.

 

Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company. Each Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year to be treated as a regulated investment company ("RIC"). By following such a policy, each Fund expect to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal taxes to which it may be subject. If a Fund qualifies as a RIC, it will generally not be subject to federal income taxes on the net investment income and net realized capital gains that the Fund timely distributes to its shareholders. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of a Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

In order to qualify as a RIC under the Code, each Fund must distribute annually to its shareholders at least 90% of its net investment income (which, includes dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, less operating expenses) and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income, for each tax year, if any (the “Distribution Requirement”) and also must meet certain additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of each Fund’s gross income each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities, or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (the “Qualifying Income Test”); and (ii) at the close of each quarter of each Fund’s taxable year: (A) at least 50% of the value of each Fund’s total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, including the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership, and (B) not more than 25% of the value of each Fund’s total assets is invested, including through corporations in which a Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities (other than U.S. Government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of another RIC) of two or more issuers that a Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Asset Test”).

 

Although each Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and may distribute its capital gains for any taxable year, a Fund will be subject to federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed. Each Fund is treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes. A Fund therefore is considered to be a separate entity in determining its treatment under the rules for RICs described herein. Losses in one Fund do not offset gains in another and the requirements (other than certain organizational requirements) for qualifying RIC status are determined at the Fund level rather than at the Trust level.

 

If a Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income or Asset Tests in any taxable year, such Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where a Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. If a Fund fails to maintain qualification as a RIC for a tax year, and the relief provisions are not available, such Fund will be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate (currently 21%) without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In such case, its shareholders would be taxed as if they received ordinary dividends to the extent of a Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits, although corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends received deduction (subject to certain limitations) and individuals may be able to benefit from the lower tax rates available to qualified dividend income. In addition, a Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC.

 

S-50 

 

Each Fund may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year. A “qualified late year loss” generally includes net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (commonly referred to as “post-October losses”) and certain other late-year losses.

 

The treatment of capital loss carryovers for a Fund is similar to the rules that apply to capital loss carryovers of individuals, which provide that such losses are carried over indefinitely. If a Fund has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains), the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year. The carryover of capital losses may be limited under the general loss limitation rules if a Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Code.

 

Federal Excise Tax. Notwithstanding the Distribution Requirement described above, which generally requires each Fund to distribute at least 90% of its annual investment company taxable income and the excess of its exempt interest income (but does not require any minimum distribution of net capital gain), a Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax to the extent it fails to distribute by the end of the calendar year at least 98% of its ordinary income and 98.2% of its capital gain net income (the excess of short- and long-term capital gains over short- and long-term capital losses) for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year (including any retained amount from the prior calendar year on which a Fund paid no federal income tax). Each Fund intends to make sufficient distributions to avoid liability for federal excise tax but can make no assurances that such tax will be completely eliminated. For example, a Fund may receive delayed or corrected tax reporting statements from its investments that cause such Fund to accrue additional income and gains after such Fund has already made its excise tax distributions for the year. In such a situation, a Fund may incur an excise tax liability resulting from such delayed receipt of such tax information statements. In addition, a Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate Fund investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal excise tax liability at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Fund to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.

 

Distributions to Shareholders. Each Fund receives income generally in the form of dividends and interest on investments. This income, plus net short-term capital gains, if any, less expenses incurred in the operation of a Fund, constitutes a Fund’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. Any distributions by a Fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary income or at the lower capital gains rates that apply to individuals receiving qualified dividend income, whether you take them in cash or in additional shares.

 

Distributions by a Fund are currently eligible for the reduced maximum tax rate to individuals of 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets) to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income on the securities it holds and the Fund reports the distributions as qualified dividend income. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that: (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become “ex-dividend” (which is the day on which declared distributions (dividends or capital gains) are deducted from a Fund’s assets before it calculates the net asset value) with respect to such dividend, (ii) such Fund has not satisfied similar holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder, (iii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property, or (iv) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Code. Therefore, if you lend your shares in a Fund, such as pursuant to a securities lending arrangement, you may lose the ability to treat dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. Distributions that a Fund receives from an underlying fund taxable as a RIC or from a REIT will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such underlying fund or REIT. Certain of the Funds' investment strategies may limit their ability to distribute dividends eligible for the reduced tax rate applicable to qualified dividend income.

 

S-51 

 

Distributions by a Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Capital gain distributions consisting of a Fund’s net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains for individual shareholders currently set at a maximum rate of 20% regardless of how long you have held your shares in such Fund. Distributions from capital gains are generally made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards.

 

In the case of corporate shareholders, a Fund’s distributions (other than capital gain distributions) generally qualify for the dividends received deduction to the extent such distributions are so reported and do not exceed the gross amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund for the year. Generally, and subject to certain limitations (including certain holding period limitations), a dividend will be treated as a qualifying dividend if it has been received from a domestic corporation. Certain of the Funds’ investment strategies may significantly limit their ability to make distribute dividends eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

To the extent that a Fund makes a distribution of income received by such Fund in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

If a Fund’s distributions exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits for the taxable year (as calculated for federal income tax purposes), all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholder’s cost basis in a Fund and result in a higher reported capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold.

 

A dividend or distribution received shortly after the purchase of shares reduces the net asset value of the shares by the amount of the dividend or distribution and, although in effect a return of capital, will be taxable to the shareholder. If the net asset value of shares were reduced below the shareholder’s cost by dividends or distributions representing gains realized on sales of securities, such dividends or distributions would be a return of investment though taxable to the shareholder in the same manner as other dividends or distributions.

 

Each Fund (or its administrative agent) will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, and will advise you of their tax status for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held your shares for a full year, a Fund may report and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gain, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Fund.

 

Dividends declared to shareholders of record in October, November or December and actually paid in January of the following year will be treated as having been received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which declared. Under this rule, therefore, a shareholder may be taxed in one year on dividends or distributions actually received in January of the following year.

 

S-52 

 

Sales, Exchanges or Redemptions. Sales and redemptions of Fund shares may be taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. Any gain or loss recognized on a sale, exchange, or redemption of shares of a Fund by a shareholder who holds the Fund shares as capital assets will generally be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months and otherwise will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss. However, if shares on which a shareholder has received a net capital gain distribution are subsequently sold, exchanged, or redeemed and such shares have been held for six months or less, any loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the net capital gain distribution. In addition, the loss realized on a sale or other disposition of shares will be disallowed to the extent a shareholder repurchases (or enters into a contract to or option to repurchase) shares within a period of 61 days (beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares). This loss disallowance rule will apply to shares received through the reinvestment of dividends during the 61-day period. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different fund is the same as a sale.

 

Each Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for the purchase of Fund shares. In addition to the requirement to report gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, each Fund is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, a Fund(or its administrative agent) will permit Fund shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, each Fund will use the average cost basis method as its default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. If your shares are held in a brokerage account, your broker may use a different method and you should contact your broker to determine which method it will use. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review the cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

Net Investment Income Tax. U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including any capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of a Fund).

 

Tax Treatment of Complex Securities. The Funds may invest in complex securities and these investments may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules. These rules could affect a Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC, affect whether gains and losses recognized by a Fund are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to a Fund and/or defer a Fund’s ability to recognize losses, and, in limited cases, subject a Fund to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of its foreign securities. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you a Fund and may require a Fund to sell securities to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of a Fund as a RIC at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

Each Fund is required for federal income tax purposes to mark-to-market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures and options contracts subject to section 1256 of the Code (“Section 1256 Contracts”) as of the end of the year as well as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from Section 1256 Contracts on broad-based indexes required to be marked to market will be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. A Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on Section 1256 Contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the Fund. These provisions may also require a Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirement and for avoiding the excise tax discussed above. Accordingly, in order to avoid certain income and excise taxes, a Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

S-53 

 

The Funds may invest in U.S. REITs. Investments in REIT equity securities may require the Funds to accrue and distribute income not yet received. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, a Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. A Fund’s investments in REIT equity securities may at other times result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to the Fund’s shareholders for federal income tax purposes. Dividends paid by a REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a REIT to a Fund will be treated as long-term capital gains by the Fund and, in turn, may be distributed by the Fund to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Dividends received by a Fund from a REIT generally will not constitute qualified dividend income or qualify for the dividends received deduction. If a REIT is operated in a manner such that it fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the REIT would be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits.

 

“Qualified REIT dividends” (i.e., ordinary REIT dividends other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income eligible for capital gain tax rates) are eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). Distributions by a Fund to its shareholders that are attributable to qualified REIT dividends received by such Fund and which the Fund properly reports as “section 199A dividends,” are treated as “qualified REIT dividends” in the hands of non-corporate shareholders. A section 199A dividend is treated as a qualified REIT dividend only if the shareholder receiving such dividend holds the dividend-paying RIC shares for at least 46 days of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. A Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as section 199A dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so. unless later extended or made permanent, this 20% deduction will no longer be available for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

 

REITs in which a Fund invests often do not provide complete and final tax information to the Fund until after the time that the Fund issues a tax reporting statement. As a result, a Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues your tax reporting statement. When such reclassification is necessary, a Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a corrected, final Form 1099-DIV to reflect the reclassified information. If you receive a corrected Form 1099-DIV, use the information on this corrected form, and not the information on the previously issued tax reporting statement, in completing your tax returns.

 

If a Fund owns shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to as “passive foreign investment companies” or “PFICs,” the Fund will generally be subject to one of the following special tax regimes: (i) the Fund may be liable for U.S. federal income tax, and an additional interest charge, on a portion of any “excess distribution” from such foreign entity or any gain from the disposition of such shares, even if the entire distribution or gain is paid out by the Fund as a dividend to its shareholders; (ii) if the Fund were able and elected to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” or “QEF,” the Fund would be required each year to include in income, and distribute to shareholders in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above, the Fund’s pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of the PFIC, whether or not such earnings or gains are distributed to the Fund; or (iii) the Fund may be entitled to mark-to-market annually shares of the PFIC, and in such event, would be required to distribute to shareholders any such mark-to-market gains in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above. The Funds intend to make the appropriate tax elections, if possible, and take any additional steps that are necessary to mitigate the effect of these rules. Amounts included in income each year by a Fund arising from a QEF election will be “qualifying income” under the Qualifying Income Test (as described above) even if not distributed to the Fund, if the Fund derives such income from its business of investing in stock, securities or currencies.

 

S-54 

 

Certain Foreign Currency Tax Issues. The Funds’ transactions in foreign currencies and forward foreign currency contracts will generally be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Funds (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Funds and defer losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also may require a Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out) which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirements and for avoiding the excise tax described above. Each Fund intends to monitor its transactions, intends to make the appropriate tax elections, and intends to make the appropriate entries in its books and records when it acquires any foreign currency or forward foreign currency contract in order to mitigate the effect of these rules so as to prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC and minimize the imposition of income and excise taxes. Accordingly, a Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

The U.S. Treasury Department has authority to issue regulations that would exclude foreign currency gains from the Qualifying Income Test described above if such gains are not directly related to a Fund’s business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect to stock or securities). Accordingly, regulations may be issued in the future that could treat some or all of a Fund’s non-U.S. currency gains as non-qualifying income, thereby potentially jeopardizing the Fund’s status as a RIC for all years to which the regulations are applicable.

 

Foreign Taxes. Dividends and interest received by the Funds may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions that would reduce the yield on the Funds’ stock or securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these taxes. Foreign countries generally do not impose taxes on capital gains with respect to investments by foreign investors.

 

If more than 50% of the value of a Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to and intends to file an election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. Pursuant to the election, the Fund will treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders. Each such shareholder will be required to include a proportionate share of those taxes in gross income as income received from a foreign source and must treat the amount so included as if the shareholder had paid the foreign tax directly. The shareholder may then either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him or her in computing his or her taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating any foreign tax credit they may be entitled to use against the shareholders’ federal income tax. If a Fund makes the election, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions. If a Fund does not hold sufficient foreign securities to meet the above threshold, then shareholders will not be entitled to claim a credit or further deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund. Under certain circumstances, if a Fund receives a refund of foreign taxes paid in respect of a prior year, the value of Fund shares could be affected or any foreign tax credits or deductions passed through to shareholders in respect of the Fund’s foreign taxes for the current year could be reduced.

 

A shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by a Fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, which may result in a shareholder not receiving a full credit or deduction (if any) for the amount of such taxes. In particular, shareholders must hold their Fund shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 additional days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a given dividend. Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such foreign taxes. Even if a Fund were eligible to make such an election for a given year, it may determine not to do so. Shareholders that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and those who invest in a Fund through tax-advantaged accounts (including those who invest through IRAs or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by a Fund.

 

S-55 

 

Under certain circumstances, if a Fund receives a refund of foreign taxes paid in respect of a prior year, the value of Fund shares could be affected or any foreign tax credits or deductions passed through to shareholders in respect of the Fund’s foreign taxes for the current year could be reduced.

 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, IRAs, salary deferral arrangements, 401(k)s, and other tax-exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Tax-exempt entities are not permitted to offset losses from one trade or business against the income or gain of another trade or business. Certain net losses incurred prior to January 1, 2018 are permitted to offset gain and income created by an unrelated trade or business, if otherwise available. Under current law, the Funds generally serve to block UBTI from being realized by their tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, the tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of an investment in a Fund where, for example: (i) the Fund invests in residual interests of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”); (ii) the Fund invests in a REIT that is a taxable mortgage pool (“TMP”) or that has a subsidiary that is a TMP or that invests in the residual interest of a REMIC; or (iii) shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisor. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding these issues.

 

A Fund’s shares held in a tax-qualified retirement account will generally not be subject to federal taxation on income and capital gains distributions from the Fund until a shareholder begins receiving payments from their retirement account. Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, shareholders should consult their tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Funds.

 

Backup Withholding. A Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold at a rate of 24% and remit to the U.S. Treasury the amount withheld on amounts payable to any shareholder who: (i) has provided the Fund either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all; (ii) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends; (iii) has failed to certify to the Fund that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding; or (iv) has failed to certify to the Fund that the shareholder is a U.S. person (including a resident alien). Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Any non-U.S. investors in the Funds may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in the Funds. Foreign shareholders (i.e., nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on distributions derived from taxable ordinary income. A Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Short-term capital gain dividends received by a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year are not exempt from this 30% withholding tax. Gains realized by foreign shareholders from the sale or other disposition of shares of a Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Foreign shareholders who fail to provide an applicable IRS form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from a Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described in this paragraph. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.

 

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Under legislation generally known as “FATCA” (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), the Funds are required to withhold 30% of certain ordinary dividends they pay to shareholders that fail to meet prescribed information reporting or certification requirements. In general, no such withholding will be required with respect to a U.S. person or non-U.S. person that timely provides the certifications required by a Fund or its agent on a valid IRS Form W-9 or applicable series of IRS Form W-8, respectively. Shareholders potentially subject to withholding include foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”), such as non-U.S. investment funds, and non-financial foreign entities (“NFFEs”). To avoid withholding under FATCA, an FFI generally must enter into an information sharing agreement with the IRS in which it agrees to report certain identifying information (including name, address, and taxpayer identification number) with respect to its U.S. account holders (which, in the case of an entity shareholder, may include its direct and indirect U.S. owners), and an NFFE generally must identify and provide other required information to the Funds or other withholding agent regarding its U.S. owners, if any. Such non-U.S. shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by regulations and other guidance. A non-U.S. shareholder resident or doing business in a country that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement.

 

A non-U.S. entity that invests in a Fund will need to provide such Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity’s status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding. Non-U.S. investors in the Funds should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

 

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, generally, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC such as a Fund are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

State Taxes. Depending upon state and local law, distributions by the Funds to their shareholders and the ownership of such shares may be subject to state and local taxes. Rules of state and local taxation of dividend and capital gains distributions from RICs often differ from the rules for federal income taxation described above. It is expected that a Fund will not be liable for any corporate excise, income or franchise tax in Massachusetts if it qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes.

 

Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. Government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by the Funds. Investment in Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae securities, banker’s acceptances, commercial paper, and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government securities do not generally qualify for such tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders.

 

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Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding state and local taxes applicable to an investment in the Funds.

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Brokerage Transactions. Generally, equity securities, both listed and over-the-counter, are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Purchases from underwriters will include the underwriting commission or concession, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers will include a dealer’s mark-up or reflect a dealer’s mark-down. Money market securities and other debt securities are usually bought and sold directly from the issuer or an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Generally, a Fund will not pay brokerage commissions for such purchases. When a debt security is bought from an underwriter, the purchase price will usually include an underwriting commission or concession. When a Fund executes transactions in the over-the-counter market, it will generally deal with primary market makers unless prices that are more favorable are otherwise obtainable. The purchase price for securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealer’s mark up or reflect a dealer’s mark down.

 

In addition, the Adviser may place a combined order for two or more accounts it manages, including the Funds, engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, joint execution is in the best interest of each participant and will result in best price and execution. Transactions involving commingled orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account or fund. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or the Funds may obtain, it is the opinion of the Adviser that the advantages of combined orders outweigh the possible disadvantages of combined orders.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Funds paid the following aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions:

 

 

Fund

Aggregate Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions Paid
2021 2022 2023
LSV Value Equity Fund $131,887 $176,393 $0
LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund $7,829 $8,009 $0
LSV Small Cap Value Fund $57,282 $83,729 $0
LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund $2,805 $7,470 $0
LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund $1,913 $3,198 $0
LSV Global Value Fund $15,175 $9,410 $0
LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund $4,959 $10,343 $4,059

 

Brokerage Selection. The Trust does not expect to use one particular broker or dealer, and when one or more brokers is believed capable of providing the best combination of price and execution, the Adviser may select a broker based upon brokerage or research services provided to the Adviser. The Adviser may pay a higher commission than otherwise obtainable from other brokers in return for such services only if a good faith determination is made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.

 

Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause each Fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In addition to agency transactions, the Adviser may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). In the case of research services, the Adviser believes that access to independent investment research is beneficial to its investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Funds.

 

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To the extent that research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the Adviser might utilize Fund commissions include research reports and other information on the economy, industries, sectors, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, political developments, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and other analysis. The Adviser may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used in connection with the account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Adviser will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. Any advisory or other fees paid to the Adviser are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services.

 

In some cases the Adviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a “research” and a “non-research” use. When this occurs, the Adviser makes a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions, while the Adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the Adviser believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.

 

From time to time, the Adviser may purchase new issues of securities for clients, including the Funds, in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the Adviser with research services. FINRA has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will provide research “credits” in these situations at a rate that is higher than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Funds did not pay commissions on brokerage transactions directed to brokers pursuant to an agreement or understanding whereby the broker provides research services to the Adviser.

 

Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. The Funds may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Funds or the Adviser for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act and rules promulgated by the SEC. The 1940 Act requires that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Funds for exchange transactions not exceed “usual and customary” brokerage commissions. The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” The Trustees, including those who are not “interested persons” of the Funds, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Funds did not pay brokerage commissions to affiliated brokers.

 

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Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealers.” The Funds are required to identify any securities of their “regular brokers and dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Funds held during their most recent fiscal year. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Funds did not hold any securities of “regular brokers and dealers.”

 

Portfolio Turnover Rates. Portfolio turnover is calculated by dividing the lesser of total purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. Excluded from both the numerator and denominator are amounts relating to securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less. Instruments excluded from the calculation of portfolio turnover generally would include the futures contracts in which the Funds may invest since such contracts generally have remaining maturities of less than one year. The Funds may at times hold investments in other short-term instruments, such as repurchase agreements, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023, the portfolio turnover rates for each Fund were as follows:

 

 

Fund

Portfolio Turnover Rates
2022 2023
LSV Value Equity Fund 28% 10%1
LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund 18% 19%
LSV Small Cap Value Fund 33% 22%
LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund 18% 21%
LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund 15% 19%
LSV Global Value Fund 21% 18%
LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund 38% 17%2

 

1The material decrease in portfolio turnover rate for the Value Equity Fund is due to a decrease in cash flow in the 2023 fiscal year compared to the 2022 fiscal year.
2The material decrease in portfolio turnover rate for the Emerging Markets Equity Fund is due to a decrease in cash flow in the 2023 fiscal year compared to the 2022 fiscal year.

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Board has approved policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances regarding the disclosure of the Funds’ portfolio holdings information to shareholders and third parties. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that disclosure of information regarding the Funds’ portfolio securities is in the best interests of each of the Fund’s shareholders, and include procedures to address conflicts between the interests of each Fund’s shareholders and those of the Funds’ Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Funds, the Adviser, or the principal underwriter. Pursuant to such procedures, the Board has authorized the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer to authorize the release of the Funds’ portfolio holdings, as necessary, in conformity with the foregoing principles. The Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer, either directly or through reports by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, reports quarterly to the Board regarding the operation and administration of such policies and procedures.

 

Pursuant to applicable law, the Funds are required to disclose their complete portfolio holdings quarterly, within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (currently, each January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31). Each Fund will disclose a complete or summary schedule of investments (which includes the Fund’s 50 largest holdings in unaffiliated issuers and each investment in unaffiliated issuers that exceeds one percent of the Fund’s net asset value (“Summary Schedule”)) in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports which are distributed to the Fund’s shareholders. Each Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the first and third fiscal quarters will be available in quarterly holdings reports filed with the SEC as exhibits to Form N-PORT, and each Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the second and fourth fiscal quarters, will be available in shareholder reports filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR.

 

S-60 

 

Complete schedules of investments filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR and as exhibits to Form N-PORT are not distributed to each Fund’s shareholders but are available, free of charge, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Should a Fund include only a Summary Schedule rather than a complete schedule of investments in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports, its complete schedule of investments will be available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-888-FUND-LSV.

 

The Adviser’s website, at www.lsvasset.com, also provides information about the Funds’ complete portfolio holdings, including some or all of the following: security description, ticker, security identification number, price per share, par value, and interest rate updated as of the end of the most recent calendar quarter (i.e., each March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31). This information on the website is provided within 15 business days at the end of each calendar quarter. The information on the Adviser’s website is publicly available to all categories of persons. The Adviser may exclude any portion of a Fund’s portfolio holdings from such publication when deemed in the best interest of the Fund.

 

In addition to information provided to shareholders and the general public, portfolio holdings information may be disclosed as frequently as daily to the Funds’ Adviser, Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent, financial printer, pricing vendors, liquidity analytics vendors, class action reclaim vendors and foreign tax reclaim vendors and other vendors that provide the Adviser with various middle office, back office, client reporting and portfolio analytics services in connection with their services to the Funds. From time to time rating and ranking organizations, such as S&P, Lipper and Morningstar, Inc., may request non-public portfolio holdings information in connection with rating the Funds. Similarly, institutional investors, financial planners, pension plan sponsors and/or their consultants or other third-parties may request portfolio holdings information in order to assess the risks of a Fund’s portfolio along with related performance attribution statistics.

 

The Funds’ policies and procedures provide that the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer may authorize disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information to such parties at differing times and/or with different lag times. Prior to making any disclosure to a third party, the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer must determine that such disclosure serves a reasonable business purpose, is in the best interests of the Funds’ shareholders and that conflicts between the interests of the Funds’ shareholders and those of the Funds’ Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Funds are addressed. Portfolio holdings information may be disclosed no more frequently than monthly to ratings agencies, consultants and other qualified financial professionals or individuals.

 

The Adviser currently has arrangements to provide non-public portfolio holdings information to Marco Consulting Group. The Adviser reports the complete portfolio (including security name, ticker, CUSIP, number of shares, current market value and percentage of portfolio), as well as percentage weightings for the top ten holdings, on a monthly basis, with a three-day lag. The portfolio holdings are used to create 1) a quarterly profile to educate clients and 2) to conduct quarterly due diligence on the Funds. This information is considered confidential and will not be distributed to the public. The Funds believe these disclosures serve a legitimate business purpose. The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer will regularly review these arrangements and will make periodic reports to the Board regarding disclosure pursuant to such arrangements.

 

With the exception of disclosures to rating and ranking organizations as described above, the Funds require any third party receiving non-public holdings information to enter into a confidentiality agreement with the Adviser. The confidentiality agreement provides, among other things, that non-public portfolio holdings information will be kept confidential and that the recipient has a duty not to trade on the non-public information and will use such information solely to analyze and rank the Funds, or to perform due diligence and asset allocation, depending on the recipient of the information.

 

The Funds’ policies and procedures prohibit any compensation or other consideration from being paid to or received by any party in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information, including the Funds, the Adviser and its affiliates or recipients of the Funds’ portfolio holdings information.

S-61 

 

 

The Adviser may manage other accounts that are not subject to these policies and procedures with investment objectives and strategies that are substantially similar to those of a Fund. Because the portfolio holdings of such accounts may be substantially similar, and in some cases nearly identical, to those of a Fund, an investor in such an account may be able to infer the portfolio holdings of a Fund from the portfolio holdings of the account.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of funds and shares of each fund, each of which represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund with each other share. Shares are entitled upon liquidation to a pro rata share in the net assets of the fund. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees may create additional series or classes of shares. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any additional funds and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that fund and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto. Share certificates representing shares will not be issued. The Funds’ shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY

 

The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a “Massachusetts business trust.” Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the trust. Even if, however, the Trust were held to be a partnership, the possibility of the shareholders incurring financial loss for that reason appears remote because the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees, and because the Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the Trust property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust.

 

LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY

 

The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful defaults and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents, employees or investment advisers, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust unless it is determined in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. Nothing contained in this section attempts to disclaim a Trustee’s individual liability in any manner inconsistent with the federal securities laws.

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Funds to the Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which are included in Appendix B to this SAI.

 

The Trust is required to disclose annually the Funds’ complete proxy voting record during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 on Form N-PX. This voting record is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-888-FUND-LSV and (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

S-62 

 

CODES OF ETHICS

 

The Board, on behalf of the Trust, has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers and certain employees (“Access Persons”). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by Access Persons. Under each Code of Ethics, Access Persons are permitted to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by a Fund, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. In addition, certain Access Persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings or private placements or are prohibited from making such investments. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.

 

PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS

 

As of February 6, 2024, the following persons were record owners (or to the knowledge of the Trust, beneficial owners) of 5% or more of any class of the shares of the Funds. The Trust believes that most of the shares referred to below were held by the persons listed below in accounts for their fiduciary, agency or custodial customers. Persons beneficially owning more than 25% of a Fund’s outstanding shares may be deemed to “control” the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Shareholders controlling a Fund may have a significant impact on any shareholder vote of the Fund.

 

LSV Value Equity Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

CUSTOMERS ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

DEPARTMENT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-1995

Institutional 30.46%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC REINVEST

ACCOUNT

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105-1905

Institutional 13.94%

THE NORTHERN TRUST CORPORATION TRUS

FBO CENTERPOINT ENERGY - DV

PO BOX 92994

CHICAGO, IL 60675-2994

Institutional 5.85%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

CUSTOMERS ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

DEPARTMENT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-1995

Investor 95.30%

 

LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

VOYA INSTITUTIONAL TRUST COMPANY

FBO CITY & COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

30 BRAINTREE HILL PARK

BRAINTREE, MA 02184-8747

Institutional 62.19%

PERSHING LLC

1 PERSHING PLAZA

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07399-0002

Institutional 23.42%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL ID

ATTN: MUTUAL FUND ADMINISTRATOR

ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS, PA 19456-9989

Institutional 8.61%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACT FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105-1901

Investor 93.96%

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LSV Small Cap Value Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

SAXON & CO.

FBO

P O BOX 94597

CLEVELAND, OH 44101-4597

Institutional 24.79%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

CUSTOMERS ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

DEPARTMENT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-1995

Institutional 17.46%

CAPINCO C/O US BANK NA

1555 N RIVERCENTER DR STE 302

MILWAUKEE, WI 53212-3958

Institutional 16.27%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105-1901

Institutional 15.90%

JP MORGAN SECURITIES LLC OMNIBUS

ACCOUNT FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT

OF CUSTOMERS

4 CHASE METROTECH CTR FL 3RD

MUTUAL FUND DEPARTMENT

BROOKLYN, NY 11245-0003

Institutional 6.32%

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL ID

ATTN: MUTUAL FUND ADMINISTRATOR

ONE FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS, PA 19456-9989

Institutional 5.10%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

CUSTOMERS ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

DEPARTMENT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-1995

Investor 90.47%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105-1901

Investor 6.48%

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LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

SEI PRIVATE TRUST COMPANY

C/O M & T BANK

1 FREEDOM VALLEY DRIVE

OAKS, PA 19456-9989

Institutional 45.02%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

CUSTOMERS ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

DEPARTMENT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-1995

Institutional 36.13%

IBJ INVESTMENTS LLC

1943 N BURLING ST

CHICAGO, IL 60614-5123

Institutional 9.30%

MAC & CO A/C

ATTN MUTUAL FUND OPS

500 GRANT STREET

ROOM 151-1010

PITTSBURGH, PA 15219-2502

Institutional 9.30%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACT FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105-1901

Investor 38.82%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

CUSTOMERS ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

DEPARTMENT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-1995

Investor 35.24%

JASON JOSEPH KARCESKI &

ISABEL KARCESKI JTWROS

SUBJECT TO DST TOD RULES

C/O LSV ASSET MANAGEMENT

155 NORTH WACKER DRIVE SUITE 4600

CHICAGO, IL 60606

Investor 15.96%

 

LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

CUSTOMERS ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

DEPARTMENT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-1995

Institutional 37.75%

IBJ INVESTMENTS LLC

1943 N BURLING ST

CHICAGO, IL 60614-5123

Institutional 24.83%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105-1901

Institutional 18.70%

MAC & CO A/C

ATTN: MUTUAL FUND OPERATIONS

500 GRANT STREET

ROOM 151-1010

PITTSBURGH, PA 15219-2502

Institutional 12.69%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACT FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105-1901

Investor 55.06%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

CUSTOMERS ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

DEPARTMENT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-1995

Investor 40.77%

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LSV Global Value Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

EMPOWER TRUST FBO

EMPOWER BENEFIT PLANS

8515 E ORCHARD RD 2T2

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO 80111-5002

Institutional 33.64%

CAPINCO

C/O US BANK NA

PO BOX 1787

MILWAUKEE, WI 53201-1787

Institutional 32.86%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

CUSTOMERS ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

DEPARTMENT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-1995

Institutional 23.25%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACT FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105-1901

Institutional 5.94%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

CUSTOMERS ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

DEPARTMENT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-1995

Investor 32.46%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY ACT FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105-1901

Investor 30.26%

MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY LLC

FBO A CUSTOMER OF MSSB

1 NEW YORK PLAZA

NEW YORK, NY 10004-1932

Investor 15.31%

BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO CUST

FBO BANQUE PICTET & CIE SA OMNI

CLTS FULL WHT REF PNA CASH

ATTN: MUTUAL FUND SERVICES

140 BROADWAY

NEW YORK, NY 10005-1108

Investor 6.10%

MORGAN STANLEY SMITH BARNEY LLC

FBO A CUSTOMER OF MSSB

1 NEW YORK PLAZA

NEW YORK, NY 10004-1932

Investor 5.85%

S-66 

 

 

LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund
Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR THE EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF OUR

CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 4TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-1995

Institutional 30.66

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105-1901

Institutional 22.00

IBJ INVESTMENTS LLC

1943 N BURLING ST

CHICAGO, IL 60614-5123

Institutional 15.37

PERSHING LLC

1 PERSHING PLAZA

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07399-0002

Institutional 11.60

MENNO VERMEULEN

397 S KENILWORTH AVE

ELMHURST, IL 60126-3926

Institutional 6.15

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

211 MAIN ST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105-1901

Investor 76.95

TD AMERITRADE INC FBO

OUR CLIENTS

PO BOX 2226

OMAHA, NE 68103-2226

Investor 17.39

S-67 

 

 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

 

Description of Ratings

 

The following descriptions of securities ratings have been published by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), respectively.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Ratings

 

Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Long-Term Ratings

 

Aaa Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

Aa Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

A Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

Baa Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

Ba Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

B Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

Caa Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

Ca Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

C Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

A-1 

 

Hybrid Indicator (hyb)

 

The hybrid indicator (hyb) is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms. By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Short-Term Ratings

 

P-1 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-2 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-3 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

NP Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Description of Moody’s U.S. Municipal Short-Term Obligation Ratings

 

The Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale is used to rate U.S. municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less. Under certain circumstances, the MIG scale is used to rate bond anticipation notes with maturities of up to five years.

 

Moody’s U.S. municipal short-term obligation ratings are as follows:

 

MIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

MIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

MIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

Description of Moody’s Demand Obligation Ratings

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), Moody’s assigns both a long-term rating and a short-term payment obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer’s ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term payment obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to meet any purchase price payment obligation resulting from optional tenders (“on demand”) and/or mandatory tenders of the VRDO. The short-term payment obligation rating uses the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (“VMIG”) scale. VMIG ratings with liquidity support use as an input the short-term counterparty risk assessment of the support provider, or the long-term rating of the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support. Transitions of VMIG ratings with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions of Prime ratings reflecting the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade. For VRDOs, Moody’s typically assigns a VMIG rating if the frequency of the payment obligation is less than every three years. If the frequency of the payment obligation is less than three years, but the obligation is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the VMIG short-term rating is not assigned and it is denoted as “NR”.

 

A-2 

 

Moody’s demand obligation ratings are as follows:

 

VMIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or legal protections.

 

Description of S&P’s Issue Credit Ratings

 

An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term issue credit ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. S&P would typically assign a long-term issue credit rating to an obligation with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. However, the ratings S&P assigns to certain instruments may diverge from these guidelines based on market practices. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

 

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations:

 

• The likelihood of payment—the capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitments on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

 

• The nature and provisions of the financial obligation, and the promise S&P imputes; and

 

• The protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

 

A-3 

 

An issue rating is an assessment of default risk but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

 

NR indicates that a rating has not been assigned or is no longer assigned.

 

Description of S&P’s Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings*

 

AAA An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

AA An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.

 

A An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.

 

BBB An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

BB; B; CCC; CC; and C Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.

 

BB An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CCC An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CC An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

C An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.

 

A-4 

 

D An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

* Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.

 

Description of S&P’s Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

 

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

 

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

 

A-3 A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

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

 

D A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

Description of S&P’s Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings

 

An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

A-5 

 

• Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

• Source of payment—the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

S&P’s municipal short-term note ratings are as follows:

 

SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

D ‘D’ is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.

 

Description of Fitch’s Credit Ratings

 

Fitch’s credit ratings relating to issuers are an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Credit ratings relating to securities and obligations of an issuer can include a recovery expectation. Credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.

 

Fitch’s credit rating scale for issuers and issues is expressed using the categories ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’ (investment grade) and ‘BB’ to ‘D’ (speculative grade) with an additional +/- for AA through CCC levels indicating relative differences of probability of default or recovery for issues. The terms “investment grade” and “speculative grade” are market conventions and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the speculative grade categories signal either a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred.

 

Fitch may also disclose issues relating to a rated issuer that are not and have not been rated. Such issues are also denoted as ‘NR’ on its web page.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. Credit ratings do not deal with the risk of market value loss due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and/or other market considerations. However, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay or refinance a financial commitment. Ratings nonetheless do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, in the case of payments linked to performance of an index).

 

In the default components of ratings assigned to individual obligations or instruments, the agency typically rates to the likelihood of non-payment or default in accordance with the terms of that instrument’s documentation. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations (i.e. rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation’s documentation).

 

A-6 

 

Description of Fitch’s Long-Term Corporate Finance Obligations Ratings

 

AAA Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

AA Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

A High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

BBB Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

BB Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

B Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

CCC Substantial credit risk. ‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.

 

CC Very high levels of credit risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.

 

C Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. ‘C’ ratings indicate exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Ratings in the categories of ‘CCC’, ‘CC’ and ‘C’ can also relate to obligations or issuers that are in default. In this case, the rating does not opine on default risk but reflects the recovery expectation only.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned ‘RD’ or ‘D’ ratings, but are instead rated in the ‘CCC’ to ‘C’ rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Description of Fitch’s Short-Term Ratings

 

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

 

A-7 

 

Fitch’s short-term ratings are as follows:

 

F1 Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

F2 Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

F3 Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

B Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

C High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

 

RD Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

D Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

A-8 

 

APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

LSV ASSET MANAGEMENT

 

PROXY VOTING POLICY

 

LSV Asset Management’s (“LSV” or the “Firm”) proxy voting responsibilities on behalf of a client’s account are expressly stated in the applicable agreement with such client. If LSV is responsible for voting proxies, the agreement with each client will typically state whether the votes will be cast in accordance with this proxy voting policy or in accordance with the client’s proxy voting policy. In either case, LSV will make appropriate arrangements with each account custodian to have proxies forwarded on a timely basis, and will endeavor to correct delays or other problems relating to timely delivery of proxies and proxy materials to the extent it is aware of such delays or problems. If the client elects to retain proxy voting responsibility, LSV will have no involvement in the proxy voting process for that client.

 

To satisfy its fiduciary duty in making any voting determination, an investment adviser must make the determination in the best interests of the client and must not place the investment adviser’s own interests ahead of the interests of the client. In addition, with respect to Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) plan clients, LSV directs its voting activity solely in the interests of the participants and beneficiaries and for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to participants and their beneficiaries and defraying reasonable expenses.

 

In general, LSV’s quantitative investment process does not provide output or analysis that would be functional in analyzing proxy issues. As a result, LSV does not consider proxy voting to be a material factor in its investment strategy or results. LSV, therefore, has retained an expert independent third party to assist in proxy voting, currently Glass Lewis & Co. (“GLC”). LSV’s selection of GLC was made after careful consideration of GLC’s proxy voting services, including related voting policies and expertise. GLC implements LSV’s proxy voting process, develops proxy voting guidelines, and provides analysis of proxy issues on a case-by-case basis. Where LSV has been responsible for voting proxies for a client, LSV typically votes in accordance with GLC’s standard guidelines, as updated from time to time, which can be found at https://www.glasslewis.com/guidelines. For new clients who wish to make LSV responsible for voting proxies, LSV intends to vote in accordance with GLC’s climate guidelines, as updated from time to time, which are described by GLC at https://www.glasslewis.com/climate-policy, and which may be obtained from LSV and applied to existing clients’ accounts upon request. LSV describes available GLC guidelines to clients on at least an annual basis. Those guidelines generally are aligned with LSV’s investment goals, and LSV’s use of GLC, therefore, is not a delegation of LSV’s fiduciary obligation to vote proxies for clients. GLC’s guidelines have been developed based on, among other things, GLC’s focus on facilitating shareholder voting in favor of governance structures that drive performance and create shareholder value. LSV believes that GLC’s guidelines are reasonably designed to ensure that proxies are voted in the best interests of LSV’s clients. Although it is expected to be rare, LSV reserves the right to vote issues contrary to, or issues not covered by, GLC’s guidelines when LSV believes it is in the best interests of the client and LSV does not have a material conflict of interest. In certain circumstances, clients are permitted to direct their vote in a particular solicitation. Direction from a client on a particular proxy vote will take precedence over GLC’s guidelines. Where the client has engaged LSV to vote proxies and has also provided proxy voting guidelines to LSV, those guidelines will be followed with the assistance of GLC.

 

GLC assists LSV with voting execution, including through an electronic vote management system that allows GLC to: (1) populate each client’s votes shown on GLC’s electronic voting platform with GLC’s recommendations under applicable guidelines (“pre-population”); and (2) automatically submit the client’s votes to be counted (“automated voting”). There will likely be circumstances where, before the submission deadline for proxies to be voted at the shareholder meeting, an issuer intends to file or has filed additional soliciting materials with the SEC regarding a matter to be voted upon. It is possible in such circumstances that LSV’s use of pre-population and automated voting could result in votes being cast that do not take into account such additional information. In order to address this concern, GLC actively monitors information sources for supplemental or updated information and has in place a system to allow for issuer feedback on its voting recommendations. Such updated information and feedback is considered by GLC and voting recommendations are modified as appropriate. LSV’s pre-populated votes would then also be automatically updated. GLC’s processes in this area are part of LSV’s review of their services as described below.

 

B-1 

 

LSV conducts a number of periodic reviews to seek to ensure votes are cast in accordance with this policy and applicable GLC guidelines. In addition, on a semi-annual basis, LSV requires GLC to, among other things, provide confirmations regarding its policies and procedures and reporting on any changes to such policies and procedures. As part of such semi-annual process, LSV also obtains information regarding the capacity and competency of GLC to provide proxy advisory services to LSV.

 

In the voting process, conflicts can arise between LSV’s interests and that of its clients, or between clients’ interests due to each client’s objectives. In such situations, LSV will continue to vote the proxies in accordance with the recommendations of GLC based on each client’s applicable guidelines. A written record will be maintained explaining the reasoning for the vote recommendation. LSV also monitors GLC’s conflicts of interest policies and procedures on a periodic basis.

 

LSV may be unable or may choose not to vote proxies in certain situations. For example, and without limitation, LSV may refrain from voting a proxy if (i) the cost of voting the proxy exceeds the expected benefit to the client, (ii) LSV is not given enough time to process the vote, (iii) voting the proxy requires the security to be “blocked” or frozen from trading or (iv) it is otherwise impractical or impossible to vote the proxy, such as in the case of voting a foreign security that must be cast in person.

 

Clients may receive a copy of this proxy voting policy and LSV’s voting record for their account by request. In addition, clients are sent a copy of their respective guidelines and a summary of other available options on an annual basis and may elect to change their guidelines at any time. LSV will additionally provide any mutual fund for which LSV acts as adviser or sub-adviser, a copy of LSV’s voting record for the fund so that the fund may fulfill its obligation to report proxy votes to fund shareholders.

 

LSV may modify this policy and use of GLC from time to time.

 

Recordkeeping

 

LSV will retain:

1.Copies of its proxy voting policies and procedures.
2.A copy of each proxy statement received regarding client securities (maintained by the proxy voting service and/or available on EDGAR).
3.A record of each vote cast on behalf of a client (maintained by the proxy voting service).
4.A copy of any document created that was material to the voting decision or that memorializes the basis for that decision (maintained by the proxy voting service and/or the Firm).
5.A copy of clients’ written requests for proxy voting information and a copy of LSV’s written response to a client’s request for proxy voting information for the client’s account.

 

LSV will ensure that it may obtain access to the proxy voting service’s records promptly upon LSV’s request.

 

B-2 

 

The above listed information is intended to, among other things, enable clients to review LSV’s proxy voting procedures and actions taken in individual proxy voting situations.

 

LSV will maintain required materials in an easily accessible place for not less than five years from the end of the fiscal year during which the last entry took place.

 

Consideration of Environmental, Social and Governance Factors

 

LSV became a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment (“PRI”) in April 2014. GLC is also a signatory to the PRI. The PRI provides a framework, through its six principles, for consideration of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors in portfolio management and investment decision-making. The six principles ask an investment manager, to the extent consistent with its fiduciary duties, to seek to: (1) incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes; (2) be an active owner and incorporate ESG issues into its ownership policies and practices; (3) obtain appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which it invests; (4) promote acceptance and implementation of the PRI principles within the investment industry; (5) work to enhance its effectiveness in implementing the PRI principles; and (6) report on its activities and progress toward implementing the PRI principles. Voting in favor of effective disclosure and governance of ESG issues to drive performance and create shareholder value is incorporated into GLC’s standard guidelines, as well as a supplement GLC maintains for shareholder initiatives. GLC’s climate guidelines are substantially similar, but go further to encourage enhanced disclosure of climate-related governance measures, risk mitigation, and metrics or targets. In each case, GLC’s guidelines emphasize assessing the financial implications of ESG issues in context of a company’s operations. Thus, by utilizing these GLC guidelines, LSV seeks to apply the PRI and incorporate ESG issues into its proxy voting decision-making processes in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties. Further, LSV is able to offer to interested clients upon request, GLC’s ESG-focused guidelines that include an additional level of analysis intended to encourage outcomes that are consistent with widely-accepted enhanced ESG practices.

 

B-3 

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

The Rice Hall James Funds

 

Prospectus

March 1, 2024

 

 

Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio

 

Institutional Class Shares

RHJSX

 

 

 

Investment Adviser:

Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC

 

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

 

 

 

About This Prospectus

 

This prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this important information. For detailed information about the Fund, please see:

     

Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio Fund Summary

1

Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategies

2

Principal Risks

4

Performance Information

6

Investment Adviser

7

Portfolio Managers

7

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

8

Tax Information

8

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

8

Investing with the Fund

9

Buying Shares

9

Redeeming Shares

11

Transaction Policies

14

Account Policies

18

Federal Taxes

22

Other Investment Practices and Strategies

25

Information about Portfolio Holdings

28

Investment Management

28

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

30

Additional Information

32

Financial Highlights

33

How to Obtain More Information about the Fund

Back Cover

 

 

 

RHJSX INSTITUTIONAL CLASS SHARES

Russell Microcap Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Russell Microcap Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio

 

Investment Objective

 

 

The Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio (the “Fund” or the “Micro Cap Portfolio”) seeks maximum capital appreciation, consistent with reasonable risk to principal, by investing primarily in small-capitalization companies.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

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

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if redeemed within 90 days of purchase)

2.00%

Redemption Fee (As a percentage of Amount Redeemed)  

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Management Fees

0.75%

Other Expenses

1.33%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

2.08%

Less Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements1

(0.83)%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements1

1.25%

 

1

Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC (the “Adviser” or “RHJ”) has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Reductions and/or Expense Reimbursements (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other costs and expenses relating to the securities that are purchased and sold by the Fund, Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and non-routine expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets until February 28, 2025 (the “Expense Limitation”). In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the Expense Limitation to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee reductions or expense reimbursements made during the rolling three-year period preceding the recoupment if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the Expense Limitation (i) at the time of the fee reduction and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time; or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025.

 

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Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses (including one year of capped expenses in each period) remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

$127

$572

$1,042

$2,344

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 32% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategies

 

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of small-cap companies. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. Equity securities are primarily common stock. The Fund focuses on U.S. companies with total market capitalizations (number of shares outstanding multiplied by share price) that at the time of initial purchase fall within the range of companies in the Russell Microcap Index at reconstitution each June. In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser emphasizes smaller, emerging companies that possess the potential to become market leaders in their industries.

 

In making investment decisions for the Fund, the Adviser uses a company-specific approach that focuses on identifying, through fundamental research, the stocks of growth companies that are valued attractively (i.e., undervalued or selling at a discount) relative to a price that would be justified according to the Adviser’s expectations regarding a company’s

 

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earnings growth. The Adviser relies on fundamental analysis in the effort to validate the opinion that a company’s current stock price undervalues, or does not reflect fully, that company’s earnings growth potential. The Adviser’s investment process seeks to identify companies whose stocks appear to be inaccurately priced by the market - specifically growth stocks that are undervalued due to market inefficiency. The Adviser seeks to capture price appreciation by investing in a company’s undervalued shares before the market has recognized that company’s above-average earnings growth potential and re-valued its shares accordingly.

 

The Adviser will not invest in a company solely on the basis that its shares appear undervalued; above-average earnings growth potential is an equally essential criterion for investment candidates, and the Adviser will seek to determine whether the current Price-to-Earnings ratio of a stock adequately reflects the company’s potential for rapid earnings growth, as measured by the Adviser’s expectations for a company’s three- to five-year earnings growth. The Adviser will seek to ascertain a specific factor, or catalyst, that can be expected to precipitate above-average, typically above 15% per year, earnings growth in candidates for investment. Such companies are believed to be undergoing fundamental changes that have yet to be noticed by investors, but that the Adviser believes will ultimately result in increases in revenue growth rates, expanding profit margins and/or increases in earnings growth rates. Catalysts that might precipitate these changes or accelerations in growth and profitability include, but are not limited to, events or developments such as new product introductions or applications, discovery of niche markets, new management, corporate or industry restructures, regulatory change and market expansion.

 

With regards to valuation, the Adviser will invest the assets of the Fund primarily in companies whose Price-to-Earnings ratios appear low relative to future growth potential, or whose stocks can be expected to appreciate in response to rapid earnings growth. The Adviser seeks to invest the assets of the Fund in companies believed to offer “upside,” or potential for price appreciation, that the Adviser estimates to be, at a minimum, three times greater than a stock’s estimated “downside,” or potential for price depreciation. The Adviser seeks to invest in shares that are, in the view of the Adviser, poised to appreciate significantly within the next 12 to 24 months and whose estimated reward-to-risk profile (as estimated principally using earnings and the Price-to-Earnings ratio) is consistent with the Adviser’s criteria.

 

Moreover, the Adviser focuses on securities of companies with the following attributes:

 

 

Strong management;

 

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Leading products or services;

 

 

Distribution to a large marketplace or growing niche market;

 

 

Anticipated above-average revenue and earnings growth rates;

 

 

Potential for improvement in profit margins; and

 

 

Strong cash flow and/or improving financial position.

 

The Adviser will not sell a stock simply because it is no longer within the Fund’s target capitalization range used by the Adviser for the initial purchase, and the holding may remain in the Fund if the Adviser believes the company continues to offer growth potential that is consistent with the Adviser’s reward-to-risk requirements. However, it may sell stocks for the following reasons:

 

 

The stock reaches the target price set by the Adviser;

 

 

The stock falls below the downside price limit set by the Adviser;

 

 

The fundamentals of the stock have deteriorated; or

 

 

A more attractively valued alternative is available for purchase.

 

Due to its investment strategy, the Fund may buy and sell securities frequently. This transaction activity may result in higher transaction costs and higher tax liabilities as compared to a fund that pursues a “buy and hold” strategy.

 

The Adviser expects that cash reserves will normally represent under 20% of the Fund’s assets.

 

Principal Risks

 

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. This outcome could occur because its strategy failed to produce the intended results or because the Adviser did not properly implement the Fund’s investment strategy. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. Set forth below are the principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund.

 

Equity Risk – Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to equity risk, or the risk that stock prices may fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and accordingly the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day to day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/

 

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or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

Small-Capitalization Company Risk – The small-capitalization companies in which the Fund will invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events as compared to larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in these small-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have comparatively limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, small-cap stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies. These securities may be traded over-the-counter or listed on an exchange.

 

Micro-Capitalization Company Risk – Micro-capitalization companies may be newly formed or in the early stages of development with limited product lines, markets or financial resources. Therefore, micro-capitalization companies may be less financially secure than large-, mid- and small-capitalization companies and may be more vulnerable to key personnel losses due to reliance on a smaller number of management personnel. In addition, as compared to the volume of information available about larger peers, there may be less public information available about these companies. Micro-capitalization stock prices may be more volatile than stock prices corresponding to large-, mid- and small-capitalization companies, and such stocks may be more thinly traded and thus difficult for the Fund to buy and sell in the market.

 

Growth Style Risk – The Fund pursues a “growth style” of investing, meaning that the Fund invests in equity securities of companies that the Adviser believes can potentially offer above-average rates of earnings growth and that therefore may experience stock price increases that exceed the increases observed in the benchmark or in the stock’s peer universe. Over time and in different market environments, growth-style investing may fall in or out of favor, and in the latter case, the

 

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Fund may underperform other equity funds that rely on different investing styles or pursue different objectives.

 

Performance Information

 

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available on the Fund’s website at http://www.rhjfunds.com or by calling 1-866-474-5669.

 

 

 

BEST QUARTER

WORST QUARTER

34.17%

(30.38)%

12/31/2020

3/31/2020

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of appropriate broad-based indices that are generally accepted indicators of the performance of micro-capitalization stocks.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-

 

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deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”).

 

Returns after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares may be higher than before-tax returns when a net capital loss occurs upon the redemption of Fund shares.

 

Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio —
Institutional Class Shares

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Fund Return Before Taxes

6.36%

8.32%

6.58%

Fund Return After Taxes on Distributions

1.08%

5.73%

4.44%

Fund Return After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

7.50%

6.57%

5.06%

Russell Microcap Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

9.33%

8.56%

5.79%

Russell Microcap Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

9.11%

5.97%

3.67%

 

 

Investment Adviser

 

 

Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC

 

Portfolio Managers

 

 

Thomas W. McDowell, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer, has managed the Fund since its inception in 1994.

 

Daniel S. Sargen, Co-Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager/Analyst, has managed the Fund since 2014.

 

Cara M. Thome, Portfolio Manager/Analyst, has managed the Fund since 2001.

 

Reed M. Wirick, CFA, Portfolio Manager/Analyst, has managed the Fund since 2008.

 

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Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

 

You can open an account with the Fund with a minimum initial investment of $2,500 for Institutional Class shares ($500 for IRAs and $250 for Spousal IRAs). Subsequent investments in the Fund must be at least $100. The Fund reserves the right to waive these minimum investment amounts in its sole discretion.

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business (a “Business Day”) by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-866-474-5669.

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to redeem your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

Tax Information

 

 

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as qualified dividend income, ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distribution will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

 

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

 

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Investing with the Fund

 

This section tells you how to purchase and sell (sometimes called “redeem”) Institutional Class Shares of the Fund.

 

For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Federal Taxes.”

 

Buying Shares

 

 

All investments must be made by check, Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), or wire. All checks must be made payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept purchases made by third-party checks, credit cards, credit card checks, cash, traveler’s checks, money orders or cashier’s checks.

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject any specific purchase order, including exchange purchases, for any reason. The Fund is not intended for short-term trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For more information about the Fund’s policy on short-term trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

The Fund does not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Fund subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Fund for more information.

 

By Mail

 

You can open an account with the Fund by sending a check and your account application to the address below. You can add to an existing account by sending the Fund a check and, if possible, the “Invest by Mail” stub that accompanies your confirmation statement. Be sure your check identifies clearly your name, your account number and the Fund name.

 

Regular Mail Address

 

The Rice Hall James Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, Missouri 64121

 


 

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Express Mail Address

 

The Rice Hall James Funds
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of purchase orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Wire

 

To open an account by wire call 1-866-474-5669 for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the wiring instructions set forth below (be sure to include the Fund name, the share class and your account number). The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the wire in good order.

 

Wiring Instructions

 

UMB Bank, N.A.
ABA#: 101000695
The Rice Hall James Funds
DDA Acct. # 9871063178
Ref: account number/account name/Fund name

 

By Automatic Investment Plan (via ACH)

 

You may not open an account via ACH. However, once you have established an account, you can set up an automatic investment plan by mailing a completed application to the Fund. Purchases can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually in amounts of at least $100 to meet the minimum investment amount. To cancel or change a plan, write to the Fund at: The Rice Hall James Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, Missouri 64121 (Express Mail Address: The Rice Hall James Funds, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105). Please allow up to 15 days to create the plan and 3 days to cancel or change it.

 

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Minimum Investments

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, you must invest at least $2,500 ($500 for IRAs and $250 for Spousal IRAs). Subsequent investments must be made in amounts of at least $100. The Fund reserves the right to waive the minimum investment amounts in its sole discretion.

 

Purchases In-Kind

 

Subject to the approval of the Fund, an investor may purchase shares of the Fund with liquid securities and other assets that are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an appropriate investment for the Fund. Assets purchased by the Fund in such a transaction will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

 

Fund Codes

 

The Fund’s reference information, which is listed below, will be helpful to you when you contact the Fund to purchase or exchange shares, check daily net asset value per share (“NAV”) or obtain additional information.

 

Fund Name

Ticker Symbol

CUSIP

Fund Code

Micro Cap Portfolio Institutional Class Shares

RHJSX

00758M212

1179

 

Redeeming Shares

 

 

Payment of Redemption Proceeds

 

Redemption proceeds can be mailed to your account address, sent to your bank by ACH transfer or wired to your bank account (provided that your bank information is already on file). The Fund will send your sale proceeds within one Business Day after it receives your redemption request in good order, meaning that it is complete, contains all necessary information, and has all supporting documentation (such as proper signature guarantees, IRA rollover forms, etc.). The Fund, however, may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds.

 

The Fund typically expects to sell portfolio assets and/or hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. On a less regular

 

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basis, the Fund may also meet redemption requests by using short-term borrowings from its custodian and/or redeeming shares in-kind (as described below). These methods may be used during both normal and stressed market conditions.

 

Certain redemption requests will require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor institution. Eligible guarantors include commercial banks, savings and loans, savings banks, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any other member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. For example, signature guarantees may be required if your address of record has changed in the last 30 days, if you want the proceeds sent to a bank other than the bank of record on your account, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Please note that a notary public is not an acceptable provider of a signature guarantee and that the Fund must be provided with the original guarantee. Signature guarantees are for the protection of Fund shareholders. Before they grant a redemption request, the Fund may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to ensure proper authorization.

 

Accounts held by a corporation, trust, fiduciary or partnership may require additional documentation along with a signature guaranteed letter of instruction. The Fund participates in the Paperless Legal Program (the “Program”), which eliminates the need for accompanying paper documentation on legal securities transfers. Requests received with a Medallion Signature Guarantee will be reviewed for the proper criteria to meet the guidelines of the Program and may not require additional documentation. Please contact Shareholder Services at 1-866-474-5669 for more information.

 

If you redeem shares that were purchased by check or through ACH, you will not receive your redemption proceeds until the check has cleared or the ACH transaction has been completed, which may take up to 15 days from the purchase date.

 

By Mail

 

You may contact the Fund directly by mail at: The Rice Hall James Funds, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, Missouri 64121 (Express Mail Address: The Rice Hall James Funds, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 W. 7th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105). Send a letter to the Fund signed by all registered parties on the account specifying:

 

 

The Fund name(s);

 

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The account number;

 

 

The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;

 

 

The account name(s); and

 

 

The address to which redemption (sale) proceeds should be sent.

 

All registered share owner(s) must sign the letter in the exact name(s) in which their account is registered and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of sale orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the sale order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Telephone

 

You must first establish the telephone redemption privilege (and, if desired, the wire or ACH redemption privilege) by completing the appropriate sections of the account application. Call 1-866-474-5669 to redeem your shares. Based on your instructions, the Fund will mail your proceeds to you or send them to your bank by either Federal Reserve wire or ACH.

 

By Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH)

 

If your account balance is at least $10,000, you may transfer as little as $100 per month from your account to another financial institution through a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH). To participate in this service, you must complete the appropriate sections of the account application and mail it to the Fund.

 

Redemptions In-Kind

 

The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders, the Fund might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in-kind). It is highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in-kind, but if they were, you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption. In addition, you would continue to

 

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be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in-kind until they are sold.

 

Transaction Policies

 

 

Calculating Your Share Price

 

You may buy, sell or exchange shares of the Fund on each Business Day at a price equal to its next computed NAV after it or an authorized institution (defined below) receives and accepts your order. Shares cannot be purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days when either the NYSE or the Federal Reserve is closed. The Fund calculates NAV once each Business Day as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day’s NAV, the Fund or an authorized institution must receive and accept your order in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE that day. If your purchase order is not received and accepted in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV calculated on the subsequent Business Day on which your order is received and accepted in good order. If the NYSE closes early – as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading -- the Fund will calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. The Fund will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or any other special conditions. Shares will only be priced on Business Days.

 

The NAV of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets, less any liabilities, by the total number of shares outstanding. In calculating NAV, the Fund generally values its investment portfolios at market price. If market prices are not readily available or are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that is assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the

 

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security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

Although the Fund invests primarily in the stocks of U.S. companies that are traded on U.S. exchanges, there may be limited circumstances in which the Adviser would price such securities at fair value - for example, if the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closed early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time the Fund calculated its NAV.

 

Other assets for which market quotations are not readily available will be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board.

 

Buying or Selling Shares through a Financial Intermediary

 

In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from the Fund through its transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of the Fund through accounts with financial intermediaries such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for its customers. When you purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to the financial intermediary at an earlier time for your transaction to become effective that day. This allows the financial intermediary time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund prior to the time the Fund calculates its NAV that day. Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. If your financial intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses. Unless your financial intermediary is an authorized institution, orders transmitted by the financial intermediary and received by the Fund after the time NAV is calculated for a particular day will receive the following day’s NAV.

 

Certain financial intermediaries, including certain broker-dealers and shareholder organizations, are authorized to act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to the receipt of purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares (“authorized institutions”). Authorized institutions are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized institution or, if applicable, an authorized institution’s designee, receives the order. Orders will be priced at the Fund’s next

 

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computed NAV after they are received by an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee. To determine whether your financial intermediary is an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee such that it may act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

If you deal directly with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with the Fund. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for your purchase and/or redemption transactions. For more information about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

Redemption Fee

 

In an effort to discourage short-term trading and defray costs incurred by shareholders as a result of the same, the Fund charges a 2.00% redemption fee on redemptions (including exchanges) of shares that have been held for less than 90 days. The redemption fee is deducted from the sale proceeds and cannot be paid separately, and any proceeds of the fee are credited to the assets of the Fund. The fee does not apply to shares purchased with reinvested dividends or distributions. In determining how long shares of the Fund have been held, the Fund assumes that shares held by the investor the longest period of time will be sold first.

 

The redemption fee is applicable to Fund shares purchased either directly or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the Fund on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. The Fund requests that financial intermediaries assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and collect and remit the proceeds to the Fund. However, the Fund recognizes that due to operational requirements, the intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the Fund’s.

 

The Fund reserves the right to waive the redemption fee in its discretion where it believes such waiver is in the best interests of the Fund, including with respect to certain categories of redemptions that the Fund reasonably believes may not raise frequent trading or market timing concerns. These categories include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) participants in certain group retirement plans whose processing systems are incapable of properly applying the redemption

 

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fee to underlying shareholders; (ii) redemptions resulting from certain transfers upon the death of a shareholder; (iii) redemptions by certain pension plans as required by law or by regulatory authorities; (iv) systematic redemptions; and (v) retirement loans and withdrawals.

 

Telephone Transactions

 

Purchasing and selling Fund shares over the telephone is extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or costs incurred by following telephone instructions they reasonably believe to be genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund over the telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.

 

Rights Reserved by the Fund

 

Purchases

 

At any time and without notice, the Fund may:

 

 

Stop offering shares;

 

 

Reject any purchase order; or

 

 

Bar an investor engaged in a pattern of excessive trading from buying shares. (Excessive trading can hurt performance by disrupting management and increasing expenses.) The Fund will consider various factors in determining whether an investor has engaged in excessive trading. These factors include, but are not limited to, the investor’s historic trading patterns, the number of transactions, the size of the transactions, the time between transactions and the percentage of the investor’s account involved in each transaction. For more information about the Fund’s policies on excessive trading, please see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

Redemptions

 

At any time and without notice, the Fund may change or eliminate any of the redemption methods described above, except redemption by mail. As further discussed in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”), the Fund may suspend your right to sell your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

 

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Account Policies

 

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes only and policies are intended to discourage shareholders from engaging in “market-timing” or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Fund may present risks to the Fund’s long-term shareholders and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests, and experiencing increased transaction costs.

 

Because the Fund invests in micro- and small-cap securities, which often trade in lower volumes and may be less liquid, the Fund may be more susceptible to the risks posed by frequent trading because frequent transactions in the Fund’s shares may have a greater impact on the market prices of these types of securities.

 

The Fund’s service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Fund’s policies and procedures described in this Prospectus and approved by the Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Fund’s service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control. The Fund’s policies and procedures include:

 

 

Shareholders are restricted from making more than one (1) “round trip” into or out of the Fund per rolling 90 days. The Fund defines a “round trip” as a purchase into the Fund by a shareholder, followed by a subsequent redemption out of the Fund, of an amount the Adviser reasonably believes would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund. Shareholders are also restricted from making more than one (1) exchange (from one Rice Hall James Fund to another Rice Hall James Fund) per rolling 90 days. If a shareholder exceeds this amount, the Fund and/or its service providers may, at their discretion, reject any additional purchase or exchange orders.

 

 

The Micro Cap Portfolio assesses a redemption fee of 2.00% on redemptions (including exchanges) by shareholders of Fund shares held for less than 90 days (subject to certain exceptions as discussed in “Redemption Fee”).

 

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The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

The Fund and/or its service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. The Fund does not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders. Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate entirely the possibility that frequent trading in the Fund will occur. Systematic purchases and redemptions are exempt from these policies.

 

Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Fund has entered into “information sharing agreements” with these financial intermediaries which permit the Fund to obtain, upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary’s customers that invest in the Fund. If the Fund or its service providers identify omnibus account level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Fund, the Fund or its service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Fund or its service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Fund, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Fund by that customer. If the Fund is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Fund may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Fund’s shares is requested by the Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Fund on behalf of other persons.

 

The Fund and its service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Fund. However,

 

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there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Fund to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary’s customers. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

What this means to you: When you open an account, the Fund will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Fund to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.

 

The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

 

In certain instances, the Fund is required to collect documents to fulfill its legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.

 

Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker. If this information cannot be obtained within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund, your application will be rejected.

 

Upon receipt of your application in good order (meaning that it is complete, contains all necessary information, and has all supporting documentation such as proper signature guarantees, IRA rollover forms, etc.), or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application, your investment will be received and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV.

 

The Fund reserves the right to close your account at the next-determined NAV and remit proceeds to you via check if it is unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within the timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund. Further, the Fund reserves the right to hold your proceeds until your original check clears the bank, which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.

 

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Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

Customer identification and verification is part of the Fund’s overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Fund has adopted an Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of terrorist activities. In this regard, the Fund reserves the right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund or in cases when the Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Fund is required to withhold such proceeds.

 

Unclaimed Property

 

Each state has unclaimed property rules that generally provide for escheatment (or transfer) to the state of unclaimed property under various circumstances. Such circumstances include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or “RPO,” as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once it flags property as unclaimed, the applicable Fund will attempt to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state.

 

Shareholders that reside in the state of Texas may designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that can be found on the website of the Texas Comptroller. While the designated representative does not have any rights to claim or access the shareholder’s account or assets, the escheatment period will cease if the representative communicates knowledge of the shareholder’s location and confirms that the shareholder has not abandoned his or her property. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Fund (if shares are held directly with the Fund) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if shares are not held directly with the Fund).

 

More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-866-474-5669.

 

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Small Accounts

 

The Fund may redeem your shares without your permission if the value of your account falls below 50% of the required minimum initial investment. This provision does not apply:

 

 

To retirement accounts and certain other accounts; or

 

 

When the value of your account falls because of market fluctuations and not your redemptions.

 

The Fund will provide you at least 30 days’ written notice to allow you time to add to your account and avoid the sale of your shares. If your Shares are redeemed for this reason within 90 calendar days of their purchase, the redemption fee will not be applied.

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

Normally, the Fund distributes its net investment income quarterly and make distributions of its net capital gains at least once a year. You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you must notify the Fund, or your investment professional or institution, in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Fund receives your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Fund written notice.

 

Federal Taxes

 

 

You should always consult your tax advisor for specific guidance regarding the federal, state and local tax effects of your investment in the Fund. The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing in the Fund. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future. This summary is based on current tax law, which may change.

 

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) within the meaning of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at a fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-

 

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level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable whether you receive them in cash or you reinvest them in additional shares of the applicable Fund. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Fund as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains and currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain foreign countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). Once a year the Funds (or its administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year. A Fund’s investment strategy may limit its ability to make distributions eligible for the reduced tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income.

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

Each sale of Fund shares may be a taxable event. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different fund is the same as a sale. Assuming a shareholder holds Fund shares as a capital asset, any gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares 12 months or less or as long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon

 

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a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund).

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders cost basis information for Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review any cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

To the extent the Fund invests in foreign securities, it may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund receives from sources in foreign countries.

 

The Fund may invest in U.S. REITs. “Qualified REIT dividends” (i.e., ordinary REIT dividends other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income eligible for capital gain tax rates) are eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). Distributions by the Fund to its shareholders that are attributable to qualified REIT dividends received by the Fund and which the Fund properly reports as “section 199A dividends,” are treated as “qualified REIT dividends” in the hands of non-corporate shareholders. A section 199A dividend is treated as a qualified REIT dividend only if

 

24

 

 

 

the shareholder receiving such dividend holds the dividend-paying RIC shares for at least 46 days of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. The Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as section 199A dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so. Unless later extended or made permanent, this 20% deduction will no longer be available for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

 

REITs in which the Fund invests often do not provide complete and final tax information to the Fund until after the time that the Fund issues a tax reporting statement. As a result, the Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues your tax reporting statement. When such reclassification is necessary, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a corrected, final Form 1099-DIV to reflect the reclassified information. If you receive a corrected Form 1099-DIV, use the information on this corrected form, and not the information on the previously issued tax reporting statement, in completing your tax returns.

 

Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

More information about taxes is included in the SAI.

 

Other Investment Practices and Strategies

 

The investment objective of the Fund is to seek maximum capital appreciation, consistent with reasonable risk to principal, by investing primarily in small market capitalization (micro- and small-cap) companies. The Fund may change its investment objective without shareholder approval.

 

In addition to its principal investment strategies, the Fund may use the investment strategies described below. The Fund may also employ investment practices that this Prospectus does not describe, such as participating in repurchase agreements, when-issued and forward commitment transactions, lending of securities, borrowing and other techniques. For more information concerning these and the Fund’s other investment practices and its risks, please read the SAI.

 

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Derivatives

 

The Fund may invest in derivatives, a category of investments that includes forward foreign currency exchange contracts, futures, options and swaps to protect its investments against changes resulting from market conditions (a practice called “hedging”), to reduce transaction costs or to manage cash flows. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts, futures and options are called derivatives because their value is based on an underlying asset or economic factor. Derivatives are often more volatile than other investments and may magnify the Fund’s gains or losses. There are various factors that affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its objective with derivatives. Successful use of a derivative depends on the degree to which prices of the underlying assets correlate with price movements in the derivatives the Fund buys or sells. The Fund could be negatively affected if the change in market value of its securities fails to correlate perfectly with the values of the derivatives it purchased or sold.

 

American Depository Receipts (“ADRs”)

 

ADRs are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer that are issued by depositary banks and traded on U.S. exchanges. Although ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies, they continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.

 

Foreign securities, especially those of companies in emerging markets, can be riskier and more volatile than domestic securities. Adverse political and economic developments can make it harder for the Fund to sell its securities and could reduce the value of the Fund’s shares. Differences in tax and accounting standards and difficulties obtaining information about foreign companies can negatively affect investment decisions. Additionally, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in the Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. Government designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses.

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”)

 

REITs pool investors’ funds for investment primarily in income producing real estate or real estate related loans or interests. REITs can generally be classified as equity REITs and mortgage REITs. Equity REITs, which invest the majority of their assets directly in real property,

 

26

 

 

 

derive their income primarily from rents. Equity REITs can also realize capital gains or losses by selling properties. Mortgage REITs, which invest the majority of their assets in real estate mortgages, derive their income primarily from interest payments.

 

The Fund is subject to the risk that the securities of issuers in the real estate industry that the Fund purchases will underperform the market as a whole. In general, real estate values can be affected by a variety of factors, including supply and demand for properties and the strength of specific industries that rent properties. In general, equity REITs may be affected by changes in the value of the underlying property owned by the trusts, while mortgage REITs may be affected by the quality of any credit extended. In the event of a default by a borrower or lessee, a REIT may experience delays and may incur substantial costs in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor.

 

Short-Term Investing

 

The investments and strategies described in this Prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal circumstances. During unusual economic, market, political or other circumstances, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in short-term, high quality debt instruments, such as U.S. government securities. These instruments would not ordinarily be consistent with the Fund’s principal investment strategies, and may prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objectives. The Fund will use a temporary strategy if the Adviser believes that pursuing the Fund’s investment objective will subject it to a significant risk of loss. The Fund has a policy requiring it to invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in particular types of securities as described in the Fund’s principal investment strategy, and will not change this policy without 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. In addition to the temporary defensive measures discussed above, the Fund may also temporarily deviate from this 80% policy in other limited, appropriate circumstances, such as if the Fund experiences large cash inflows or redemptions.

 

When the Adviser pursues a temporary defensive strategy, the Fund may not profit from favorable developments that it would have otherwise profited from if it was pursuing its normal strategies.

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund may buy and sell investments relatively often. Such a strategy often involves higher expenses, including brokerage commissions, and may increase the amount of capital gains (in particular, short-term gains) realized by the Fund. Shareholders must pay tax on such capital gains.

 

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Information about Portfolio Holdings

 

The Fund generally publishes a complete list of its portfolio holdings and a list of its ten largest portfolio holdings, and the percentage of the Fund’s assets that each of these holdings represents, on a monthly basis, ten (10) days after the end of the month. The portfolio information described above can be found on the internet at http://www.rhjfunds.com. The information will generally remain available until such information is included in a filing with the SEC. The Adviser may exclude any portion of any Fund’s portfolio holdings from such publication when deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund. Please consult the SAI for a full description of the policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings.

 

Investment Management

 

Investment Adviser

 

Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC, a 100% employee-owned Delaware limited liability company located at 600 West Broadway, Suite 1000, San Diego, CA 92101, serves as the Fund’s investment adviser. The Adviser manages and supervises the investment of the Fund’s assets on a discretionary basis, subject to oversight by the Board. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $1.99 billion in assets under management and advisement.

 

For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to a fee at an annual rate of 0.75% of the average daily net assets of the Fund.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other costs and expenses relating to the securities that are purchased and sold by the Fund, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and non-routine expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 1.25% of the Fund’s average daily net assets until February 28, 2025 (each, an “Expense Limitation”). This agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board, for any reason at any time; or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025.

 

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In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the Expense Limitation to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee reductions or expense reimbursements made during the rolling three-year period preceding the recoupment if at any point total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the Expense Limitation (i) at the time of the fee reduction and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment.

 

During its most recent fiscal year, the Adviser received advisory fees (after fee reductions) as a percentage of average daily net assets of the Fund as follows:

 

Fund

Advisory Fees Paid

Micro Cap Portfolio

0%

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement is available in the Fund’s Annual Report dated October 31, 2023, which covers the period from November 1, 2022 to October 31, 2023.

 

Portfolio Managers

 

The Rice Hall James Funds are managed by a team of investment professionals. The following portfolio managers are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Thomas W. McDowell, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Chief Investment Officer, is jointly and primarily responsible for managing the Micro Cap Portfolio. Mr. McDowell joined RHJ in 1984 as a Portfolio Manager and Analyst and has 43 years of investment experience. Mr. McDowell assumed leadership of RHJ in 1994. Mr. McDowell has a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles and an M.B.A. from San Diego State University.

 

Daniel S. Sargen, Co-Chief Investment Officer and Portfolio Manager/Analyst, is jointly and primarily responsible for managing the Micro Cap Portfolio. Mr. Sargen joined RHJ in September 2014 as a Portfolio Manager/Analyst and has 26 years of investment experience. Prior to joining the firm, he worked as a Senior Equities Analyst at Wasatch Advisors for 7 years and prior to that, he was a global equities analyst at Blackrock Financial Management. Mr. Sargen started his career in economics research at the Institute of International Finance where he supported Ph.D. economists in their analyses of major emerging

 

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market economies. Mr. Sargen has a B.A. from Lafayette College and an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan.

 

Cara M. Thome, Portfolio Manager/Analyst, is jointly and primarily responsible for managing the Micro Cap Portfolio. Ms. Thome joined RHJ in January 2001 and has 26 years of investment experience. She was previously an Analyst at the Equity Research Department at George K. Baum & Company from 1997 to 2001. Ms. Thome has a B.A. from Truman State University and an M.A. in Finance from the University of Exeter.

 

Reed M. Wirick, CFA, Portfolio Manager/Analyst, is jointly and primarily responsible for managing the Micro Cap Portfolio. Mr. Wirick joined RHJ in July 2008 and has 24 years of investment experience. Prior to joining the firm, he was a Senior Research Associate at Cambridge Associates, LLC. Prior to that, he was an Economist with the U.S. Department of Commerce. Mr. Wirick has a B.A. from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

 

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

 

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

 

The Fund and/or the Adviser may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to the Fund and/or its shareholders. Financial intermediaries include affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or its affiliates. This section briefly describes how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing these services. For more information, please see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

Payments by the Fund

 

The Fund may enter into agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which the Fund may pay financial intermediaries for non-distribution-related sub-transfer agency, administrative, sub-accounting, and other shareholder services. Payments made pursuant to such agreements are generally based on either (1) a percentage of the

 

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average daily net assets of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary, or (2) the number of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary.

 

Payments by the Adviser

 

From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support for the Fund. These payments are sometimes characterized as “revenue-sharing” payments and are made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own legitimate profits or other resources, and may be in addition to any payments made to financial intermediaries by the Fund. A financial intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments for making shares of the Fund available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Fund with “shelf space,” placing them on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Fund in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries.

 

The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary or the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV or price of the Fund’s shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders.

 

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In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, commissions or transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Fund, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.

 

Additional Information

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This Prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this Prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

32

 

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

The table that follows presents performance information about the Fund. The information is intended to help you understand the Fund’s financial performance for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single Fund share. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund (assuming reinvestment of dividends and distributions).

 

The information provided below for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023 has been audited by Cohen & Company, Ltd. the independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. The financial statements and the unqualified opinion of Cohen & Company, Ltd. are included in the 2023 Annual Report of the Fund, which is available upon request by calling the Fund at no charge at 1-866-474-5669.

 

The information provided below for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019 was audited by BBD, LLP, the Fund’s former independent registered public accounting firm, whose reports reflected unqualified audit opinions.

 

33

 

 

 

RHJ MICRO CAP PORTFOLIO

 

 

 

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

 

Years Ended October 31,

 

 

 

2023

   

2022

   

2021

   

2020

   

2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 29.57     $ 42.96     $ 26.69     $ 28.01     $ 35.85  

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Loss(1)

    (0.14 )     (0.23 )     (0.35 )     (0.19 )     (0.20 )

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    (3.59 )     (5.08 )     16.62       (0.82 )     (0.93 )

Total from Investment Operations

    (3.73 )     (5.31 )     16.27       (1.01 )     (1.13 )

Redemption Fees

    ^     ^     ^      0.01       ^ 

Distributions from:

                                       

Net Realized Gain

    (2.17 )     (8.08 )           (0.32 )     (6.71 )

Total Distributions

    (2.17 )     (8.08 )           (0.32 )     (6.71 )

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 23.67     $ 29.57     $ 42.96     $ 26.69     $ 28.01  
                                         

Total Return

    (13.28 )%     (15.03 )%     60.96 %     (3.65 )%     (0.55 )%
                                         

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 22,278     $ 45,075     $ 54,799     $ 37,948     $ 44,898  

Ratio of Net Expenses to Average Net Assets

    1.25 %(2)     1.25 %(2)     1.25 %(2)     1.25 %(2)     1.25 %(2)

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    2.08 %     1.76 %     1.56 %     1.65 %     1.54 %

Ratio of Net Investment Loss to Average Net Assets

    (0.50 )%     (0.72 )%     (0.90 )%     (0.76 )%     (0.68 )%

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    32 %     43 %     40 %     69 %     67 %

 

^

Value is less than $0.005 per share.

 

Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Total return would have been lower had certain fees not been waived and/or expenses assumed by the Adviser during the year.

 

(1)

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the year.

 

(2)

The Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets excludes the effect of fees paid indirectly. If these expense offsets were included, the ratios would have decreased by 6 basis points (bps), 2 bps, 1 bps, 2 bps, and 2 bps, respectively.

 

Amounts designated as “—“ are $0.

 

34

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

The Rice Hall James Funds

 

Investors who are interested in receiving more information about the Fund should read the Fund’s Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time (“SAI”). The Annual and Semi-Annual Reports of the Fund provide additional information about its investments. In the Annual Report, you will also find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the performance of the Fund during the last fiscal year. The SAI contains additional detailed information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund and the Fund. The SAI is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this Prospectus.

 

Investors can receive free copies of the SAI, shareholder reports and other information about the Fund at www.rhjfunds.com. Investors can also receive these documents, as well as make shareholder inquiries by writing to or calling:

 

The Rice Hall James Funds
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, Missouri 64121
www.rhjfunds.com
1-866-474-5669

 

You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: https://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act of 1940 file number is 811-06400.

 

 

 

RHJ-PS-001-2300

 

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

RICE HALL JAMES MICRO CAP PORTFOLIO

(Ticker Symbol: RHJSX)

 

a series of

THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND

 

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

RICE HALL JAMES & ASSOCIATES, LLC

 

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”) and the Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio (the “Fund”). This SAI is incorporated by reference into and should be read in conjunction with the Fund's prospectus dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Prospectus”). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Prospectus. The most recent Annual Report for the Fund, which includes the Fund’s audited financial statements dated October 31, 2023, is incorporated by reference into this SAI. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Prospectus or Annual Report free of charge by writing to the Rice Hall James Funds at P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, Missouri 64121 (Express Mail Address: The Rice Hall James Funds c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105) or calling the Fund at 1-866-474-5669.

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

THE TRUST S-1
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS S-2
INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUND S-33
INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES S-35
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS S-36
THE ADMINISTRATOR S-38
THE DISTRIBUTOR S-38
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES S-39
THE TRANSFER AGENT S-39
THE CUSTODIAN S-40
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM S-40
LEGAL COUNSEL S-40
SECURITIES LENDING S-40
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST S-40
PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES S-50
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE S-51
TAXES S-52
BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES S-59
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS S-61
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES S-63
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY S-63
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY S-63
PROXY VOTING S-63
CODES OF ETHICS S-64
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS S-64
APPENDIX A – DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS A-1
APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES B-1

 

March 1, 2024 RHJ-SX-001-2300

 

 

 

THE TRUST

 

General. The Fund is a separate series of the Trust. The Trust is an open-end investment management company established under Massachusetts law as a Massachusetts voluntary association (commonly known as a business trust) under a Declaration of Trust dated July 18, 1991, as amended and restated February 18, 1997 and amended May 15, 2012 and August 18, 2020 (the “Declaration of Trust”). The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series (“funds”) of shares of beneficial interest (“shares”). The Trust reserves the right to create and issue shares of additional funds. Each fund is a separate mutual fund or exchange traded fund ("ETF"), and each share of each fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund and all assets of such fund belong solely to that fund and would be subject to liabilities related thereto. Each fund pays its (i) operating expenses, including fees of its service providers, expenses of preparing prospectuses, proxy solicitation material and reports to shareholders, costs of custodial services and registering its shares under federal and state securities laws, pricing and insurance expenses, brokerage costs, interest charges, taxes and organization expenses, and (ii) pro rata share of the fund’s other expenses, including audit and legal expenses. Expenses attributable to a specific fund shall be payable solely out of the assets of that fund. Expenses not attributable to a specific fund are allocated across all of the funds on the basis of relative net assets. The other funds of the Trust are described in one or more separate statements of additional information.

 

History of the Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio. The Micro Cap Portfolio is a successor to the UAM Funds, Inc. Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio (the “Predecessor Fund”). The Predecessor Fund was managed by Rice Hall James & Associates (the “Predecessor Adviser”) using the same investment objective, strategies, policies and restrictions as those used by the Fund. The Predecessor Fund's date of inception was July 1, 1994. The Predecessor Fund dissolved and reorganized into the current Fund on June 24, 2002. Substantially all of the assets of the Predecessor Fund were transferred to the Fund in connection with the Fund’s commencement of operations on June 24, 2002.

 

Voting Rights. Each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote for each share held on the record date for the meeting. The Fund will vote separately on matters relating solely to it. As a Massachusetts voluntary association, the Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Approval of shareholders will be sought, however, for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of members of the Trust’s Board of Trustees (each, a “Trustee” and collectively, the “Trustees” or the “Board”) under certain circumstances. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to liquidate the Fund without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they may do so if the Fund fails to reach a viable size within a reasonable amount of time or for such other reasons as may be determined by the Board.

 

In addition, a Trustee may be removed by the remaining Trustees or by shareholders at a special meeting called upon written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.

 

Any series of the Trust created on or after November 11, 1996 may reorganize or merge with one or more other series of the Trust or of another investment company. Any such reorganization or merger shall be pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization authorized and approved by the Trustees and entered into by the relevant series in connection therewith. In addition, such reorganization or merger may be authorized by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office and, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the Declaration of Trust, without the approval of shareholders of any series.

 

S-1 

 

DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS

 

The Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies are described in the Prospectus. The Fund is classified as a "diversified" investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"). This means that with respect to 75% of its total assets, the Fund may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer’s voting securities would be held by the Fund. Under applicable federal securities laws, the diversification of a mutual fund’s holdings is measured at the time the fund purchases a security. If the Fund holds securities that perform well on a relative basis, the value of those securities could appreciate such that the value of the Fund’s securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, in the aggregate, might exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets. In these circumstances, the Adviser might determine that it is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders not to reduce one or more of the Fund’s holdings in securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. If the Adviser makes such a determination, the Fund’s holdings in such securities would continue to exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets, and the Fund would not purchase any additional shares of securities that constituted more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. The Fund would continue to qualify as a diversified fund under applicable federal securities laws. If more than 25% of the Fund’s assets were invested, in the aggregate, in securities of issuers that individually represented more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, the Fund would be subject to the risk that its performance could be disproportionately affected by the performance of such securities.

 

The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus. The Fund may invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices unless such investment or activity is inconsistent with or is not permitted by the Fund’s stated investment policies, including those stated below.

 

Debt Securities

 

Corporations and governments use debt securities to borrow money from investors. Most debt securities promise a variable or fixed rate of return and repayment of the amount borrowed at maturity. Some debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not pay current interest and are purchased at a discount from their face value.

 

Types of Debt Securities:

 

U.S. Government Securities - The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years. U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi-annually and repay the principal at maturity. Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (“Farmer Mac”).

 

Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency. Additionally, some obligations are issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, which are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so, since the U.S. government is not so obligated by law. Guarantees of principal by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Fund’s shares.

 

S-2 

 

On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), placing the two federal instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the takeover, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and obtained warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality (the “Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement” or “Agreement”). Under the Agreement, the U.S. Treasury pledged to provide up to $200 billion per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. This was intended to ensure that the instrumentalities maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was amending the Agreement to allow the $200 billion cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in net worth through the end of 2012. The unlimited support the U.S. Treasury extended to the two companies expired at the beginning of 2013 – Fannie Mae’s support is now capped at $125 billion and Freddie Mac has a limit of $149 billion.

 

On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to terminate the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each pay a 10 percent annual dividend. Instead, the companies will transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceed a capital reserve amount. The capital reserve amount was $3 billion in 2013, and decreased by $600 million in each subsequent year through 2017. It is believed that this amendment put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a better position to service their debt because it eliminated the need for the companies to have to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to make fixed dividend payments. As part of the new terms, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also will be required to reduce their investment portfolios over time. On December 21, 2017, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to reinstate the $3 billion capital reserve amount. On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was further amending the Agreement, now permitting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to retain earnings beyond the $3 billion capital reserves previously allowed through the 2017 amendment. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now permitted to maintain capital reserves of $25 billion and $20 billion, respectively.

 

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the subject of several continuing class action lawsuits and investigations by federal regulators over certain accounting, disclosure or corporate governance matters, which (along with any resulting financial restatements) may adversely affect the guaranteeing entities. Importantly, the future of the entities is in serious question as the U.S. government reportedly is considering multiple options, ranging from nationalization, privatization, consolidation, or abolishment of the entities.

 

Corporate Bonds - Corporations issue bonds and notes to raise money for working capital or for capital expenditures such as plant construction, equipment purchases and expansion. In return for the money loaned to the corporation by investors, the corporation promises to pay investors interest, and repay the principal amount of the bond or note.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities - Mortgage-backed securities are interests in pools of mortgage loans that various governmental, government-related and private organizations assemble as securities for sale to investors. Unlike most debt securities, which pay interest periodically and repay principal at maturity or on specified call dates, mortgage-backed securities make monthly payments that consist of both interest and principal payments. In effect, these payments are a “pass-through” of the monthly payments made by the individual borrowers on their mortgage loans, net of any fees paid to the issuer or guarantor of such securities. Since homeowners usually have the option of paying either part or all of the loan balance before maturity, the effective maturity of a mortgage-backed security is often shorter than is stated.

S-3 

 

 

Governmental entities, private insurers and mortgage poolers may insure or guarantee the timely payment of interest and principal of these pools through various forms of insurance or guarantees, including individual loan, title, pool and hazard insurance and letters of credit. Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC (the “Adviser”) will consider such insurance and guarantees and the creditworthiness of the issuers thereof in determining whether a mortgage-related security meets its investment quality standards. It is possible that the private insurers or guarantors will not meet their obligations under the insurance policies or guarantee arrangements.

 

Although the market for such securities is becoming increasingly liquid, securities issued by certain private organizations may not be readily marketable.

 

Ginnie Mae - Ginnie Mae is the principal governmental guarantor of mortgage-related securities. Ginnie Mae is a wholly owned corporation of the U.S. government within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Securities issued by Ginnie Mae are treasury securities, which means the full faith and credit of the U.S. government backs them. Ginnie Mae guarantees the timely payment of principal and interest on securities issued by institutions approved by Ginnie Mae and backed by pools of FHA-insured or VA-guaranteed mortgages. Ginnie Mae does not guarantee the market value or yield of mortgage-backed securities or the value of the Fund’s shares. To buy Ginnie Mae securities, the Fund may have to pay a premium over the maturity value of the underlying mortgages, which the Fund may lose if prepayment occurs.

 

Fannie Mae - Fannie Mae is a government-sponsored corporation owned entirely by private stockholders. Fannie Mae is regulated by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Fannie Mae purchases conventional mortgages from a list of approved sellers and service providers, including state and federally-chartered savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks, commercial banks and credit unions and mortgage bankers. Securities issued by Fannie Mae are agency securities, which means Fannie Mae, but not the U.S. government, guarantees their timely payment of principal and interest.

 

Freddie Mac - Freddie Mac is a stockholder-owned corporation established by the U.S. Congress to create a continuous flow of funds to mortgage lenders. Freddie Mac supplies lenders with the money to make mortgages and packages the mortgages into marketable securities. The system is designed to create a stable mortgage credit system and reduce the rates paid by homebuyers. Freddie Mac, not the U.S. government, guarantees timely payment of principal and interest.

 

Commercial Banks, Savings and Loan Institutions, Private Mortgage Insurance Companies, Mortgage Bankers and other Secondary Market Issuers - Commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers also create pass-through pools of conventional mortgage loans. In addition to guaranteeing the mortgage-related security, such issuers may service and/or have originated the underlying mortgage loans. Pools created by these issuers generally offer a higher rate of interest than pools created by Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac because they are not guaranteed by a government agency.

 

Risks of Mortgage-Backed Securities - Yield characteristics of mortgage-backed securities differ from those of traditional debt securities in a variety of ways. For example,

 

Payments of interest and principal are more frequent (usually monthly); and

 

Falling interest rates generally cause individual borrowers to pay off their mortgage earlier than expected, which results in prepayments of principal on the securities, thus forcing the Fund to reinvest the money at a lower interest rate.

 

In addition to the risks associated with changes in interest rates described in “Factors Affecting the Value of Debt Securities,” a variety of economic, geographic, social and other factors, such as the sale of the underlying property, refinancing or foreclosure, can cause investors to repay the loans underlying a mortgage-backed security sooner than expected. If the prepayment rates increase, the Fund may have to reinvest its principal at a rate of interest that is lower than the rate on existing mortgage-backed securities.

 

S-4 

 

Other Asset-Backed Securities - These securities are interests in pools of a broad range of assets other than mortgages, such as automobile loans, computer leases and credit card receivables. Like mortgage-backed securities, these securities are pass-through. In general, the collateral supporting these securities is of shorter maturity than mortgage loans and is less likely to experience substantial prepayments with interest rate fluctuations, but may still be subject to prepayment risk.

 

Asset-backed securities present certain risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. Primarily, these securities may not have the benefit of any security interest in the related assets, which raises the possibility that recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on these securities. For example, credit card receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which allow debtors to reduce their balances by offsetting certain amounts owed on the credit cards. Most issuers of asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables permit the servicers of such receivables to retain possession of the underlying obligations. If the servicer were to sell these obligations to another party, there is a risk that the purchaser would acquire an interest superior to that of the holders of the related asset-backed securities. Due to the quantity of vehicles involved and requirements under state laws, asset-backed securities backed by automobile receivables may not have a proper security interest in all of the obligations backing such receivables.

 

To lessen the effect of failures by obligors on underlying assets to make payments, the entity administering the pool of assets may agree to ensure the receipt of payments on the underlying pool occurs in a timely fashion (“liquidity protection”). In addition, asset-backed securities may obtain insurance, such as guarantees, policies or letters of credit obtained by the issuer or sponsor from third parties, for some or all of the assets in the pool (“credit support”). Delinquency or loss more than that anticipated or failure of the credit support could adversely affect the return on an investment in such a security.

 

The Fund may also invest in residual interests in asset-backed securities, which consist of the excess cash flow remaining after making required payments on the securities and paying related administrative expenses. The amount of residual cash flow resulting from a particular issue of asset-backed securities depends in part on the characteristics of the underlying assets, the coupon rates on the securities, prevailing interest rates, the amount of administrative expenses and the actual prepayment experience on the underlying assets.

 

Short-Term Investments - To earn a return on uninvested assets, meet anticipated redemptions, or for temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest a portion of its assets in the short-term securities listed below, U.S. government securities and investment-grade corporate debt securities. Unless otherwise specified, a short-term debt security has a maturity of one year or less.

 

Bank Obligations - The Fund will only invest in a security issued by a commercial bank if the bank:

 

Has total assets of at least $1 billion, or the equivalent in other currencies (based on the most recent publicly available information about the bank); and

 

Is a U.S. bank and a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; or is a foreign branch of a U.S. bank and the Adviser believes the security is of an investment quality comparable with other debt securities that the Fund may purchase.

 

Time Deposits - Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits, such as savings accounts or certificates of deposit, held by a financial institution for a fixed term with the understanding that the depositor can withdraw its money only by giving notice to the institution. However, there may be early withdrawal penalties depending upon market conditions and the remaining maturity of the obligation. The Fund may only purchase time deposits maturing from two business days through seven calendar days.

 

S-5 

 

Certificates of Deposit - Certificates of deposit are negotiable certificates issued against funds deposited in a commercial bank or savings and loan association for a definite period of time and earning a specified return.

 

Bankers’ Acceptance - A bankers’ acceptance is a time draft drawn on a commercial bank by a borrower, usually in connection with an international commercial transaction (to finance the import, export, transfer or storage of goods).

 

Commercial Paper - Commercial paper is a short-term obligation with a maturity ranging from one to 270 days issued by banks, corporations and other borrowers. Such investments are unsecured and usually discounted. The Fund may invest in commercial paper rated A-1 or A-2 by S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Prime-1 or Prime-2 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or, if not rated, issued by a corporation having an outstanding unsecured debt issue rated A or better by Moody’s or by S&P. See “Appendix A – Description of Ratings” for a description of commercial paper ratings.

 

Yankee Bonds - Yankee bonds are dollar-denominated bonds issued inside the United States by foreign entities. Investments in these securities involve certain risks that are not typically associated with investing in domestic securities. See “Foreign Securities.”

 

Zero Coupon Bonds - These securities are sold at a (usually substantial) discount and redeemed at face value at their maturity date without interim cash payments of interest or principal. When held to maturity, their entire income, which consists of accretion of discount, comes from the difference between the issue price and their value at maturity. The amount of the discount rate varies depending on factors including the time remaining until maturity, prevailing interest rates, the security’s liquidity and the issuer’s credit quality. The market prices of zero coupon securities are generally more volatile than the market prices of securities that have similar maturity but that pay interest periodically. Zero coupon securities are likely to respond to a greater degree to interest rate changes than are non-zero coupon securities with similar maturity and credit qualities. The Fund’s investments in pay-in-kind, delayed and zero coupon bonds may require it to sell certain of its securities to generate sufficient cash to satisfy certain income distribution requirements.

 

These securities may include treasury securities, such as Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities (“STRIPS”), that have had their interest payments (“coupons”) separated from the underlying principal (“corpus”) by their holder, typically a custodian bank or investment brokerage firm. Once the holder of the security has stripped or separated corpus and coupons, it may sell each component separately. The principal or corpus is then sold at a deep discount because the buyer receives only the right to receive a future fixed payment on the security and does not receive any rights to periodic interest (cash) payments. Typically, the coupons are sold separately or grouped with other coupons with like maturity dates and sold bundled in such form. The underlying treasury security is held in book-entry form at the Federal Reserve Bank or, in the case of bearer securities (i.e., unregistered securities which are owned ostensibly by the bearer or holder thereof), in trust on behalf of the owners thereof. Purchasers of stripped obligations acquire, in effect, discount obligations that are economically identical to the zero coupon securities that the U.S. Treasury sells itself.

 

Terms to Understand:

 

Maturity - Every debt security has a stated maturity date when the issuer must repay the amount it borrowed (principal) from investors. Some debt securities, however, are callable, meaning the issuer can repay the principal earlier, on or after specified dates (call dates). Debt securities are most likely to be called when interest rates are falling because the issuer can refinance at a lower rate, similar to a homeowner refinancing a mortgage. The effective maturity of a debt security is usually its nearest call date.

 

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Mutual funds that invest in debt securities have no real maturity. Instead, they calculate their weighted average maturity. This number is an average of the effective or anticipated maturity of each debt security held by the mutual fund, with the maturity of each security weighted by the percentage of the assets of the mutual fund it represents.

 

Duration - Duration is a calculation that seeks to measure the price sensitivity of a debt security, or of a mutual fund that invests in debt securities, to changes in interest rates. It measures sensitivity more accurately than maturity because it takes into account the time value of cash flows generated over the life of a debt security. Future interest payments and principal payments are discounted to reflect their present value and then are multiplied by the number of years they will be received to produce a value expressed in years — the duration. Effective duration takes into account call features and sinking fund prepayments that may shorten the life of a debt security.

 

An effective duration of four years, for example, would suggest that for each 1% reduction in interest rates at all maturity levels, the price of a security is estimated to increase by 4%. An increase in rates by the same magnitude is estimated to reduce the price of the security by 4%. By knowing the yield and the effective duration of a debt security, one can estimate total return based on an expectation of how much interest rates, in general, will change. While serving as a good estimator of prospective returns, effective duration is an imperfect measure.

 

Factors Affecting the Value of Debt Securities - The total return of a debt instrument is composed of two elements: the percentage change in the security’s price and interest income earned. The yield to maturity of a debt security estimates its total return only if the price of the debt security remains unchanged during the holding period and coupon interest is reinvested at the same yield to maturity. The total return of a debt instrument, therefore, will be determined not only by how much interest is earned, but also by how much the price of the security and interest rates change.

 

Interest Rates

 

The price of a debt security generally moves in the opposite direction from interest rates (i.e., if interest rates go up, the value of the bond will go down, and vice versa).

 

Prepayment Risk

 

This risk affects mainly mortgage-backed securities. Unlike other debt securities, falling interest rates can adversely affect the value of mortgage-backed securities, which may cause your share price to fall. Lower rates motivate borrowers to pay off the instruments underlying mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities earlier than expected, resulting in prepayments on the securities. The Fund may then have to reinvest the proceeds from such prepayments at lower interest rates, which can reduce its yield. The unexpected timing of mortgage and asset-backed prepayments caused by the variations in interest rates may also shorten or lengthen the average maturity of the Fund. If left unattended, drifts in the average maturity of the Fund can have the unintended effect of increasing or reducing the effective duration of the Fund, which may adversely affect the expected performance of the Fund.

 

Extension Risk

 

The other side of prepayment risk occurs when interest rates are rising. Rising interest rates can cause the Fund’s average maturity to lengthen unexpectedly due to a drop in mortgage prepayments. This relationship would increase both the sensitivity of the Fund to rising rates as well as the potential for price declines. Extending the average life of a mortgage-backed security increases the risk of depreciation due to future increases in market interest rates. For these reasons, mortgage-backed securities may be less effective than other types of U.S. government securities as a means of “locking in” interest rates.

 

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Credit Rating

 

Coupon interest is offered to investors of debt securities as compensation for assuming risk, although short-term Treasury securities, such as three-month treasury bills, are considered “risk free.” Corporate securities offer higher yields than Treasury securities because their payment of interest and complete repayment of principal is less certain. The credit rating or financial condition of an issuer may affect the value of a debt security. Generally, the lower the quality rating of a security, the greater the risks that the issuer will fail to pay interest and return principal. To compensate investors for taking on increased risk, issuers with lower credit ratings usually offer their investors a higher “risk premium” in the form of higher interest rates than those available from comparable Treasury securities.

 

Changes in investor confidence regarding the certainty of interest and principal payments of a corporate debt security will result in an adjustment to this “risk premium.” If an issuer’s outstanding debt carries a fixed coupon, adjustments to the risk premium must occur in the price, which affects the yield to maturity of the bond. If an issuer defaults or becomes unable to honor its financial obligations, the bond may lose some or all of its value.

 

A security rated within the four highest rating categories by a rating agency is called investment-grade because its issuer is more likely to pay interest and repay principal than an issuer of a lower rated bond. Adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances, however, may weaken the capacity of the issuer to pay interest and repay principal. If a security is not rated or is rated under a different system, the Adviser may determine that it is of investment-grade. The Adviser may retain securities that are downgraded, if it believes that keeping those securities is warranted.

 

Debt securities rated below investment-grade (junk bonds) are highly speculative securities that are usually issued by smaller, less credit worthy and/or highly leveraged (indebted) companies. A corporation may issue a junk bond because of a corporate restructuring or other similar event. Compared with investment-grade bonds, junk bonds carry a greater degree of risk and are less likely to make payments of interest and principal. Market developments and the financial and business condition of the corporation issuing these securities influence their price and liquidity more than changes in interest rates, when compared to investment-grade debt securities. Insufficient liquidity in the junk bond market may make it more difficult to dispose of junk bonds and may cause the Fund to experience sudden and substantial price declines. A lack of reliable, objective data or market quotations may make it more difficult to value junk bonds accurately.

 

Rating agencies are organizations that assign ratings to securities based primarily on the rating agency’s assessment of the issuer’s financial strength. The Fund currently uses ratings compiled by Moody’s, S&P, and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”). Credit ratings are only an agency’s opinion, not an absolute standard of quality, and they do not reflect an evaluation of market risk.

 

The section “Appendix A – Description of Ratings” contains further information concerning the ratings of certain rating agencies and their significance.

 

The Adviser may use ratings produced by ratings agencies as guidelines to determine the rating of a security at the time the Fund buys it. A rating agency may change its credit ratings at any time. The Adviser monitors the rating of the security and will take such action, if any, it believes appropriate when it learns that a rating agency has reduced the security’s rating. The Fund is not obligated to dispose of securities whose issuers subsequently are in default or which are downgraded below the above-stated ratings.

 

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Derivatives

 

Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is based on an underlying asset (such as a stock or a bond), an underlying economic factor (such as an interest rate) or a market benchmark. Unless otherwise stated in the Prospectus, the Fund may use derivatives for a number of purposes including managing risk, gaining exposure to various markets in a cost-efficient manner, reducing transaction costs, remaining fully invested and speculating. The Fund may also invest in derivatives with the goal of protecting themselves from broad fluctuations in market prices, interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates (a practice known as “hedging”). When hedging is successful, the Fund will have offset any depreciation in the value of its portfolio securities by the appreciation in the value of the derivative position. Although techniques other than the sale and purchase of derivatives could be used to control the exposure of the Fund to market fluctuations, the use of derivatives may be a more effective means of hedging this exposure. In the future, to the extent such use is consistent with the Fund’s investment objectives and is legally permissible, the Fund may use instruments and techniques that are not presently contemplated, but that may be subsequently developed.

 

There can be no assurance that a derivative strategy, if employed, will be successful. Because many derivatives have a leverage or borrowing component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself.

 

Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Derivatives Rule”) provides a comprehensive framework for the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. The Derivatives Rule permits a registered investment company, subject to various conditions described below, to enter into derivatives transactions and certain other transactions notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior securities” under Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other things, prohibits open-end funds, including the Fund, from issuing or selling any “senior security,” other than borrowing from a bank (subject to a requirement to maintain 300% “asset coverage”).

 

Registered investment companies that don’t qualify as “limited derivatives users” as defined below, are required by the Derivatives Rule to, among other things, (i) adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program (“DRMP”) and new testing requirements; (ii) comply with a relative or absolute limit on fund leverage risk calculated based on value-at-risk (“VaR”); and (iii) comply with new requirements related to Board and SEC reporting. The DRMP is administered by a “derivatives risk manager,” who is appointed by the Board and periodically reviews the DRMP and reports to the Board.

 

The Derivatives Rule provides an exception from the DRMP, VaR limit and certain other requirements for a registered investment company that limits its “derivatives exposure” to no more than 10% of its net assets (as calculated in accordance with the Derivatives Rule) (a “limited derivatives user”), provided that the registered investment company establishes appropriate policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage derivatives risks, including the risk of exceeding the 10% “derivatives exposure” threshold.

 

The requirements of the Derivatives Rule may limit the Fund's ability to engage in derivatives transactions as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may also increase the cost of the Fund's investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund's investments and/or the performance of the Fund. The rule also may not be effective to limit the Fund's risk of loss. In particular, measurements of VaR rely on historical data and may not accurately measure the degree of risk reflected in the Fund's derivatives or other investments. There may be additional regulation of the use of derivatives transactions by registered investment companies, which could significantly affect their use. The ultimate impact of the regulations remains unclear. Additional regulation of derivatives transactions may make them more costly, limit their availability or utility, otherwise adversely affect their performance or disrupt markets.

 

CFTC Regulations. Pursuant to rules adopted under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), the Fund must either operate within certain guidelines and restrictions with respect to the Fund’s use of futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps, or the Adviser will be subject to registration with the CFTC as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”).

 

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Consistent with the CFTC’s regulations, the Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, has filed a notice of exclusion from the definition of the term CPO under the CEA pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 with respect to the Fund's operation. Therefore, the Fund is not subject to regulation as commodity pools under the CEA and the Adviser is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA with respect to the Fund. As a result, the Fund will be limited in its ability to use futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps. Complying with the limitations may restrict the Adviser’s ability to implement the Fund's investment strategies and may adversely affect the Fund's performance.

 

Types of Derivatives:

 

Futures - A futures contract is an agreement between two parties whereby one party agrees to sell and the other party agrees to buy a specified amount of a financial instrument at an agreed upon price and time. The financial instrument underlying the contract may be a stock, stock index, bond, bond index, interest rate, foreign exchange rate or other similar instrument. Agreeing to buy the underlying financial instrument is called buying a futures contract or taking a long position in the contract. Likewise, agreeing to sell the underlying financial instrument is called selling a futures contract or taking a short position in the contract.

 

Futures contracts are traded in the United States on commodity exchanges or boards of trade (known as “contract markets”) approved for such trading and regulated by the CFTC. These contract markets standardize the terms, including the maturity date and underlying financial instrument, of all futures contracts.

 

Unlike other securities, the parties to a futures contract do not have to pay for or deliver the underlying financial instrument until some future date (the “delivery date”). Contract markets require both the purchaser and seller to deposit “initial margin” with a futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant or custodian bank, when they enter into the contract. Initial margin deposits are typically equal to a percentage of the contract’s value. Initial margin is similar to a performance bond or good faith deposit on a contract and is returned to the depositing party upon termination of the futures contract if all contractual obligations have been satisfied. After they open a futures contract, the parties to the transaction must compare the purchase price of the contract to its daily market value. If the value of the futures contract changes in such a way that a party’s position declines, that party must make additional “variation margin” payments so that the margin payment is adequate. On the other hand, the value of the contract may change in such a way that there is excess margin on deposit, possibly entitling the party that has a gain to receive all or a portion of this amount. This process is known as “marking to the market.” Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by a party but is instead a settlement between the party and the futures broker of the amount one party would owe the other if the futures contract terminated. In computing daily net asset value, each party marks to market its open futures positions.

 

Although the terms of a futures contract call for the actual delivery of and payment for the underlying security, in many cases the parties may close the contract early by taking an opposite position in an identical contract. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is less than the original purchase price, the party closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is more than the original purchase price, the party closing out the contract will realize a gain. Conversely, if the purchase price upon closing out the contract is more than the original sale price, the party closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the purchase price upon closing out the contract is less than the original sale price, the party closing out the contract will realize a gain.

 

The Fund may incur commission expenses when it opens or closes a futures position.

 

Options - An option is a contract between two parties for the purchase and sale of a financial instrument for a specified price (known as the “strike price” or “exercise price”) at any time during the option period. Unlike a futures contract, an option grants a right (not an obligation) to buy or sell a financial instrument. Generally, a seller of an option can grant a buyer two kinds of rights: a “call” (the right to buy the security) or a “put” (the right to sell the security). Options have various types of underlying instruments, including specific securities, indices of securities prices, foreign currencies, interest rates and futures contracts. Options may be traded on an exchange (exchange-traded options) or may be customized agreements between the parties (over-the-counter or “OTC” options). Like futures, a financial intermediary, known as a clearing corporation, financially backs exchange-traded options. However, OTC options have no such intermediary and are subject to the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligations under the contract. The principal factors affecting the market value of an option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market value of the underlying instrument relative to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until the option expires.

 

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Purchasing Put and Call Options

 

When the Fund purchases a put option, it buys the right to sell the instrument underlying the option at a fixed strike price. In return for this right, the Fund pays the current market price for the option (known as the “option premium”). The Fund may purchase put options to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of its securities (“protective puts”) or to benefit from a decline in the price of securities that it does not own. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs. However, if the price of the underlying instrument does not fall enough to offset the cost of purchasing the option, a put buyer would lose the premium and related transaction costs.

 

Call options are similar to put options, except that the Fund obtains the right to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the option’s strike price. The Fund would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase in the market value of securities it owns or wants to buy. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying instrument exceeded the exercise price plus the premium paid and related transaction costs. Otherwise, the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.

 

The purchaser of an option may terminate its position by:

 

Allowing it to expire and losing its entire premium;

 

Exercising the option and either selling (in the case of a put option) or buying (in the case of a call option) the underlying instrument at the strike price; or

 

Closing it out in the secondary market at its current price.

 

Selling (Writing) Put and Call Options

 

When the Fund writes a call option it assumes an obligation to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a fixed strike price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. Similarly, when the Fund writes a put option it assumes an obligation to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a fixed strike price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. The Fund may terminate its position in an exchange-traded put option before exercise by buying an option identical to the one it has written. Similarly, the Fund may cancel an OTC option by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparty to the option.

 

The Fund could try to hedge against an increase in the value of securities it would like to acquire by writing a put option on those securities. If security prices rise, the Fund would expect the put option to expire and the premium it received to offset the increase in the security’s value. If security prices remain the same over time, the Fund would hope to profit by closing out the put option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the Fund may lose an amount of money equal to the difference between the value of the security and the premium it received.

 

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The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, except that call writers expect to profit if prices remain the same or fall. The Fund could try to hedge against a decline in the value of securities it already owns by writing a call option. If the price of that security falls as expected, the Fund would expect the option to expire and the premium it received to offset the decline of the security’s value. However, the Fund must be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, which may deprive it of the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the securities it holds.

 

Options on Securities Indices

 

Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

 

Options on Credit Default Swaps

 

An option on a credit default swap gives the holder the right to enter into a credit default swap at a specified future date and under specified terms in exchange for a purchase price or premium. The writer of the option bears the risk of any unfavorable move in the value of the credit default swap relative to the market value on the exercise date, while the purchaser may allow the option to expire unexercised.

 

Options on Futures

 

An option on a futures contract provides the holder with the right to buy a futures contract (in the case of a call option) or sell a futures contract (in the case of a put option) at a fixed time and price. Upon exercise of the option by the holder, the contract market clearing house establishes a corresponding short position for the writer of the option (in the case of a call option) or a corresponding long position (in the case of a put option). If the option is exercised, the parties will be subject to the futures contracts. In addition, the writer of an option on a futures contract is subject to initial and variation margin requirements on the option position. Options on futures contracts are traded on the same contract market as the underlying futures contract.

 

The buyer or seller of an option on a futures contract may terminate the option early by purchasing or selling an option of the same series (i.e., the same exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously purchased or sold. The difference between the premiums paid and received represents the trader’s profit or loss on the transaction.

 

The Fund may purchase put and call options on futures contracts instead of selling or buying futures contracts. The Fund may buy a put option on a futures contract for the same reasons it would sell a futures contract. It also may purchase such a put option in order to hedge a long position in the underlying futures contract. The Fund may buy a call option on a futures contract for the same purpose as the actual purchase of a futures contract, such as in anticipation of favorable market conditions.

 

The Fund may write a call option on a futures contract to hedge against a decline in the prices of the instrument underlying the futures contracts. If the price of the futures contract at expiration were below the exercise price, the Fund would retain the option premium, which would offset, in part, any decline in the value of its portfolio securities.

 

The writing of a put option on a futures contract is similar to the purchase of the futures contracts, except that, if the market price declines, the Fund would pay more than the market price for the underlying instrument. The premium received on the sale of the put option, less any transaction costs, would reduce the net cost to the Fund.

 

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Options on Foreign Currencies

 

A put option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell a foreign currency at the exercise price until the option expires. A call option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to purchase the currency at the exercise price until the option expires. The Fund may purchase or write put and call options on foreign currencies for the purpose of hedging against changes in future currency exchange rates.

 

The Fund may use foreign currency options given the same circumstances under which they could use forward foreign currency exchange contracts. For example, a decline in the U.S. dollar value of a foreign currency in which the Fund’s securities are denominated would reduce the U.S. dollar value of the securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remained constant. In order to hedge against such a risk, the Fund may purchase a put option on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency then declined, the Fund could sell the currency for a fixed amount in U.S. dollars and thereby offset, at least partially, the negative effect on its securities that otherwise would have resulted. Conversely, if the Fund anticipates a rise in the U.S. dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated, the Fund may purchase call options on the currency in order to offset, at least partially, the effects of negative movements in exchange rates. If currency exchange rates do not move in the direction or to the extent anticipated, the Fund could sustain losses on transactions in foreign currency options.

 

Combined Positions

 

The Fund may purchase and write options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward contracts or swap agreements, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall position. For example, the Fund could construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract by purchasing a put option and writing a call option on the same underlying instrument. Alternatively, the Fund could write a call option at one strike price and buy a call option at a lower price to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts - A forward foreign currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific amount of currency at a future date or date range at a specific price. In the case of a cancelable forward contract, the holder has the unilateral right to cancel the contract at maturity by paying a specified fee. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts differ from foreign currency futures contracts in certain respects. Unlike futures contracts, forward contracts:

 

Do not have standard maturity dates or amounts (i.e., the parties to the contract may fix the maturity date and the amount);

 

Are typically traded directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers in the inter-bank markets, as opposed to on exchanges regulated by the CFTC (note, however, that under definitions adopted by the CFTC and SEC, many non-deliverable foreign currency forwards will be considered swaps for certain purposes, including determination of whether such instruments must be traded on exchanges and centrally cleared);

 

Do not require an initial margin deposit; and

 

May be closed by entering into a closing transaction with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract, as opposed to with a commodities exchange.

 

Foreign Currency Hedging Strategies

 

A “settlement hedge” or “transaction hedge” is designed to protect the Fund against an adverse change in foreign currency values between the date a security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received. Entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in an underlying security transaction for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars “locks in” the U.S. dollar price of the security. The Fund may also use forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency when it anticipates purchasing or selling securities denominated in foreign currency, even if it has not yet selected the specific investments.

 

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The Fund may use forward contracts to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. Such a hedge, sometimes referred to as a “position hedge,” would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations, but would not offset changes in security values caused by other factors. The Fund could also hedge the position by selling another currency expected to perform similarly to the currency in which the Fund’s investment is denominated. This type of hedge, sometimes referred to as a “proxy hedge,” could offer advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but generally would not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a direct hedge into U.S. dollars. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.

 

Transaction and position hedging do not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities that the Fund owns or intends to purchase or sell. They simply establish a rate of exchange that one can achieve at some future point in time. Additionally, these techniques tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency and to limit any potential gain that might result from the increase in value of such currency.

 

The Fund may enter into forward contracts to shift its investment exposure from one currency into another. Such transactions may call for the delivery of one foreign currency in exchange for another foreign currency, including currencies in which its securities are not then denominated. This may include shifting exposure from U.S. dollars to a foreign currency, or from one foreign currency to another foreign currency. This type of strategy, sometimes known as a “cross-hedge,” will tend to reduce or eliminate exposure to the currency that is sold, and increase exposure to the currency that is purchased. Cross-hedges may protect against losses resulting from a decline in the hedged currency but will cause the Fund to assume the risk of fluctuations in the value of the currency it purchases. Cross-hedging transactions also involve the risk of imperfect correlation between changes in the values of the currencies involved.

 

It is difficult to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration or maturity of a forward or futures contract. Accordingly, the Fund may have to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot (cash) market if the market value of a security it is hedging is less than the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver. Conversely, the Fund may have to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency it received upon the sale of a security if the market value of such security exceeds the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver.

 

Equity-Linked Securities - The Fund may invest in privately issued securities whose investment results are designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified stock index or “basket” of securities, or sometimes a single stock (referred to as “equity-linked securities”). These securities are used for many of the same purposes as derivative instruments and share many of the same risks. Equity-linked securities may be considered illiquid and thus subject to the Fund’s restrictions on investments in illiquid investments.

 

Swap Agreements - A swap agreement is a financial instrument that typically involves the exchange of cash flows between two parties on specified dates (settlement dates), where the cash flows are based on agreed-upon prices, rates, indices, etc. The nominal amount on which the cash flows are calculated is called the notional amount. Swap agreements are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, such as interest rates, foreign currency rates, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, security prices or inflation rates.

 

Swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of the Fund and its share price. The performance of swap agreements may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterparty’s creditworthiness declined, the value of a swap agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses.

 

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Generally, swap agreements have a fixed maturity date that will be agreed upon by the parties. The agreement can be terminated before the maturity date under certain circumstances, such as default by one of the parties or insolvency, among others, and can be transferred by a party only with the prior written consent of the other party. The Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or by other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. If the counterparty is unable to meet its obligations under the contract, declares bankruptcy, defaults or becomes insolvent, the Fund may not be able to recover the money it expected to receive under the swap agreement. The Fund will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Adviser believes that the counterparty to the transaction is creditworthy.

 

A swap agreement can be a form of leverage, which can magnify the Fund’s gains or losses.

 

Equity Swaps

 

In a typical equity swap, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, stock index or basket of stocks in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Equity index swaps involve not only the risk associated with investment in the securities represented in the index, but also the risk that the performance of such securities, including dividends, will not exceed the return on the interest rate that the Fund will be committed to pay.

 

Total Return Swaps

 

Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from a reference instrument—which may be a single asset, a pool of assets or an index of assets—during a specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from another underlying reference instrument. The total return includes appreciation or depreciation on the underlying asset, plus any interest or dividend payments. Payments under the swap are based upon an agreed upon principal amount but, since the principal amount is not exchanged, it represents neither an asset nor a liability to either counterparty, and is referred to as notional. Total return swaps are marked to market daily using different sources, including quotations from counterparties, pricing services, brokers or market makers. The unrealized appreciation or depreciation related to the change in the valuation of the notional amount of the swap is combined with the amount due to the Fund at termination or settlement. The primary risks associated with total return swaps are credit risks (if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations) and market risk (if there is no liquid market for the swap or unfavorable changes occur to the underlying reference instrument).

 

Interest Rate Swaps

 

Interest rate swaps are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. Some of the different types of interest rate swaps are “fixed-for-floating rate swaps,” “termed basis swaps” and “index amortizing swaps.” Fixed-for-floating rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed interest rate cash flows for floating rate cash flows. Termed basis swaps entail cash flows to both parties based on floating interest rates, where the interest rate indices are different. Index amortizing swaps are typically fixed-for-floating rate swaps where the notional amount changes if certain conditions are met.

 

As with a traditional investment in a debt security, the Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely. For example, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest, the Fund may have to pay more money than it receives. Similarly, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a fixed rate of interest for a floating rate of interest, the Fund may receive less money than it has agreed to pay.

 

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Currency Swaps

 

A currency swap is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make interest rate payments in one currency and the other promises to make interest rate payments in another currency. The Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has one currency and desires a different currency. Typically, the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the agreement and returned at the end of the agreement. Changes in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above, may negatively affect currency swaps.

 

Inflation Swaps

 

Inflation swaps are fixed-maturity, over-the-counter derivatives where one party pays a fixed rate in exchange for payments tied to an inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index. The fixed rate, which is set by the parties at the initiation of the swap, is often referred to as the “breakeven inflation” rate and generally represents the current difference between treasury yields and Treasury Inflation Protected Securities yields of similar maturities at the initiation of the swap agreement. Inflation swaps are typically designated as “zero coupon,” where all cash flows are exchanged at maturity. The value of an inflation swap is expected to fluctuate in response to changes in the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. An inflation swap can lose value if the realized rate of inflation over the life of the swap is less than the fixed market implied inflation rate (the breakeven inflation rate) the investor agreed to pay at the initiation of the swap.

 

Credit Default Swaps

 

A credit default swap is an agreement between a “buyer” and a “seller” for credit protection. The credit default swap agreement may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not then held by the Fund. The protection buyer is generally obligated to pay the protection seller an upfront payment and/or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the agreement until a credit event on a reference obligation has occurred. If no default occurs, the seller would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the full notional amount (the “par value”) of the swap.

 

Caps, Collars and Floors

 

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

 

Risks of Derivatives:

 

While transactions in derivatives may reduce certain risks, these transactions themselves entail certain other risks. For example, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance of the Fund than if they had not entered into any derivatives transactions. Derivatives may magnify the Fund’s gains or losses, causing them to make or lose substantially more than they invested.

 

When used for hedging purposes, increases in the value of the securities the Fund holds or intends to acquire should offset any losses incurred with a derivative. Purchasing derivatives for purposes other than hedging could expose the Fund to greater risks.

 

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Use of derivatives involves transaction costs, which may be significant, and may also increase the amount of taxable income to shareholders.

 

Correlation of Prices - The Fund’s ability to hedge its securities through derivatives depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index or instrument correlate with price movements in the relevant securities. In the case of poor correlation, the price of the securities the Fund is hedging may not move in the same amount, or even in the same direction as the hedging instrument. The Adviser will try to minimize this risk by investing in only those contracts whose behavior it expects to correlate with the behavior of the portfolio securities it is trying to hedge. However, if the Adviser’s prediction of interest and currency rates, market value, volatility or other economic factors is incorrect, the Fund may lose money, or may not make as much money as it expected.

 

Derivative prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the characteristics of the underlying instruments are very similar to the derivative. Listed below are some of the factors that may cause such a divergence:

 

Current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract;

 

A difference between the derivatives and securities markets, including different levels of demand, how the instruments are traded, the imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or discontinued trading of an instrument; and

 

Differences between the derivatives, such as different margin requirements, different liquidity of such markets and the participation of speculators in such markets.

 

Derivatives based upon a narrower index of securities, such as those of a particular industry group, may present greater risk than derivatives based on a broad market index. Since narrower indices are made up of a smaller number of securities, they are more susceptible to rapid and extreme price fluctuations because of changes in the value of those securities.

 

While currency futures and options values are expected to correlate with exchange rates, they may not reflect other factors that affect the value of the investments of the Fund. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a yen-denominated security from a decline in the yen, but will not protect the Fund against a price decline resulting from deterioration in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Because the value of the Fund’s foreign-denominated investments changes in response to many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to match the amount of currency options and futures to the value of the Fund’s investments precisely over time.

 

Lack of Liquidity - Before a futures contract or option is exercised or expires, the Fund can terminate it only by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. Moreover, the Fund may close out a futures contract only on the exchange the contract was initially traded. Although the Fund intends to purchase options and futures only where there appears to be an active market, there is no guarantee that such a liquid market will exist. If there is no secondary market for the contract, or the market is illiquid, the Fund may not be able to close out its position. In an illiquid market, the Fund may:

 

Have to sell securities to meet its daily margin requirements at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so;

 

Have to purchase or sell the instrument underlying the contract;

 

Not be able to hedge its investments; and/or

 

Not be able to realize profits or limit its losses.

 

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Derivatives may become illiquid (i.e., difficult to sell at a desired time and price) under a variety of market conditions. For example:

 

An exchange may suspend or limit trading in a particular derivative instrument, an entire category of derivatives or all derivatives, which sometimes occurs because of increased market volatility;

 

Unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations of an exchange;

 

The facilities of the exchange may not be adequate to handle current trading volume;

 

Equipment failures, government intervention, insolvency of a brokerage firm or clearing house or other occurrences may disrupt normal trading activity; or

 

Investors may lose interest in a particular derivative or category of derivatives.

 

Management Risk - Successful use of derivatives by the Fund is subject to the ability of the Adviser to forecast stock market and interest rate trends. If the Adviser incorrectly predicts stock market and interest rate trends, the Fund may lose money by investing in derivatives. For example, if the Fund were to write a call option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would fall, but the price were to rise instead, the Fund could be required to sell the security upon exercise at a price below the current market price. Similarly, if the Fund were to write a put option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would rise, but the price were to fall instead, the Fund could be required to purchase the security upon exercise at a price higher than the current market price.

 

Pricing Risk - At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the Fund has valued its securities too high, shareholders may end up paying too much for Fund shares when they buy into the Fund. If the Fund underestimates its price, shareholders may not receive the full market value for their Fund shares when they sell.

 

Margin - Because of the low margin deposits required upon the opening of a derivative position, such transactions involve an extremely high degree of leverage. Consequently, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to the Fund and it may lose more than it originally invested in the derivative.

 

If the price of a futures contract changes adversely, the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so to meet its minimum daily margin requirement. The Fund may lose its margin deposits if a broker-dealer with whom it has an open futures contract or related option becomes insolvent or declares bankruptcy.

 

Volatility and Leverage - The Fund’s use of derivatives may have a leveraging effect. Leverage generally magnifies the effect of any increase or decrease in value of an underlying asset and results in increased volatility, which means the Fund will have the potential for greater gains, as well as the potential for greater losses, than if the Fund does not use derivative instruments that have a leveraging effect. The prices of derivatives are volatile (i.e., they may change rapidly, substantially and unpredictably) and are influenced by a variety of factors, including:

 

Actual and anticipated changes in interest rates;

 

Fiscal and monetary policies; and

 

National and international political events.

 

Most exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a derivative can change during a single trading day. Daily trading limits establish the maximum amount that the price of a derivative may vary from the settlement price of that derivative at the end of trading on the previous day. Once the price of a derivative reaches that value, the Fund may not trade that derivative at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a given day and does not limit potential gains or losses. Derivative prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days, preventing prompt liquidation of the derivative.

 

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Government Regulation - The regulation of derivatives markets in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. For example, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law in 2010, granted significant new authority to the SEC and the CFTC to impose comprehensive regulations on the over-the-counter and cleared derivatives markets. These regulations include, but are not limited to, mandatory clearing of certain derivatives and requirements relating to disclosure, margin and trade reporting. The law and regulations may negatively impact the Fund by increasing transaction and/or regulatory compliance costs, limiting the availability of certain derivatives or otherwise adversely affecting the value or performance of the derivatives the Fund trades.

 

In addition, the SEC adopted the Derivatives Rule on October 28, 2020. Since its compliance date of August 19, 2022, the Derivatives Rule has replaced prior SEC and staff guidance with an updated, comprehensive framework for registered funds’ use of derivatives. See “Derivatives – Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act” above for additional information on the requirements imposed on registered funds by the Derivatives Rule. Complying with the Derivatives Rule may increase the cost of the Fund's investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors. Other potentially adverse regulatory obligations can develop suddenly and without notice.

 

Equity Securities

 

Equity Securities - Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company and consist of common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock, and securities convertible into common stock. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests will cause the net asset value of the Fund to fluctuate. The Fund purchases equity securities traded in the U.S. on registered exchanges or the over-the-counter market. Equity securities are described in more detail below:

 

Types of Equity Securities:

 

Common Stocks - Common stocks represent units of ownership in a company. Common stocks usually carry voting rights and earn dividends. Unlike preferred stocks, which are described below, dividends on common stocks are not fixed but are declared at the discretion of the company’s board of directors.

 

Preferred Stocks - Preferred stocks are also units of ownership in a company. Preferred stocks normally have preference over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of the company. However, in all other respects, preferred stocks are subordinated to the liabilities of the issuer. Unlike common stocks, preferred stocks generally do not entitle the holder to vote on corporate matters. Types of preferred stocks include adjustable-rate preferred stock, fixed dividend preferred stock, perpetual preferred stock, and sinking fund preferred stock. Generally, the market value of preferred stock with a fixed dividend rate and no conversion element varies inversely with interest rates and perceived credit risk.

 

Convertible Securities - Convertible securities are securities that may be exchanged for, converted into, or exercised to acquire a predetermined number of shares of the issuer’s common stock at the Fund’s option during a specified time period (such as convertible preferred stocks, convertible debentures and warrants). A convertible security is generally a fixed income security that is senior to common stock in an issuer’s capital structure, but is usually subordinated to similar non-convertible securities. In exchange for the conversion feature, many corporations will pay a lower rate of interest on convertible securities than debt securities of the same corporation. In general, the market value of a convertible security is at least the higher of its “investment value” (i.e., its value as a fixed income security) or its “conversion value” (i.e., its value upon conversion into its underlying common stock).

 

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Convertible securities are subject to the same risks as similar securities without the convertible feature. The price of a convertible security is more volatile during times of steady interest rates than other types of debt securities. The price of a convertible security tends to increase as the market value of the underlying stock rises, whereas it tends to decrease as the market value of the underlying common stock declines.

 

A synthetic convertible security is a combination investment in which the Fund purchases both (i) high-grade cash equivalents or a high grade debt obligation of an issuer or U.S. government securities and (ii) call options or warrants on the common stock of the same or different issuer with some or all of the anticipated interest income from the associated debt obligation that is earned over the holding period of the option or warrant.

 

While providing a fixed income stream (generally higher in yield than the income derivable from common stock but lower than that afforded by a similar non-convertible security), a convertible security also affords an investor the opportunity, through its conversion feature, to participate in the capital appreciation attendant upon a market price advance in the convertible security’s underlying common stock. A synthetic convertible position has similar investment characteristics, but may differ with respect to credit quality, time to maturity, trading characteristics, and other factors. Because the Fund will create synthetic convertible positions only out of high grade fixed income securities, the credit rating associated with the Fund’s synthetic convertible investments is generally expected to be higher than that of the average convertible security, many of which are rated below high grade. However, because the options used to create synthetic convertible positions will generally have expirations between one-month and three years of the time of purchase, the maturity of these positions will generally be shorter than average for convertible securities. Since the option component of a convertible security or synthetic convertible position is a wasting asset (in the sense of losing “time value” as maturity approaches), a synthetic convertible position may lose such value more rapidly than a convertible security of longer maturity; however, the gain in option value due to appreciation of the underlying stock may exceed such time value loss. The market price of the option component generally reflects these differences in maturities, and the Adviser takes such differences into account when evaluating such positions. When a synthetic convertible position “matures” because of the expiration of the associated option, the Fund may extend the maturity by investing in a new option with longer maturity on the common stock of the same or a different issuer. If the Fund does not so extend the maturity of a position, it may continue to hold the associated fixed income security.

 

Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) - A U.S. REIT is a corporation or business trust (that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation) which meets the definitional requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The Code permits a qualifying REIT to deduct from taxable income the dividends paid, thereby effectively eliminating corporate level federal income tax. To meet the definitional requirements of the Code, a REIT must, among other things: invest substantially all of its assets in interests in real estate (including mortgages and other REITs), cash and government securities; derive most of its income from rents from real property or interest on loans secured by mortgages on real property; and distribute annually 90% or more of its otherwise taxable income to shareholders.

 

REITs are sometimes informally characterized as Equity REITs and Mortgage REITs. An Equity REIT invests primarily in the fee ownership or leasehold ownership of land and buildings; a Mortgage REIT invests primarily in mortgages on real property, which may secure construction, development or long-term loans.

 

REITs may be affected by changes in underlying real estate values, which may have an exaggerated effect to the extent that REITs in which the Fund invests may concentrate investments in particular geographic regions or property types. Certain REITs have relatively small market capitalization, which may tend to increase the volatility of the market price of securities issued by such REITs. Additionally, rising interest rates may cause investors in REITs to demand a higher annual yield from future distributions, which may in turn decrease market prices for equity securities issued by REITs. Rising interest rates also generally increase the costs of obtaining financing, which could cause the value of the Fund’s investments to decline. During periods of declining interest rates, certain Mortgage REITs may hold mortgages that the mortgagors elect to prepay, which prepayment may diminish the yield on securities issued by such Mortgage REITs. Equity and Mortgage REITs are also subject to heavy cash flow dependency defaults by borrowers and self-liquidation. In addition, Mortgage REITs may be affected by the ability of borrowers to repay when due the debt extended by the REIT and Equity REITs may be affected by the ability of tenants to pay rent. The above factors may adversely affect a borrower’s or a lessee’s ability to meet its obligations to the REIT. In the event of default by a borrower or lessee, the REIT may experience delays in enforcing its rights as a mortgagee or lessor and may incur substantial costs associated with protecting its investments.

 

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Furthermore, REITs are dependent upon specialized management skills, have limited diversification and are, therefore, subject to risks inherent in operating and financing a limited number of projects. By investing in REITs indirectly through the Fund, a shareholder will bear not only his proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund, but also, indirectly, similar expenses of the REITs. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions to shareholders. In addition, U.S. REITs could possibly fail to qualify for tax free pass-through of income under the Code or to maintain their exemptions from registration under the 1940 Act.

 

Real Estate Companies’ Securities - The Fund may be subject to the risks associated with the direct ownership of real estate. For example, real estate values may fluctuate as a result of general and local economic conditions, overbuilding and increased competition, increases in property taxes and operating expenses, demographic trends and variations in rental income, changes in zoning laws, casualty or condemnation losses, regulatory limitations on rents, changes in neighborhood values, related party risks, changes in how appealing properties are to tenants, changes in interest rates and other real estate capital market influences.

 

Rights and Warrants - A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life, usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy proportionate amounts of common stock at a specified price. Warrants are freely transferable and are traded on major exchanges. Unlike rights, warrants normally have a life that is measured in years and entitles the holder to buy common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. Corporations often issue warrants to make the accompanying debt security more attractive.

 

An investment in warrants and rights may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. Investing in rights and warrants increases the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities.

 

Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”) - The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities of companies offering shares in IPOs. IPOs may have a magnified performance impact on the Fund with a small asset base. The Fund may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time, which may increase the turnover of the Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses for the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling IPO shares, the Fund may realize taxable gains it will subsequently distribute to shareholders. In addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or inactive for extended periods of time. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may make it more difficult for the Fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Holders of IPO shares can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders.

 

The policy of the Adviser is to purchase only IPOs that are appropriate for funds managed according to the Adviser’s Micro-Cap Equity strategy. The allocation of these IPO shares will be made pro rata to the Adviser’s micro-cap equity funds, including the Micro Cap Portfolio and separately managed accounts, in accordance with minimum allocation guidelines in place at the time.

 

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If the Adviser is allocated insufficient shares of an IPO to allocate to all of its micro-cap funds, these micro-cap funds, including the Micro Cap Portfolio, will generally receive IPO allocations on a rotating basis. The Micro Cap Portfolio may not, however, receive IPO allocations if it has insufficient cash reserves to pay for shares that would otherwise be allocated to it.

 

The Fund’s investment in IPO shares may include the securities of unseasoned companies (companies with less than three years of continuous operations), which presents risks considerably greater than common stocks of more established companies. These companies may have limited operating histories and their prospects for profitability may be uncertain. These companies may be involved in new and evolving businesses and, compared to their better-established, larger-cap peers, may be more vulnerable to competition and changes in technology, markets and economic conditions. They may be more dependent on key managers and third parties and may have limited product lines.

 

Risks of Investing in Equity Securities:

 

General Risks of Investing in Stocks - While investing in stocks allows investors to participate in the benefits of owning a company, such investors must accept the risks of ownership. Unlike bondholders, who have preference to a company’s earnings and cash flow, preferred stockholders, followed by common stockholders in order of priority, are entitled only to the residual amount after a company meets its other obligations. For this reason, the value of a company’s stock will usually react more strongly to actual or perceived changes in the company’s financial condition or prospects than its debt obligations. Stockholders of a company that fares poorly can lose money.

 

Stock markets tend to move in cycles with short or extended periods of rising and falling stock prices. The value of a company’s stock may fall because of:

 

Factors that directly relate to that company, such as decisions made by its management or lower demand for the company’s products or services;

 

Factors affecting an entire industry, such as increases in production costs; and

 

Changes in financial market conditions that are relatively unrelated to the company or its industry, such as changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates or inflation rates.

 

Because preferred stock is generally junior to debt securities and other obligations of the issuer, deterioration in the credit quality of the issuer will cause greater changes in the value of a preferred stock than in a more senior debt security with similar stated yield characteristics.

 

Small- and Medium-Sized Companies - Investors in small- and medium-sized companies typically take on greater risk and price volatility than they would as investors in larger, more established companies. This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks often associated with small or medium size; because small- and medium-sized companies are often “young” compared to larger, more established peers, they may feature relatively limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines and may not attract management with the depth or experience of larger companies’ management teams. The securities of small- and medium-sized companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market, which may not afford the trading volume typical of securities traded on a national securities exchange. Thus, relative to securities of larger, more established companies, the securities of small- and medium-capitalization companies are likely to be less liquid and may feature greater price sensitivity to abrupt or erratic market movements.

 

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Technology Companies - Stocks of technology companies historically have exhibited greater volatility than securities of companies that are not dependent upon or associated with technological issues. Technology companies operate in various industries. Since these industries frequently share common characteristics, an event or issue affecting one industry may significantly influence other, related industries. For example, technology companies may exhibit sensitivity to global developments that are not directly related to the technology industry, but that affect customers who participate in non-technological industries, such as health care or other scientific fields. Technology companies’ products and services may be subject to governmental regulation or adversely affected by governmental policies that effect change in participants in non-technological industries.

 

Foreign Securities

 

Types of Foreign Securities:

 

Foreign securities are debt and equity securities that are traded in developed or emerging markets outside of the U.S. The Fund can invest in foreign securities in a number of ways:

 

The Fund can invest directly in foreign securities denominated in a foreign currency;

 

The Fund can invest in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and other similar global instruments; and

 

The Fund can invest in investment funds.

 

American Depositary Receipts - ADRs as well as other “hybrid” forms of ADRs, including EDRs and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. A custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer’s home country holds the underlying shares in trust. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. ADRs are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. EDRs are similar to ADRs, except that they are typically issued by European banks or trust companies.

 

ADRs can be sponsored or unsponsored. While these types are similar, there are differences regarding a holder’s rights and obligations and the practices of market participants. A depository may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or acquiescence of) the underlying issuer; typically, however, the depository requests a letter of non-objection from the underlying issuer prior to establishing the facility. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of the facility. The depository usually charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the underlying securities, the conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars or other currency, the disposition of non-cash distributions, and the performance of other services. Sponsored depositary receipt facilities are created in generally the same manner as unsponsored facilities, except that sponsored depositary receipts are established jointly by a depository and the underlying issuer through a deposit agreement. The deposit agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of the underlying issuer, the depository, and the depositary receipt holders. With sponsored facilities, the underlying issuer typically bears some of the costs of the depositary receipts (such as dividend payment fees of the depository), although most sponsored depositary receipts holders may bear costs such as deposit and withdrawal fees. Depositories of most sponsored depositary receipts agree to distribute notices of shareholder meetings, voting instructions, and other shareholder communications and information to the depositary receipt holders at the underlying issuer’s request. The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

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Emerging Markets - An “emerging market” country is generally a country that the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) and the International Finance Corporation would consider to be an emerging or developing country. Typically, emerging markets are in countries that are in the process of industrialization, with lower gross national products (“GNP”) than more developed countries.

 

Investment Funds - Some emerging market countries currently prohibit direct foreign investment in the securities of their companies. Certain emerging market countries, however, permit indirect foreign investment in the securities of companies listed and traded on their stock exchanges through investment funds that they have specifically authorized. Investments in these investment funds are subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act. Shareholders of the Fund that invests in such investment funds will bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses of the Fund (including operating expenses and the fees of the Adviser), but also will indirectly bear similar expenses of the underlying investment funds. In addition, these investment funds may trade at a premium over their net asset value.

 

Risks of Foreign Securities:

 

Foreign securities, foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.

 

Political and Economic Factors - Local political, economic, regulatory, or social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments may affect the value of foreign investments. Listed below are some of the more important political and economic factors that could negatively affect an investment in foreign securities:

 

The economies of foreign countries may differ from the economy of the United States in such areas as growth of GNP, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, budget deficits and national debt;

 

Foreign governments sometimes participate to a significant degree, through ownership interests or regulation, in their respective economies. Actions by these governments could significantly influence the market prices of securities and payment of dividends;

 

The economies of many foreign countries are dependent on international trade and their trading partners and they could be severely affected if their trading partners were to enact protective trade barriers and economic conditions;

 

The internal policies of a particular foreign country may be less stable than in the United States. Other countries face significant external political risks, such as possible claims of sovereignty by other countries or tense and sometimes hostile border clashes;

 

A foreign government may act adversely to the interests of U.S. investors, including expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation and other restrictions on U.S. investment. A country may restrict or control foreign investments in its securities markets. These restrictions could limit the Fund’s ability to invest in a particular country or make it very expensive for the Fund to invest in that country. Some countries require prior governmental approval, limit the types or amount of securities or companies in which a foreigner can invest, or may restrict the ability of foreign investors to repatriate their investment income and capital gains; and

 

Periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in the Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. Government designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses.

 

Given the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, region or market might adversely affect financial conditions or issuers in other countries, regions or markets. For example, on January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) formally withdrew from the EU (commonly referred to as “Brexit”). Following a transition period, the UK and the EU signed a post-Brexit trade agreement governing their future economic relationship on December 30, 2020. This agreement became effective on a provisional basis on January 1, 2021 and formally entered into force on May 1, 2021. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets. The effects of Brexit on the UK and EU economies and the broader global economy could be significant, resulting in negative impacts, such as business and trade disruptions, increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth of markets in the UK, EU and globally, which could negatively impact the value of the Fund’s investments. Brexit could also lead to legal uncertainty and politically divergent national laws and regulations while the new relationship between the UK and EU is further defined and the UK determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Additionally, depreciation of the British pound sterling and/or the euro in relation to the U.S. dollar following Brexit could adversely affect Fund investments denominated in the British pound sterling and/or the euro, regardless of the performance of the investment.

 

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In addition, on February 24, 2022, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia, Ukraine, Europe, NATO, and the West. Following Russia’s actions, various countries, including the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, as well as the European Union, issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia. The sanctions consist of the prohibition of trading in certain Russian securities and engaging in certain private transactions, the prohibition of doing business with certain Russian corporate entities, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs, and the freezing of Russian assets. The extent and duration of the war in Ukraine and the longevity and severity of sanctions remain unknown, but they could have a significant adverse impact on the European economy as well as the price and availability of certain commodities, including oil and natural gas, throughout the world. These sanctions, and the resulting disruption of the Russian economy, may cause volatility in other regional and global markets and may negatively impact the performance of various sectors and industries, as well as companies in other countries, which could have a negative effect on the performance of the Fund, even if the Fund does not have direct exposure to securities of Russian issuers.

 

Whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments due to the interconnected nature of the global economy and capital markets.

 

Information and Supervision - There is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than companies based in the United States. For example, there are often no reports and ratings published about foreign companies comparable to the ones written about U.S. companies. Foreign companies are typically not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. The lack of comparable information makes investment decisions concerning foreign companies more difficult and less reliable than those concerning domestic companies.

 

Stock Exchange and Market Risk - The Adviser anticipates that in most cases an exchange or over-the-counter market located outside of the United States will be the best available market for foreign securities. Foreign stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as the markets in the United States. Foreign stock markets tend to differ from those in the United States in a number of ways.

 

Foreign stock markets:

 

Are generally more volatile than, and not as developed or efficient as, those in the United States;

 

Exhibit substantially lower volume, which typically corresponds with lower liquidity;

 

Trade securities that tend to be less liquid and experience rapid and erratic price movements;

 

Have generally higher commissions and are subject to set minimum rates, as opposed to negotiated rates;

 

Employ trading, settlement and custodial practices less developed than those in U.S. markets; and

 

May have settlement practices that differ from those in U.S. markets, and may present delays and increase the potential for failed settlements.

 

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Foreign markets may offer less protection to shareholders than U.S. markets because:

 

Foreign accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements may render a foreign corporate balance sheet more difficult to understand and interpret than one subject to U.S. law and standards.

 

Adequate public information on foreign issuers may not be available, and it may be difficult to secure dividends and information regarding corporate actions on a timely basis.

 

In general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the United States.

 

Over-the-counter markets tend to be less regulated than stock exchange markets and, in certain countries, may be totally unregulated.

 

Economic or political concerns may influence regulatory enforcement and may make it difficult for shareholders to enforce their legal rights.

 

Restrictions on transferring securities within the United States or to U.S. persons may make a particular security less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions.

 

Foreign Currency Risk - While the Fund denominates its net asset value in U.S. dollars, the securities of foreign companies are frequently denominated in foreign currencies. Thus, a change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in value of securities denominated in that currency. Some of the factors that may impair the investments denominated in a foreign currency are:

 

It may be expensive to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa;

 

Complex political and economic factors may significantly affect the values of various currencies, including the U.S. dollar, and their exchange rates;

 

Government intervention may increase risks involved in purchasing or selling foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts, since exchange rates may not be free to fluctuate in response to other market forces;

 

There may be no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies or regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis;

 

Available quotation information is generally representative of very large round-lot transactions in the inter-bank market and thus may not reflect exchange rates for smaller odd-lot transactions (less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable; and

 

The inter-bank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that a market is closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, certain markets may not always reflect significant price and rate movements.

 

Taxes - Certain foreign governments levy withholding taxes on dividend and interest income. Although in some countries it is possible for the Fund to recover a portion of these taxes, the portion that cannot be recovered will reduce the income the Fund receives from its investments.

 

Emerging Markets - Investing in emerging markets may magnify the risks of foreign investing. Security prices in emerging markets can be significantly more volatile than those in more developed markets, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, countries with emerging markets may:

 

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Have relatively unstable governments;

 

Present greater risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets;

 

Offer less protection of property rights than more developed countries; and

 

Have economies that are based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates.

 

Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times.

 

Exchange-Traded Funds (“ETFs”)

 

The Fund may invest in ETFs. ETFs may be structured as investment companies that are registered under the 1940 Act, typically as open-end funds or unit investment trusts. These ETFs are generally based on specific domestic and foreign market securities indices. An “index-based ETF” seeks to track the performance of an index by holding in its portfolio either the contents of the index or a representative sample of the securities in the index. Alternatively, ETFs may be structured as grantor trusts or other forms of pooled investment vehicles that are not registered or regulated under the 1940 Act. These ETFs typically hold commodities, precious metals, currency or other non-securities investments. ETFs, like mutual funds, have expenses associated with their operation, such as advisory and custody fees. When the Fund invests in an ETF, in addition to directly bearing expenses associated with its own operations, including the brokerage costs associated with the purchase and sale of shares of the ETF, the Fund will bear a pro rata portion of the ETF’s expenses. In addition, it may be more costly to own an ETF than to directly own the securities or other investments held by the ETF because of ETF expenses. The risks of owning shares of an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities or other investments held by the ETF, although lack of liquidity in the market for the shares of an ETF could result in the ETF’s value being more volatile than the underlying securities or other investments.

 

Investment Companies

 

The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies, to the extent permitted by applicable law, subject to certain restrictions. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund. The Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying the Fund’s expenses.

 

Generally, the federal securities laws limit the extent to which the Fund can invest in securities of other investment companies, subject to certain exceptions. For example, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act prohibits a fund from (i) acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any one investment company, (ii) investing more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, and (iii) investing more than 10% of its total assets in all investment companies combined, including its ETF investments.

 

The Fund may rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, which provides an exemption from Section 12(d)(1) that allows the Fund to invest all of its assets in other registered funds, including ETFs, if, among other conditions, the Fund, together with its affiliates, acquires no more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any acquired fund. The Fund may also rely on Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 12d1-4 permits the Fund to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions specified in the Rule including, among other conditions, that the Fund and its advisory group will not control (individually or in the aggregate) an acquired fund (e.g., hold more than 25% of the outstanding voting securities of an acquired fund that is a registered open-end management investment company). In addition, the Fund may be able to rely on certain other rules under the 1940 Act to invest in shares of money market funds or other investment companies beyond the statutory limits noted above, but subject to certain conditions.

 

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For hedging or other purposes, the Fund may invest in investment companies that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific indexes or portions of specific indexes. Certain of these investment companies, known as ETFs, are traded on a securities exchange. (See “Exchange-Traded Funds” above). The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with changes in the underlying portfolio securities of the investment company and also due to supply and demand of the investment company’s shares on the exchange upon which the shares are traded. Index-based investments may not replicate or otherwise match the composition or performance of their specified index due to transaction costs, among other things.

 

Repurchase Agreements

 

The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which a fund acquires a fixed income security (generally a security issued by the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a banker’s acceptance, or a certificate of deposit) from a commercial bank, broker, or dealer, and simultaneously agrees to resell such security to the seller at an agreed upon price and date (normally, the next business day). Because the security purchased constitutes collateral for the repurchase obligation, a repurchase agreement may be considered a loan that is collateralized by the security purchased. The acquisition of a repurchase agreement may be deemed to be an acquisition of the underlying securities as long as the obligation of the seller to repurchase the securities is collateralized fully. The Fund follows certain procedures designed to minimize the risks inherent in such agreements. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with creditworthy financial institutions whose condition will be continually monitored by the Adviser. The repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund may provide that the underlying collateral at all times shall have a value at least equal to 102% of the resale price stated in the agreement and consist only of securities permissible under Section 101(47)(A)(i) of the Bankruptcy Code (the Adviser monitors compliance with this requirement). Under all repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund, the custodian or its agent must take possession of the underlying collateral. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Fund’s right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. The Fund may enter into “tri-party” repurchase agreements. In “tri-party” repurchase agreements, an unaffiliated third party custodian maintains accounts to hold collateral for the Fund and its counterparties and, therefore, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of those custodians. The investments of the Fund in repurchase agreements, at times, may be substantial when, in the view of the Adviser, liquidity or other considerations so warrant.

 

Reverse Repurchase Agreements

 

The Fund may enter into reverse repurchase agreements. Reverse repurchase agreements are transactions in which the Fund sells portfolio securities to financial institutions, such as banks and broker-dealers, and agrees to repurchase them at a mutually agreed-upon date and price that is higher than the original sale price. Reverse repurchase agreements are similar to a fully collateralized borrowing by the Fund.

 

Reverse repurchase agreements involve risks. Reverse repurchase agreements are a form of leverage, and the use of reverse repurchase agreements by the Fund may increase the Fund’s volatility. Reverse repurchase agreements are also subject to the risk that the other party to the reverse repurchase agreement will be unable or unwilling to complete the transaction as scheduled, which may result in losses to the Fund. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by the Fund may decline below the price at which it is obligated to repurchase the securities. In addition, when the Fund invests the proceeds it receives in a reverse repurchase transaction, there is a risk that those investments may decline in value. In this circumstance, the Fund could be required to sell other investments in order to meet its obligations to repurchase the securities.

 

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The Derivatives Rule permits the Fund to enter into reverse repurchase agreements and similar financing transactions, notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the 1940 Act. The Derivatives Rule permits the Fund to elect whether to treat a reverse repurchase agreement as a borrowing, subject to the asset coverage requirements of Section 18 of the 1940 Act, or as a derivatives transactions under the Derivatives Rule.

 

Restricted and Illiquid Investments

 

While the Fund does not anticipate doing so, the Fund may purchase illiquid investments, including investments that are not readily marketable and securities that are not registered (“restricted securities”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), but which can be offered and sold to “qualified institutional buyers” under Rule 144A under the 1933 Act. The Fund may not acquire an illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets. Illiquid investments are investments that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Illiquid investments may include a wide variety of investments, such as repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days, OTC options contracts and certain other derivatives (including certain swap agreements), fixed time deposits that are not subject to prepayment or do not provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits), participation interests in loans, commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act, and securities whose disposition is restricted under the federal securities laws. Illiquid investments include restricted, privately placed securities that, under the federal securities laws, generally may be resold only to qualified institutional buyers. If a substantial market develops for a restricted security (or other illiquid investment) held by the Fund, it may be treated as a liquid security, in accordance with procedures and guidelines approved by the Board.

 

Securities Lending

 

The Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial organizations that meet capital and other credit requirements or other criteria established by the Board. These loans, if and when made, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the total asset value of the Fund (including the loan collateral). The Fund will not lend portfolio securities to the Adviser or its affiliates unless permissible under the 1940 Act and the rules and promulgations thereunder. Loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized by cash, letters of credit or U.S. government securities, and the collateral will be maintained in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities by marking to market daily. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the account of the Fund.

 

The Fund may pay a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral, or other fee, to an unaffiliated third party for acting as the Fund’s securities lending agent, but will bear all of any losses from the investment of collateral.

 

By lending its securities, the Fund may increase its income by receiving payments from the borrower that reflect the amount of any interest or any dividends payable on the loaned securities as well as by either investing cash collateral received from the borrower in short-term instruments or obtaining a fee from the borrower when U.S. government securities or letters of credit are used as collateral. Investing cash collateral subjects the Fund to market risk. The Fund remains obligated to return all collateral to the borrower under the terms of its securities lending arrangements, even if the value of investments made with the collateral decline. Accordingly, if the value of a security in which the cash collateral has been invested declines, the loss would be borne by the Fund, and the Fund may be required to liquidate other investments in order to return collateral to the borrower at the end of the loan. The Fund will adhere to the following conditions whenever its portfolio securities are loaned: (i) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral or equivalent securities of the type discussed above from the borrower; (ii) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (iii) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan on demand; (iv) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in market value; (v) the Fund may pay only reasonable fees in connection with the loan (which fees may include fees payable to the lending agent, the borrower, the Fund’s administrator and the custodian); and (vi) voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, provided, however, that if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs, the Fund must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities. The Board has adopted procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the foregoing criteria will be met. Loan agreements involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the borrower, including possible delays or restrictions upon the Fund’s ability to recover the loaned securities or dispose of the collateral for the loan, which could give rise to loss because of adverse market action, expenses and/or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying securities.

 

S-29 

 

Short Sales

 

Description of Short Sales:

 

Selling a security short is when an investor sells a security it does not own. To sell a security short, an investor must borrow the security from a third party before it can deliver the security to the buyer. The investor then replaces the security it borrowed by purchasing it at the market price at or before the time of replacement. Until it replaces the security, the investor repays the third party (i.e., the party that owns and has lent out the security) for any interest or dividends that may have accrued during the period of the loan.

 

Investors typically sell securities short to:

 

Take advantage of an anticipated decline in prices.

 

Protect a profit in a security it already owns.

 

The Fund can lose money if the price of the security it sold short increases between the date of the short sale and the date on which the Fund replaces the borrowed security. Likewise, the Fund can profit if the price of the security declines between those dates. Because the market price of the security sold short could increase without limit, the Fund could also be subject to a theoretically unlimited loss.

 

To borrow the security, the Fund may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The Fund will also incur transaction costs in effecting short sales. The Fund’s gains and losses will be decreased or increased, as the case may be, by the amount of the premium, dividends, interest, or expenses the Fund may be required to pay in connection with a short sale.

 

The broker will retain the net proceeds of the short sale, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

 

Short Sales Against the Box - In addition, the Fund may engage in short sales “against the box.” In a short sale against the box, the Fund agrees to sell at a future date a security that it either currently owns or has the right to acquire at no extra cost. The Fund will incur transaction costs to open, maintain and close short sales against the box. For tax purposes, a short sale against the box may be a taxable event to the Fund.

 

Restrictions on Short Sales:

 

The Fund will not sell a security short if:

 

After giving effect to such short sale, the total market value of all securities sold short would exceed 25% of the value of the Fund’s net assets;

 

The market value of the securities of any single issuer that have been sold short by the Fund would exceed two percent (2%) of the value of the Fund’s net assets; or

 

Any security sold short would constitute more than two percent (2%) of any class of the issuer’s securities.

 

S-30 

 

When-Issued, Delayed-Delivery and Forward-Delivery Transactions

 

A when-issued security is one whose terms are available and for which a market exists, but which have not been issued. In a forward-delivery transaction, the Fund contracts to purchase securities for a fixed price at a future date beyond customary settlement time. “Delayed-delivery” refers to securities transactions on the secondary market where settlement occurs in the future. In each of these transactions, the parties fix the payment obligation and the interest rate that they will receive on the securities at the time the parties enter the commitment; however, they do not pay money or deliver securities until a later date. Typically, no income accrues on securities the Fund has committed to purchase before the securities are delivered. The Fund will only enter into these types of transactions with the intention of actually acquiring the securities, but may sell them before the settlement date.

 

The Fund uses when-issued, delayed-delivery and forward-delivery transactions to secure what it considers an advantageous price and yield at the time of purchase. When the Fund engages in when-issued, delayed-delivery or forward-delivery transactions, it relies on the other party to consummate the sale. If the other party fails to complete the sale, the Fund may miss the opportunity to obtain the security at a favorable price or yield.

 

When purchasing a security on a when-issued, delayed-delivery, or forward-delivery basis, the Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership of the security, including the risk of price and yield changes. At the time of settlement, the market value of the security may be more or less than the purchase price. The yield available in the market when the delivery takes place also may be higher than those obtained in the transaction itself. Because the Fund does not pay for the security until the delivery date, these risks are in addition to the risks associated with its other investments.

 

The Derivatives Rule permits the Fund to enter into when-issued or delayed delivery basis securities notwithstanding the limitation on the issuance of senior securities in Section 18 of the 1940 Act, provided that the Fund intends to physically settle the transaction and the transaction will settle within 35 days of its trade date. If a when-issued or delayed delivery basis security entered into by the Fund does not satisfy those requirements, the Fund would need to comply with the Derivatives Rule with respect to its when issued or delayed delivery transactions, which are considered derivatives transactions under the Derivatives Rule. See "Derivatives – Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act" above.

 

Special Risks of Cyber Attacks

 

As with any entity that conducts business through electronic means in the modern marketplace, the Fund, and their service providers, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber attacks. Cyber attacks include, among other behaviors, theft or corruption of data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized monitoring, release, misuse, loss, destruction or corruption of confidential information, unauthorized access to relevant systems, compromises to networks or devices that the Fund and their service providers use to service the Fund’s operations, ransomware, operational disruption or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Fund and its service providers, or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber attacks affecting the Fund or the Adviser, the Fund’s distributor, custodian, or any other of the Fund’s intermediaries or service providers may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders, potentially resulting in, among other things, financial losses or the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its net asset value, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes designed to mitigate or prevent the risk of cyber attacks. Such costs may be ongoing because threats of cyber attacks are constantly evolving as cyber attackers become more sophisticated and their techniques become more complex. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investments in such companies to lose value. There can be no assurance that the Fund, the Fund’s service providers, or the issuers of the securities in which the Fund invest will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches in the future.

 

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LIBOR Replacement Risk

 

The Fund may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from, or continue to be tied to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. Such instruments may include bank loans, derivatives, floating rate securities, and other assets or liabilities. The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, has ceased publishing all LIBOR settings on a representative basis. In April 2023, however, the FCA announced that some USD LIBOR settings will continue to be published under a synthetic methodology until September 30, 2024 for certain legacy contracts.

 

The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market, has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. Under U.S. regulations that implement a statutory fallback mechanism to replace LIBOR, benchmark rates based on SOFR have replaced LIBOR in different categories of financial contracts.

 

Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. While some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities, or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The Fund may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.

 

General Market Risk

 

An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus designated as COVID-19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in international, national and local border closings and other significant travel restrictions and disruptions, significant disruptions to business operations, supply chains and customer activity, event cancellations and restrictions, service cancellations, reductions and other changes, significant challenges in healthcare service preparation and delivery, and quarantines, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. These impacts also have caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, which have caused losses for investors. Health crises caused by viral or bacterial outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social, economic, market and financial risks. The impact of this outbreak, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund's performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

S-32 

 

INVESTMENT POLICIES OF THE FUND

 

Fundamental Policies

 

The following investment limitations are fundamental, which means that the Fund cannot change them without approval by the vote of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares. The phrase “majority of the outstanding shares” means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Fund’s shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares, whichever is less. Unless otherwise noted, the Fund will determine compliance with the investment limitation percentages below (with the exception of a limitation relating to borrowing) and other applicable investment requirements immediately after, and as a result of, the Fund’s acquisition of such security or other asset. Accordingly, the Fund generally will not consider changes in values, net assets or other circumstances when determining whether the investment complies with its investment limitations. The Fund will not:

 

Make any investment inconsistent with its classification as a diversified series of an open-end investment company under the 1940 Act. This restriction does not, however, apply to any Fund classified as a non-diversified series of an open-end investment company under the 1940 Act.

 

Borrow money, except to the extent permitted by applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction and the guidelines set forth in the Prospectus and SAI as they may be amended from time to time.

 

Issue senior securities, except to the extent permitted by applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction.

 

Underwrite securities of other issuers, except insofar as the Fund may technically be deemed to be an underwriter under the 1933 Act in connection with the purchase or sale of its portfolio securities.

 

Concentrate its investments in the securities of one or more issuers conducting their principal business activities in the same industry (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities).

 

Purchase or sell real estate, except (1) to the extent permitted by applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction, (2) that the Fund may invest in securities of issuers that deal or invest in real estate and (3) that the Fund may purchase securities secured by real estate or interests therein.

 

Purchase or sell commodities or contracts on commodities except that the Fund may engage in financial futures contracts and related options and currency contracts and related options and may otherwise do so in accordance with applicable law and without registering as a commodity pool operator under the CEA.

 

Make loans to other persons, except that the Fund may lend its portfolio securities in accordance with applicable law, as amended and interpreted or modified from time to time by any regulatory authority having jurisdiction and the guidelines set forth in the Prospectus and SAI as they may be amended from time to time. The acquisition of investment securities or other investment instruments shall not be deemed to be the making of a loan.

 

Non-Fundamental Policies

 

In addition to the Fund’s investment objective, the following limitations are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval. The Fund may:

 

S-33 

 

Not purchase securities of any issuer (except securities of other investment companies, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities and repurchase agreements involving such securities) if, as a result, more than 5% of the total assets of the Fund would be invested in the securities of such issuer; or acquire more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of any one issuer. This restriction applies to 75% of the Fund’s total assets.

 

Not borrow money, except that (1) the Fund may borrow from banks (as defined in the 1940 Act) or enter into reverse repurchase agreements, in amounts up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed), (2) the Fund may borrow up to an additional 5% of its total assets for temporary purposes, (3) the Fund may obtain such short-term credit as may be necessary for the clearance of purchases and sales of portfolio securities, and (4) the Fund may purchase securities on margin and engage in short sales to the extent permitted by applicable law.

 

Notwithstanding the investment restriction above, the Fund may not borrow amounts in excess of 33 1/3% of its total assets, taken at market value, and then only from banks as a temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes such as the redemption of portfolio shares. The Fund will not purchase securities while borrowings are outstanding except to exercise prior commitments and to exercise subscription rights.

 

Purchase and sell currencies or securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward-commitment basis.

 

Purchase and sell foreign currency, purchase options on foreign currency and foreign currency exchange contracts.

 

Invest in the securities of foreign issuers.

 

Purchase shares of other investment companies to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Fund may, notwithstanding any fundamental policy or other limitation, invest all of its investable assets in securities of a single open-end management investment company with substantially the same investment objectives, policies and limitations.

 

The 1940 Act currently permits the Fund to invest up to 10% of its total assets in the securities of other investment companies. However, the Fund may not invest more than 5% of its total assets in the securities of any one investment company or acquire more than 3% of the outstanding securities of any one investment company, unless permissible under the 1940 Act and the rules and promulgations thereunder.

 

Write covered call options and buy and sell put and call options.

 

Enter into repurchase agreements.

 

Lend portfolio securities to registered broker-dealers or other institutional shareholders. These loans may not exceed 33 1/3% of the Fund’s total assets taken at market value. In addition, the Fund must receive at least 100% collateral.

 

Sell securities short and engage in short sales “against the box.”

 

Enter into swap transactions.

 

Not make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that the Fund may: (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) lend its securities.

 

Not purchase or sell real estate, physical commodities, or commodities contracts, except that the Fund may purchase: (i) marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in real estate (including REITs), commodities, or commodities contracts; and (ii) commodities contracts relating to financial instruments, such as financial futures contracts and options on such contracts.

 

Further, the Fund may not change its investment strategy to invest at least 80% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of small-capitalization companies at the time of initial purchase without 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

 

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The following descriptions of the 1940 Act may assist investors in understanding the above policies and restrictions:

 

Diversification. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified investment management company, as to 75% of its total assets, may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than securities of other investment companies, securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agents or instrumentalities or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer’s outstanding voting securities would be held by the fund.

 

Concentration. The SEC staff has defined concentration as investing 25% or more of an investment company’s total assets in an industry or group of industries. For purposes of the Fund’s concentration policy, the Fund may classify and re-classify companies in a particular industry and define and re-define industries in any reasonable manner, consistent with SEC and SEC staff guidance.

 

Borrowing. The 1940 Act presently allows a fund to borrow from any bank in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) and to borrow for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of its total assets.

 

Senior Securities. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although the 1940 Act does provide allowances for certain borrowings. In addition, Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act permits a fund to enter into derivatives transactions, notwithstanding the prohibitions and restrictions on the issuance of senior securities under the 1940 Act, provided that the fund complies with the conditions of Rule 18f-4.

 

Lending. Under the 1940 Act, a fund may only make loans if expressly permitted by its investment policies.

 

Underwriting. Under the 1940 Act, underwriting securities involves a fund purchasing securities directly from an issuer for the purpose of selling (distributing) them or participating in any such activity either directly or indirectly. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified fund may not make any commitment as underwriter, if immediately thereafter the amount of its outstanding underwriting commitments, plus the value of its investments in securities of issuers (other than investment companies) of which it owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities, exceeds 25% of the value of its total assets.

 

Real Estate. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company’s ability to invest in real estate, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments.

 

Commodities. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company’s ability to invest in commodities, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments.

 

INVESTMENT ADVISORY AND OTHER SERVICES

 

Investment Adviser. Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC, a 100% employee owned Delaware limited liability company located at 600 West Broadway, Suite 1000, San Diego, California 92101, serves as the investment adviser to the Fund. The Adviser manages and supervises the investment of the Fund’s assets on a discretionary basis. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $1.99 billion in assets under management and advisement. On February 13, 2003, the Adviser completed the purchase of Rice Hall James & Associates, the former adviser to the Fund (the “Predecessor Adviser”). In conjunction with this transaction, there were no changes in the actual investment management services, administrative functions or supervisory responsibilities for the Fund. The Adviser and the Predecessor Adviser have provided investment management services to individual and institutional shareholders since 1970.

 

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Advisory Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Adviser have entered into an investment advisory agreement, dated October 10, 2016 (the “Advisory Agreement”), with respect to the Fund. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser serves as investment adviser and makes the investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the investment program of the Fund, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Trustees.

 

After the initial two-year term, the continuance of the Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually: (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Trustees or, with respect to any Fund, by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of that Fund, or by the Adviser on not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ written notice to the Trust. As used in the Advisory Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested persons” and “assignment” have the same meaning as such terms in the 1940 Act.

 

Advisory Fees Paid to the Adviser. For its services under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.75% of the Fund’s average daily net assets.

 

The Adviser has contractually agreed to reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep total annual Fund operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other costs and expenses relating to the securities that are purchased and sold by the Fund, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and non-routine expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 1.25% of the Fund's average daily net assets until February 28, 2025 (each, an “Expense Limitation”). This agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board, for any reason at any time; or (ii) by the Adviser, upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on February 28, 2025.

 

In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the Expense Limitation to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee reductions or expense reimbursements made during the rolling three-year period preceding the recoupment if at any point total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the Expense Limitation (i) at the time of the fee reduction and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund paid the following in management fees to the Adviser:

 

Fund Contractual Advisory Fees Fees Waived by the Adviser1

Total Fees Paid to the Adviser

(After Waivers)

2021 2022 2023 2021 2022 2023 2021 2022 2023
Micro Cap Portfolio $387,965 $348,491 $240,965 $159,879 $234,963 $240,965 $228,086 $113,528 $0

 

1For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Adviser additionally reimbursed fees of $19,086 for the Micro Cap Portfolio to maintain the stated expense cap under the Expense Limitation.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

This section includes information about the Fund’s portfolio managers, including information about other accounts they manage, the dollar range of Fund shares they own and how they are compensated.

 

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Compensation. The Adviser compensates the Fund’s portfolio managers for their management of the Fund. A portfolio manager’s compensation consists of salary and a discretionary bonus. The discretionary bonus ranges from 100% to 200% of the portfolio manager’s salary. Approximately 50% of the bonus is based upon the portfolio manager’s contributions to the investment team and to the Adviser as a whole. The remaining 50% of the bonus is based upon investment productivity, with a small emphasis on Fund or account performance.

 

Fund Shares Owned by the Portfolio Managers. The following table shows the dollar amount range of the portfolio managers’ “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Fund as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”).

 

Name Dollar Range of Fund Shares1
Thomas W. McDowell $500,001 - $1,000,000
Daniel S. Sargen $100,001 - $500,000
Cara M. Thome $100,001 - $500,000
Reed M. Wirick, CFA $100,001 - $500,000

 

1Valuation date is October 31, 2023.

 

Other Accounts. In addition to the Fund, certain portfolio managers may also be responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as indicated by the following table. The information below is provided as of October 31, 2023.

 

Name Registered Investment Companies Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Other Accounts
Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in Millions)

Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in Millions)

Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in Millions)

Thomas W. McDowell 0 $0 0 $0 24 $25
Cara M. Thome 0 $0 0 $0 3 $81
Reed M. Wirick, CFA 0 $0 0 $0 11 $47
Daniel S. Sargen 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0

 

1Includes 1 account with assets under management of $47 million that is subject to a performance-based advisory fee.

 

Conflicts of Interest. The portfolio managers’ management of the investments of “other accounts” may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The other accounts may have the same investment objective as the Fund. Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the identical investment objectives, whereby a portfolio manager could favor one account over another. Another potential conflict could include the portfolio managers’ knowledge about the size, timing and possible market impact of Fund trades, whereby a portfolio manager could use this information to the advantage of other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Fund. In addition, it is also possible that a potential conflict of interest may arise because a portfolio manager manages an account with a performance-based management fee in addition to the Fund and other accounts without a performance-based fee. However, the Adviser has established policies and procedures to ensure that the purchase and sale of securities among all accounts it manages are fairly and equitably allocated.

 

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THE ADMINISTRATOR

 

General. SEI Investments Global Funds Services (the “Administrator”), a Delaware statutory trust, has its principal business offices at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. SEI Investments Management Corporation (“SIMC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company (“SEI Investments”), is the owner of all beneficial interest in the Administrator. SEI Investments and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including the Administrator, are leading providers of fund valuation services, trust accounting systems, and brokerage and information services to financial institutions, institutional investors, and money managers. The Administrator and its affiliates also serve as administrator or sub-administrator to other mutual funds.

 

Administration Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Administrator have entered into an amended and restated administration agreement dated November 13, 2018, as amended (the “Administration Agreement”). Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides the Trust with administrative services, including regulatory reporting and all necessary office space, equipment, personnel and facilities.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Administration Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Administrator in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

Administration Fees Paid to the Administrator. For its services under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator is paid a fee, which varies based on the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to certain minimums. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund paid the following amounts for these services:

 

 

Fund

Administration Fees Paid
2021 2022 2023
Micro Cap Portfolio $109,492 $110,259 $104,378

 

The Fund directs certain portfolio trades to SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the “Distributor”), via a network of executing brokers, who pay a portion of the Fund’s expenses. Under this arrangement the Fund had administration fees reduced by the amounts listed below for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023:

 

  2021 2022 2023
Micro Cap Portfolio $6,960 $6,996 $16,829

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

The Trust and the Distributor, a wholly owned subsidiary of SEI Investments and an affiliate of the Administrator, are parties to a distribution agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 14, 2005 and as amended August 30, 2010 and November 13, 2018 (the “Distribution Agreement”) whereby the Distributor acts as principal underwriter for the Trust’s shares. The principal business address of the Distributor is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested persons” of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operations of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act), and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or by the Distributor, upon not less than 60 days’ written notice to the other party.

 

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PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

Payments by the Fund. The Fund may enter into agreements with financial intermediaries pursuant to which the Fund may pay financial intermediaries for non-distribution-related sub-transfer agency, administrative, sub-accounting, and other shareholder services. Payments made pursuant to such agreements are generally based on either (1) a percentage of the average daily net assets of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary, or (2) the number of Fund shareholders serviced by a financial intermediary.

 

Payments by the Adviser. The Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments from their own resources and not from Fund assets to affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or its respective affiliates, as incentives to help market and promote the Fund and/or in recognition of their distribution, marketing, administrative services, and/or processing support.

 

These additional payments may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Fund, the Distributor or shareholders of the Fund through the financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel and/or fund supermarkets. Payments may also be made through the financial intermediary’s retirement, qualified tuition, fee-based advisory, wrap fee bank trust, or insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. These payments may include, but are not limited to, placing the Fund in a financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel or on a preferred or recommended fund list; providing business or shareholder financial planning assistance; educating financial intermediary personnel about the Fund; providing access to sales and management representatives of the financial intermediary; promoting sales of Fund shares; providing marketing and educational support; maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder transaction processing services. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services.

 

The Adviser and/or its affiliates may also make payments from their own resources to financial intermediaries for costs associated with the purchase of products or services used in connection with sales and marketing, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs, client and investor entertainment and other sponsored events. The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.

 

Revenue sharing payments may be negotiated based on a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the amount of Fund assets attributable to investments in the Fund by financial intermediaries’ customers, a flat fee or other measures as determined from time to time by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. A significant purpose of these payments is to increase the sales of Fund shares, which in turn may benefit the Adviser through increased fees as Fund assets grow.

 

Investors should understand that some financial intermediaries may also charge their clients fees in connection with purchases of shares or the provision of shareholder services.

 

THE TRANSFER AGENT

 

SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 333 W. 11th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105 (the “Transfer Agent”), serves as the transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund under a transfer agency agreement with the Trust.

 

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THE CUSTODIAN

 

U.S. Bank National Association, 800 Nicollett Mall, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-4302 (the “Custodian”), serves as the custodian of the Fund. The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Fund as required by the 1940 Act.

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Cohen & Company, Ltd. ("Cohen"), 1835 Market Street, Suite 310, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. The financial statements and notes thereto incorporated by reference have been audited by Cohen, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are incorporated by reference in reliance on the authority of their report as experts in accounting and auditing. BBD, LLP ("BBD") served as the Fund's independent registered public accounting firm prior to the acquisition of BBD's Investment Management Group by Cohen in 2023.

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 2222 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-3007, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

 

SECURITIES LENDING

 

The Fund did not engage in securities lending activities during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023.

 

TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

 

Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series, including the Fund described in this SAI, are overseen by the Trustees. The Board has approved contracts, as described above, under which certain companies provide essential management services to the Trust.

 

Like most mutual funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of risk, is performed by third party service providers, such as the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, have oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the funds. The funds and their service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust’s business (e.g., the Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the funds’ service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

 

The Trustees’ role in risk oversight begins before the inception of a fund, at which time certain of the fund’s service providers present the Board with information concerning the investment objectives, strategies and risks of the fund as well as proposed investment limitations for the fund. Additionally, the fund’s adviser provides the Board with an overview of, among other things, its investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the adviser and other service providers, such as the fund’s independent accountants, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the funds may be exposed.

 

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The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the funds by the adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the advisory agreement with an adviser, the Board meets with the adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the adviser’s adherence to the funds’ investment restrictions and compliance with various fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the funds’ investments, including, for example, reports on the adviser’s use of derivatives in managing the funds, if any, as well as reports on the funds’ investments in other investment companies, if any.

 

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues and fund and adviser risk assessments. At least annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the adviser. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report; any material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures; and any material compliance matters since the date of the last report.

 

The Board receives reports from the funds’ service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. The Adviser makes regular reports to the Board concerning investments for which market quotations are not readily available. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of the funds’ financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the funds and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the funds’ internal controls. Additionally, in connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees fund management’s implementation of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with the SEC are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust’s internal controls over financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Trust’s financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust’s financial statements.

 

From their review of these reports and discussions with the adviser, the Chief Compliance Officer, the independent registered public accounting firm and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee learn in detail about the material risks of the funds, thereby facilitating a dialogue about how management and service providers identify and mitigate those risks.

 

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the funds can be identified and/or quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the funds’ goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the funds’ investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the funds’ adviser and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the funds’ and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s ability to monitor and manage risk, as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.

 

Members of the Board. There are seven members of the Board, five of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“independent Trustees”). Robert Nesher, an interested person of the Trust, serves as Chairman of the Board. Joseph T. Grause, Jr., an independent Trustee, serves as the lead independent Trustee. The Trust has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Trust made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the independent Trustees constitute more than two-thirds of the Board, the fact that the chairperson of each Committee of the Board is an independent Trustee, the amount of assets under management in the Trust, and the number of funds (and classes of shares) overseen by the Board. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the independent Trustees from fund management.

 

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The Board has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and the Governance Committee. The Audit Committee and the Governance Committee are chaired by an independent Trustee and composed of all of the independent Trustees. In addition, the Board has a lead independent Trustee.

 

In his role as lead independent Trustee, Mr. Grause, among other things: (i) presides over Board meetings in the absence of the Chairman of the Board; (ii) presides over executive sessions of the independent Trustees; (iii) along with the Chairman of the Board, oversees the development of agendas for Board meetings; (iv) facilitates communication between the independent Trustees and management, and among the independent Trustees; (v) serves as a key point person for dealings between the independent Trustees and management; and (vi) has such other responsibilities as the Board or independent Trustees determine from time to time.

 

Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations and other directorships held during at least the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee. There is no stated term of office for the Trustees. Nevertheless, an independent Trustee must retire from the Board as of the end of the calendar year in which such independent Trustee first attains the age of seventy-five years; provided, however, that, an independent Trustee may continue to serve for one or more additional one calendar year terms after attaining the age of seventy-five years (each calendar year a “Waiver Term”) if, and only if, prior to the beginning of such Waiver Term: (1) the Governance Committee (a) meets to review the performance of the independent Trustee; (b) finds that the continued service of such independent Trustee is in the best interests of the Trust; and (c) unanimously approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above; and (2) a majority of the Trustees approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each Trustee is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

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Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served

Principal Occupations

in the Past 5 Years

Other Directorships Held in the Past 5 Years
Interested Trustees

Robert Nesher

(Born: 1946)

Chairman of the Board of Trustees1

(since 1991)

SEI employee 1974 to present; currently performs various services on behalf of SEI Investments for which Mr. Nesher is compensated. President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. President and Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP. Vice Chairman of Winton Series Trust to 2017. Vice Chairman of Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund (closed-end investment company), The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Gallery Trust, Schroder Series Trust and Schroder Global Series Trust to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Catholic Responsible Investments Funds, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP, SEI Global Master Fund plc, SEI Global Assets Fund plc, SEI Global Investments Fund plc, SEI Investments—Global Funds Services, Limited, SEI Investments Global, Limited, SEI Investments (Europe) Ltd., SEI Investments—Unit Trust Management (UK) Limited, SEI Multi-Strategy Funds PLC and SEI Global Nominee Ltd.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

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N. Jeffrey Klauder

(Born: 1952)

Trustee1

(since 2018)

Senior Advisor of SEI Investments since 2018. Executive Vice President and General Counsel of SEI Investments, 2004 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds. Director of SEI Private Trust Company, SEI Global Fund Services Ltd., SEI Investments Global Limited, SEI Global Master Fund, SEI Global Investments Fund, SEI Global Assets Fund and SEI Investments - Guernsey Limited.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of SEI Investments Management Corporation, SEI Trust Company, SEI Investments (South Africa), Limited and SEI Investments (Canada) Company to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

Independent Trustees

Kathleen Gaffney

(Born: 1961)

Trustee

(since 2022)

Retired since 2019. Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Eaton Vance Management from 2012 to 2019. Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

Joseph T. Grause, Jr.

(Born: 1952)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Lead Independent Trustee

(since 2018)

Self-Employed Consultant since 2012. Director of Endowments and Foundations, Morningstar Investment Management, Morningstar, Inc., 2010 to 2011. Director of International Consulting and Chief Executive Officer of Morningstar Associates Europe Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2007 to 2010. Country Manager – Morningstar UK Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2005 to 2007.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Director of The Korea Fund, Inc. to 2019. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

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Robert Mulhall

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2019)

Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, from 1998 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of Villanova University Alumni Board of Directors to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

Bruce Speca

(Born: 1956)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Global Head of Asset Allocation, Manulife Asset Management (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2010 to 2011. Executive Vice President – Investment Management Services, John Hancock Financial Services (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2003 to 2010.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022. Director of Stone Harbor Investments Funds (8 Portfolios), Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Income Fund (closed-end fund) and Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Total Income Fund (closed-end fund) to 2022.

Monica Walker

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2022)

Retired. Private Investor since 2017. Co-Founder (1991-2017), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (2009 to 2017) and Chief Investment Officer – Equity (2007 to 2017) of Holland Capital Management, LLC (Chicago). Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

1Denotes Trustees who may be deemed to be “interested” persons of the Fund as that term is defined in the 1940 Act by virtue of their affiliation with the Distributor and/or its affiliates.

 

Individual Trustee Qualifications

 

The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of their ability to review and understand information about the funds provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the funds, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the funds’ shareholders. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on their own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.

 

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The Trust has concluded that Mr. Nesher should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 1974, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 1991.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Klauder should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 2004, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he gained serving as a partner of a large law firm.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Gaffney should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as a vice president and portfolio manager for a large asset management company, her experience in and knowledge of the asset management industry, and the experience she has gained serving in board and leadership positions in a variety of nonprofit and civic organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Grause should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with different financial institutions, his knowledge of the mutual fund and investment management industries, his past experience as an interested trustee and chair of the investment committee for a multi-managed investment company, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Mulhall should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with an audit firm and various financial services firms, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and his experience serving in a variety of leadership capacities for non-profit organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Speca should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained serving as president of a mutual fund company and portfolio manager for a $95 billion complex of asset allocation funds, his over 25 years of experience working in a management capacity with mutual fund boards, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Walker should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained in a variety of leadership roles with an asset management company that she co-founded, her experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience she has gained in various other corporate accounting, finance and investment roles.

 

In its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the funds.

 

Board Committees. The Board has established the following standing committees:

 

Audit Committee. The Board has a standing Audit Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee include: (i) recommending which firm to engage as the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this relationship; (ii) reviewing the independent registered public accounting firm’s compensation, the proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firm’s independence; (iii) pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; (iv) serving as a channel of communication between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; (v) reviewing the results of each external audit, including any qualifications in the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion, any related management letter, management’s responses to recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the audit, reports submitted to the Committee by the internal auditing department of the Administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and management’s responses to any such reports; (vi) reviewing the Fund’s audited financial statements and considering any significant disputes between the Trust’s management and the independent registered public accounting firm that arose in connection with the preparation of those financial statements; (vii) considering, in consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trust’s senior internal accounting executive, if any, the independent registered public accounting firms’ reports on the adequacy of the Trust’s internal financial controls; (viii) reviewing, in consultation with the Fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed when preparing the Fund’s financial statements; and (ix) other audit related matters. Mses. Gaffney and Walker and Messrs. Grause, Mulhall and Speca currently serve as members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Mulhall serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met two (2) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

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Governance Committee. The Board has a standing Governance Committee (formerly the Nominating Committee) that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Governance Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Governance Committee include: (i) considering and reviewing Board governance and compensation issues; (ii) conducting a self-assessment of the Board’s operations; (iii) selecting and nominating all persons to serve as independent Trustees; and (iv) reviewing shareholder recommendations for nominations to fill vacancies on the Board if such recommendations are submitted in writing and addressed to the Committee at the Trust’s office. Mses. Gaffney and Walker and Messrs. Grause, Mulhall and Speca currently serve as members of the Governance Committee. Mr. Speca serves as the Chairman of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met one (1) time during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Fund Shares Owned by Board Members. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each Trustee’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Fund as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act. The Trustees and officers of the Trust own less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.

 

Name

Dollar Range of Fund Shares

(Fund)1

Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares

(All Funds in the Family of Investment Companies)1,2

Interested Trustees
Nesher None None
Klauder None None
Independent Trustees
Gaffney None None
Grause None None
Mulhall None None
Speca None None
Walker None None

 

1Valuation date is December 31, 2023.
2The Fund is the only fund in the family of investment companies.

 

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Board Compensation. The Trust paid the following fees to the Trustees during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Name Aggregate Compensation from the Trust Pension or Retirement Benefits Accrued as Part of Fund Expenses Estimated Annual Benefits Upon Retirement Total Compensation from the Trust and Fund Complex1
Interested Trustees
Nesher $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Klauder $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Independent Trustees
Gaffney2 $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Grause $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Johnson3 $25,660 N/A N/A $25,660 for service on one (1) board
Krikorian4 $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Mulhall $114,666 N/A N/A $114,666 for service on one (1) board
Speca $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Walker2 $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board

 

1The Trust is the only investment company in the Fund Complex.
2Ms. Gaffney and Ms. Walker were appointed to the Board on January 25, 2022.
3In accordance with the Trust's retirement policy, Mr. Johnson retired from the Board effective December 31, 2022, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.
4In accordance with the Trust's retirement policy, Ms. Krikorian retired from the Board effective December 31, 2023, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.

 

Trust Officers. Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and the principal occupations for the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as executive officers of the Trust. There is no stated term of office for officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each officer is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. The Chief Compliance Officer is the only officer who receives compensation from the Trust for his services.

 

Certain officers of the Trust also serve as officers of one or more mutual funds for which SEI Investments or its affiliates act as investment manager, administrator or distributor.

 

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Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served Principal Occupations in Past 5 Years

Michael Beattie

(Born: 1965)

President

(since 2011)

Managing Director, SEI Investments, since 2021. Director of Client Service, SEI Investments, from 2004 to 2021.

James Bernstein

(Born: 1962)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2017)

Attorney, SEI Investments, since 2017.

 

Prior Positions: Self-employed consultant, 2017. Associate General Counsel & Vice President, Nationwide Funds Group and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, from 2002 to 2016. Assistant General Counsel & Vice President, Market Street Funds and Provident Mutual Insurance Company, from 1999 to 2002.

John Bourgeois

(Born: 1973)

Assistant Treasurer

(since 2017)

Fund Accounting Manager, SEI Investments, since 2000.

Donald Duncan

(Born: 1964)

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer and Privacy Officer

(since 2023)

Chief Compliance Officer and Global Head of Anti-Money Laundering Strategy of SEI Investments Company since January 2023. Head of Global Anti-Money Laundering Program for Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC from August 2021 until December 2022. Senior VP and Supervising Principal of Hamilton Lane Securities, LLC from June 2016 to August 2021. Senior Director at AXA-Equitable from June 2011 until May 2016. Senior Director at PRUCO Securities, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. from October 2005 until December 2009.

Eric C. Griffith

(Born: 1969)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2019)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2019. Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co., from 2012 to 2018.

Matthew M. Maher

(Born: 1975)

Vice President

(since 2018)

 

Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2018. Attorney, Blank Rome LLP, from 2015 to 2018. Assistant Counsel & Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon, from 2013 to 2014. Attorney, Dilworth Paxson LLP, from 2006 to 2013.

Andrew Metzger

(Born: 1980)

Treasurer, Controller and Chief Financial Officer

(since 2021)

Director of Fund Accounting, SEI Investments, since 2020. Senior Director, Embark, from 2019 to 2020. Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, from 2002 to 2019.

Robert Morrow

(Born: 1968)

Vice President

(since 2017)

Account Manager, SEI Investments, since 2007.

 

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Stephen F. Panner

(Born: 1970)

Chief Compliance Officer

(since 2022)

Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds, SEI Structured Credit Fund LP, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds since September 2022. Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Alternative Income Fund since May 2023. Chief Compliance Officer of Symmetry Panoramic Trust since December 2023. Fund Compliance Officer of SEI Investments Company from February 2011 to September 2022. Fund Accounting Director and CFO and Controller for the SEI Funds from July 2005 to February 2011.

Alexander F. Smith

(Born: 1977)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2020. Associate Counsel & Manager, Vanguard, 2012 to 2020. Attorney, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, 2008 to 2012.

 

PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES

 

Purchases and redemptions may be made through the Transfer Agent on any day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business. Shares of the Fund are offered and redeemed on a continuous basis. Currently, the NYSE is closed for business when the following holidays are observed: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

It is currently the Trust’s policy to pay all redemptions in cash. The Trust retains the right, however, to alter this policy to provide for redemptions in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of securities held by the Fund in lieu of cash. Shareholders may incur brokerage charges on the sale of any such securities so received in payment of redemptions. A shareholder will at all times be entitled to aggregate cash redemptions from all funds of the Trust up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Trust’s net assets during any 90-day period.

 

The Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption and/or to postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, for any period on which trading on the NYSE is restricted (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation), or during the existence of an emergency (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation) as a result of which the disposal or valuation of the Fund’s securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC has by order permitted. The Trust also reserves the right to suspend sales of shares of any Fund for any period during which the NYSE, the Adviser, the Administrator, the Transfer Agent and/or the Custodian are not open for business.

 

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DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

General Policy. The Fund adheres to Section 2(a)(41), and Rules 2a-4 and 2a-5 thereunder, of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other securities are valued at fair value by the Adviser in good faith, and subject to the oversight of the Board. In complying with the 1940 Act, the Trust relies on guidance provided by the SEC and by the SEC staff in various interpretive letters and other guidance.

 

Equity Securities. Securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system for which quotations are readily available (except for securities traded on NASDAQ), including securities traded over the counter, are valued at the last quoted sale price on an exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on the valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time if such exchange is normally open at that time), or, if there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recent quoted bid price. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price will be used. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Money Market Securities and other Debt Securities. If available, money market securities and other debt securities are priced based upon valuations provided by recognized independent, third-party pricing agents. Such values generally reflect the last reported sales price if the security is actively traded. The third-party pricing agents may also value debt securities by employing methodologies that utilize actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations, or other methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities. Such methodologies generally consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. Money market securities and other debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less may be valued at their amortized cost, which approximates market value. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Foreign Securities. The prices for foreign securities are reported in local currency and converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates. Exchange rates are provided daily by recognized independent pricing agents.

 

Derivatives and Other Complex Securities. Exchange traded options on securities and indices purchased by the Fund generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last bid price. Exchange traded options on securities and indices written by the Fund generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last asked price. In the case of options traded in the over-the-counter market, if the OTC option is also an exchange traded option, the Fund will follow the rules regarding the valuation of exchange traded options. If the OTC option is not also an exchange traded option, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Futures and swaps cleared through a central clearing house (“centrally cleared swaps”) are valued at the settlement price established each day by the board of the exchange on which they are traded. The daily settlement prices for financial futures are provided by an independent source. On days when there is excessive volume or market volatility, or the future or centrally cleared swap does not end trading by the time the Fund calculates net asset value, the settlement price may not be available at the time at which the Fund calculates its net asset value. On such days, the best available price (which is typically the last sales price) may be used to value the Fund’s futures or centrally cleared swaps position.

 

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Foreign currency forward contracts are valued at the current day’s interpolated foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day’s spot rate, and the thirty, sixty, ninety and one-hundred eighty day forward rates provided by an independent source.

 

If available, non-centrally cleared swaps, collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations and bank loans are priced based on valuations provided by an independent third party pricing agent. If a price is not available from an independent third party pricing agent, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Use of Third-Party Independent Pricing Services. Pursuant to contracts with the Administrator, prices for most securities held by the Fund with readily available market quotations are provided by third-party independent pricing agents. The valuations for these securities are reviewed by the Administrator. In accordance with the Adviser’s Valuation Procedures, the Adviser may also use third-party independent pricing agents (reviewed and approved by the Adviser) to fair value certain securities without readily available market quotations (or where market quotations are unreliable).

 

Fair Value Procedures. Securities for which market prices are not “readily available” or which cannot be valued using the methodologies described above are valued in accordance with Fair Value Procedures established by the Adviser and implemented through the Adviser's Valuation Committee. In establishing a fair value for an investment, the Adviser will use valuation methodologies established by the Adviser and may consider inputs and methodologies provided by, among others, third-party independent pricing agents, independent broker dealers and/or the Adviser’s own personnel (including investment personnel).

 

Some of the more common reasons that may necessitate a security being valued using Fair Value Procedures include: the security’s trading has been halted or suspended; the security has been de-listed from a national exchange; the security’s primary trading market is temporarily closed at a time when under normal conditions it would be open; the security has not been traded for an extended period of time; the security’s primary pricing source is not able or willing to provide a price; trading of the security is subject to local government-imposed restrictions; or a significant event with respect to a security has occurred after the close of the market or exchange on which the security principally trades and before the time the Fund calculates net asset value. When a security is valued in accordance with the Fair Value Procedures, the Adviser's Valuation Committee will determine the value after taking into consideration relevant information reasonably available to the Committee.

 

TAXES

 

The following is only a summary of certain additional U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that is intended to supplement the discussion contained in the Prospectus. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. In particular, it does not address investors subject to special rules, such as investors who hold shares through an individual retirement account (“IRA”), 401k, or other tax advantaged accounts. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations, including their state, local, and foreign tax liabilities.

 

The following general discussion of certain federal income tax consequences is based on the Code and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.

 

S-52 

 

Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company. The Fund has elected and intends to continue to qualify each year to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”). By following such a policy, the Fund expects to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal taxes to which it may be subject. If the Fund qualifies as a RIC, it will generally not be subject to federal income taxes on the net investment income and net realized capital gains that it timely distributes to its shareholders. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

In order to qualify as a RIC under the Code, the Fund must distribute annually to its shareholders at least 90% of its net investment income (which, includes dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, less operating expenses) and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income, for each tax year, if any (the “Distribution Requirement”), and also must meet certain additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of the Fund’s gross income each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities, or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (the “Qualifying Income Test”); and (ii) at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year: (A) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. Government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, including the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership, and (B) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities (other than U.S. Government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of another RIC) of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Asset Test”).

 

Although the Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and may distribute its capital gains for any taxable year, the Fund will be subject to federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed. The Fund is treated as a separate corporation for federal income tax purposes. The Fund therefore is considered to be a separate entity in determining its treatment under the rules for RICs described herein. Losses in one Fund do not offset gains in another and the requirements (other than certain organizational requirements) for qualifying RIC status are determined at the Fund level rather than at the Trust level.

 

If the Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income or Asset Tests in any taxable year, it may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. If the Fund fails to maintain qualification as a RIC for a tax year, and the relief provisions are not available, it will be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate (currently 21%) without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In such case, its shareholders would be taxed as if they received ordinary dividends to the extent of a Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits, although corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends received deduction (subject to certain limitations) and individuals may be able to benefit from the lower tax rates available to qualified dividend income. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC.

 

The Fund may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year. A “qualified late year loss” generally includes net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (commonly referred to as “post-October losses”) and certain other late-year losses.

 

S-53 

 

The treatment of capital loss carryovers for the Fund is similar to the rules that apply to capital loss carryovers of individuals, which provide that such losses are carried over indefinitely. If the Fund has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains), the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year. The carryover of capital losses may be limited under the general loss limitation rules if the Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Code.

 

Federal Excise Tax. Notwithstanding the Distribution Requirement described above, which generally requires the Fund to distribute at least 90% of its annual investment company taxable income and the excess of its exempt interest income (but does not require any minimum distribution of net capital gain), the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax to the extent it fails to distribute, by the end of the calendar year at least 98% of its ordinary income and 98.2% of its capital gain net income (the excess of short- and long-term capital gains over short- and long-term capital losses) for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year (including any retained amount from the prior calendar year on which the Fund paid no federal income tax). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions to avoid liability for federal excise tax but can make no assurances that such tax will be completely eliminated. For example, a Fund may receive delayed or corrected tax reporting statements from its investments that cause such Fund to accrue additional income and gains after such Fund has already made its excise tax distributions for the year. In such a situation, a Fund may incur an excise tax liability resulting from such delayed receipt of such tax information statements. In addition, the Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate Fund investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal excise tax liability at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Fund to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.

 

Distributions to Shareholders. The Fund receives income generally in the form of dividends and interest on investments. This income, plus net short-term capital gains, if any, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, constitutes the Fund’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. Any distributions by the Fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary income or at the lower capital gains rates that apply to individuals receiving qualified dividend income, whether you take them in cash or in additional shares.

 

Distributions by the Fund are currently eligible for the reduced maximum tax rate to individuals of 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets) to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income on the securities it holds and the Fund reports the distributions as qualified dividend income. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that: (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become “ex-dividend” (which is the day on which declared distributions (dividends or capital gains) are deducted from the Fund’s assets before it calculates the net asset value) with respect to such dividend, (ii) the Fund has not satisfied similar holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder, (iii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property, or (iv) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Code. Therefore, if you lend your shares in the Fund, such as pursuant to a securities lending arrangement, you may lose the ability to treat dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. Distributions that the Fund receives from an underlying fund taxable as a RIC or from a REIT will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such underlying fund or REIT.

 

S-54 

 

Distributions by the Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable to you as ordinary income. Capital gain distributions consisting of the Fund’s net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains for individual shareholders currently set at a maximum rate of 20% regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Fund. Distributions from capital gains are generally made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards.

 

In the case of corporate shareholders, the Fund’s distributions (other than capital gain distributions) generally qualify for the dividends received deduction to the extent such distributions are so reported and do not exceed the gross amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund for the year. Generally, and subject to certain limitations (including certain holding period limitations), a dividend will be treated as a qualifying dividend if it has been received from a domestic corporation.

 

To the extent that the Fund makes a distribution of income received by the Fund in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

If the Fund’s distributions exceed its current and accumulated earnings and profits for the taxable year (as calculated for federal income tax purposes), all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholder’s cost basis in the Fund and result in a higher reported capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold.

 

A dividend or distribution received shortly after the purchase of shares reduces the net asset value of the shares by the amount of the dividend or distribution and, although in effect a return of capital, will be taxable to the shareholder. If the net asset value of shares were reduced below the shareholder’s cost by dividends or distributions representing gains realized on sales of securities, such dividends or distributions would be a return of investment though taxable to the shareholder in the same manner as other dividends or distributions.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, and will advise you of its tax status for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held your shares for a full year, the Fund may report and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gain, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Fund.

 

Dividends declared to shareholders of record in October, November or December and actually paid in January of the following year will be treated as having been received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which declared. Under this rule, therefore, a shareholder may be taxed in one year on dividends or distributions actually received in January of the following year.

 

Sales or Redemptions. Sales and redemptions of Fund shares may be taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. Any gain or loss recognized on a sale or redemption of shares of the Fund by a shareholder who holds Fund shares as capital assets will generally be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months and otherwise will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss. However, if shares on which a shareholder has received a net capital gain distribution are subsequently sold or redeemed and such shares have been held for six months or less, any loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the net capital gain distribution. In addition, the loss realized on a sale or other disposition of shares will be disallowed to the extent a shareholder repurchases (or enters into a contract to or option to repurchase) shares within a period of 61 days (beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares). This loss disallowance rule will apply to shares received through the reinvestment of dividends during the 61-day period. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired.

 

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The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for purchases of Fund shares. In addition to the requirement to report the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares have a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will permit Fund shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use its average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. If your shares are held in a brokerage account, your broker may use a different method and you should contact your broker to determine which method it will use. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review the cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

Net Investment Income Tax. U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including any capital gains realized on the sale of shares of the Fund).

 

Tax Treatment of Complex Securities. The Fund may invest in complex securities and these investments may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules. These rules could affect the Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC, affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Fund are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to the Fund and/or defer the Fund’s ability to recognize losses, and, in limited cases, subject the Fund to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of its foreign securities. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by the Fund and may require the Fund to sell securities to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

The Fund is required for federal income tax purposes to mark-to-market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures and options contracts subject to section 1256 of the Code (“Section 1256 Contracts”) as of the end of the year as well as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from Section 1256 Contracts on broad-based indexes required to be marked to market will be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. The Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on Section 1256 Contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the Fund. These provisions may also require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirement and for avoiding the excise tax discussed above. Accordingly, in order to avoid certain income and excise taxes, the Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

The Fund may invest in U.S. REITs. Investments in REIT equity securities may require the Fund to accrue and distribute income not yet received. To generate sufficient cash to make the requisite distributions, the Fund may be required to sell securities in its portfolio (including when it is not advantageous to do so) that it otherwise would have continued to hold. The Fund’s investments in REIT equity securities may at other times result in the Fund’s receipt of cash in excess of the REIT’s earnings; if the Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to the Fund’s shareholders for federal income tax purposes. Dividends paid by a REIT, other than capital gain distributions, will be taxable as ordinary income up to the amount of the REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits. Capital gain dividends paid by a REIT to the Fund will be treated as long-term capital gains by the Fund and, in turn, may be distributed by the Fund to its shareholders as a capital gain distribution. Dividends received by the Fund from a REIT generally will not constitute qualified dividend income or qualify for the dividends received deduction. If a REIT is operated in a manner such that it fails to qualify as a REIT, an investment in the REIT would become subject to double taxation, meaning the taxable income of the REIT would be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate without any deduction for dividends paid to shareholders and the dividends would be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income (or possibly as qualified dividend income) to the extent of the REIT’s current and accumulated earnings and profits.

 

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“Qualified REIT dividends” (i.e., ordinary REIT dividends other than capital gain dividends and portions of REIT dividends designated as qualified dividend income eligible for capital gain tax rates) are eligible for a 20% deduction by non-corporate taxpayers. This deduction, if allowed in full, equates to a maximum effective tax rate of 29.6% (37% top rate applied to income after 20% deduction). Distributions by the Fund to its shareholders that are attributable to qualified REIT dividends received by the Fund and which the Fund properly reports as “section 199A dividends,” are treated as “qualified REIT dividends” in the hands of non-corporate shareholders. A section 199A dividend is treated as a qualified REIT dividend only if the shareholder receiving such dividend holds the dividend-paying RIC shares for at least 46 days of the 91-day period beginning 45 days before the shares become ex-dividend, and is not under an obligation to make related payments with respect to a position in substantially similar or related property. The Fund is permitted to report such part of its dividends as section 199A dividends as are eligible, but is not required to do so. Unless later extended or made permanent, this 20% deduction will no longer be available for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025.

 

REITs in which the Fund invests often do not provide complete and final tax information to the Fund until after the time that the Fund issues a tax reporting statement. As a result, the Fund may at times find it necessary to reclassify the amount and character of its distributions to you after it issues your tax reporting statement. When such reclassification is necessary, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a corrected, final Form 1099-DIV to reflect the reclassified information. If you receive a corrected Form 1099-DIV, use the information on this corrected form, and not the information on the previously issued tax reporting statement, in completing your tax returns.

 

Foreign Taxes. Dividends and interest received by the Fund may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions that would reduce the yield on the Fund’s stock or securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these taxes. Foreign countries generally do not impose taxes on capital gains with respect to investments by foreign investors.

 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, IRAs, salary deferral arrangements, 401(k)s, and other tax-exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Tax-exempt entities are not permitted to offset losses from one trade or business against the income or gain of another trade or business. Certain net losses incurred prior to January 1, 2018 are permitted to offset gain and income created by an unrelated trade or business, if otherwise available. Under current law, the Fund generally serves to block UBTI from being realized by its tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, the tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of an investment in the Fund where, for example: (i) the Fund invests in residual interests of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”); (ii) the Fund invests in a REIT that is a taxable mortgage pool (“TMP”) or that has a subsidiary that is a TMP or that invests in the residual interest of a REMIC; or (iii) shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisor. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding these issues.

 

The Fund’s shares held in a tax-qualified retirement account will generally not be subject to federal taxation on income and capital gains distributions from the Fund until a shareholder begins receiving payments from their retirement account. Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, shareholders should consult their tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

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Backup Withholding. The Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold at a rate of 24% and remit to the U.S. Treasury the amount withheld on amounts payable to any shareholder who: (i) has provided the Fund either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all; (ii) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends; (iii) has failed to certify to the Fund that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding; or (iv) has failed to certify to the Fund that the shareholder is a U.S. person (including a resident alien). Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder's U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Any non-U.S. investors in the Fund may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in the Fund. Foreign shareholders (i.e., nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on distributions derived from taxable ordinary income. The Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Short-term capital gain dividends received by a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year are not exempt from this 30% withholding tax. Gains realized by foreign shareholders from the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Foreign shareholders who fail to provide an applicable IRS form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from the Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described in this paragraph. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.

 

Under legislation generally known as “FATCA” (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), the Fund is required to withhold 30% of certain ordinary dividends they pay to shareholders that fail to meet prescribed information reporting or certification requirements. In general, no such withholding will be required with respect to a U.S. person or non-U.S. person that timely provides the certifications required by the Fund or its agent on a valid IRS Form W-9 or applicable series of IRS Form W-8, respectively. Shareholders potentially subject to withholding include foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”), such as non-U.S. investment funds, and non-financial foreign entities (“NFFEs”). To avoid withholding under FATCA, an FFI generally must enter into an information sharing agreement with the IRS in which it agrees to report certain identifying information (including name, address, and taxpayer identification number) with respect to its U.S. account holders (which, in the case of an entity shareholder, may include its direct and indirect U.S. owners), and an NFFE generally must identify and provide other required information to the Fund or other withholding agent regarding its U.S. owners, if any. Such non-U.S. shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by regulations and other guidance. A non-U.S. shareholder resident or doing business in a country that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement.

 

A non-U.S. entity that invests in the Fund will need to provide the Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity’s status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding. Non-U.S. investors in the Fund should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

 

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, generally, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC such as the Fund are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer’s treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

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State Taxes. Depending upon state and local law, distributions by the Fund to its shareholders and the ownership of such shares may be subject to state and local taxes. Rules of state and local taxation of dividend and capital gains distributions from RICs often differ from the rules for federal income taxation described above. It is expected that the Fund will not be liable for any corporate excise, income or franchise tax in Massachusetts if it qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes.

 

Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. Government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by the Fund. Investment in Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae securities, banker’s acceptances, commercial paper, and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. Government securities do not generally qualify for such tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding state and local taxes applicable to an investment in the Fund.

 

BROKERAGE ALLOCATION AND OTHER PRACTICES

 

Brokerage Transactions. Generally, equity securities are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Purchases from underwriters will include the underwriting commission or concession, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers will include a dealer’s mark-up or reflect a dealer’s mark-down. Money market securities and other debt securities are usually bought and sold directly from the issuer or an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Generally, the Fund will not pay brokerage commissions for such purchases. When a debt security is bought from an underwriter, the purchase price will usually include an underwriting commission or concession and the purchase price for securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealer’s mark-up or reflect a dealer’s mark-down.

 

In addition, the Adviser may place a combined order for two or more accounts it manages, including the Fund, engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, joint execution is in the best interest of each participant and will result in best price and execution. Transactions involving commingled orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account or fund. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or the Fund may obtain, it is the opinion of the Adviser that the advantages of combined orders outweigh the possible disadvantages of combined orders.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund paid the following aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions:

 

 

Fund

Aggregate Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions Paid
2021 2022 2023
Micro Cap Portfolio $78,666 $76,000 $65,567

 

Brokerage Selection. The Trust does not expect to use one particular broker or dealer, and when one or more brokers is believed capable of providing the best combination of price and execution, the Adviser may select a broker based upon brokerage or research services provided to the Adviser. The Adviser may pay a higher commission than otherwise obtainable from other brokers in return for such services only if a good faith determination is made that the commission is reasonable in relation to the services provided.

 

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Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause the Fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In addition to agency transactions, the Adviser may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). In the case of research services, the Adviser believes that access to independent investment research is beneficial to its investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Fund.

 

To the extent that research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the Adviser might utilize Fund commissions include research reports and other information on the economy, industries, sectors, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, political developments, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and other analysis. The Adviser may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used by the Adviser in connection with the Fund or any other specific client account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Adviser will be in addition to, and not in lieu of, the services required to be performed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. Any advisory or other fees paid to the Adviser are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services.

 

In some cases the Adviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a “research” and a “non-research” use. When this occurs, the Adviser makes a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions, while the Adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the Adviser believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.

 

From time to time, the Adviser may purchase new issues of securities for clients, including the Fund, in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the Adviser with research services. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will provide research “credits” in these situations at a rate that is higher than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid the following commissions on brokerage transactions directed to brokers pursuant to an agreement or understanding whereby the broker provides research services to the Adviser:

 

Fund Total Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions for Research Services Total Dollar Amount of Transactions Involving Brokerage Commissions for Research Services
Micro Cap Portfolio $21,385 $11,231,619

 

Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. The Fund may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Fund or the Adviser for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act and rules promulgated by the SEC. The 1940 Act requires that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Fund for exchange transactions not exceed “usual and customary” brokerage commissions. The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” The Trustees, including those who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.

 

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For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund paid the following aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions effected by affiliated brokers:

 

 

 

Fund

Aggregate Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions Paid to Affiliated Brokers Percentage of Total Brokerage Commissions Paid to Affiliated Brokers Percentage of Total Brokerage Transactions Effected Through Affiliated Brokers
2021 2022 2023 2023 2023
Micro Cap Portfolio $8,295 $47,746 $33,489 51% 57%

 

Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealers.” The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers and dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund held during its most recent fiscal year. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund did not hold any securities of its “regular brokers and dealers.”

 

Portfolio Turnover Rates. Portfolio turnover is calculated by dividing the lesser of total purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. Excluded from both the numerator and denominator are amounts relating to securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less. The Fund may at times hold investments in short-term instruments, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023, the portfolio turnover rates for the Fund were as follows:

 

 

Fund

Portfolio Turnover Rates
2022 2023
Micro Cap Portfolio 43% 32%

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Board has approved policies and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances regarding the disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings information to shareholders and third parties. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that disclosure of information regarding the Fund’s portfolio securities is in the best interests of Fund shareholders, and include procedures to address conflicts between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Fund’s Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Fund, the Adviser, or its principal underwriter, on the other. Pursuant to such procedures, the Board has authorized the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer to authorize the release of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, as necessary, in conformity with the foregoing principles. The Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer, either directly or through reports by the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, reports quarterly to the Board regarding the operation and administration of such policies and procedures.

 

Pursuant to applicable law, the Fund is required to disclose its complete portfolio holdings quarterly, within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (currently, each January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31). The Fund discloses a complete or summary schedule of investments (which includes the Fund’s 50 largest holdings in unaffiliated issuers and each investment in unaffiliated issuers that exceeds one percent of the Fund’s net asset value (“Summary Schedule”)) in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports which are distributed to Fund shareholders. The Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the first and third fiscal quarters will be available in quarterly holdings reports filed with the SEC as exhibits to Form N-PORT, and the Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the second and fourth fiscal quarters will be available in shareholder reports filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR.

 

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Complete schedules of investments filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR, and as exhibits to Form N-PORT are not distributed to Fund shareholders but are available, free of charge, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Should the Fund include only a Summary Schedule rather than a complete schedule of investments in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports, its complete schedule of investments will be available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-866-474-5669.

 

In addition, the Fund generally publishes a complete list of its portfolio holdings and a list of its ten largest portfolio holdings, and the percentage of the Fund’s assets that each of these holdings represents, on a monthly basis, ten (10) days after the end of the month. The portfolio information described above can be found on the internet at https://www.rhjfunds.com. The information will generally remain available until such information is included in a filing on Form N-PORT or Form N-CSR as described above. The Adviser may exclude any portion of any Fund’s portfolio holdings from publication when deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund.

 

In addition to information provided to shareholders and the general public, portfolio holdings information may be disclosed as frequently as daily to the Fund’s Adviser, Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent, financial printer, pricing vendors, liquidity analytics vendors, class action reclaim vendors and foreign tax reclaim vendors and other vendors that provide the Adviser with various middle office, back office, client reporting and portfolio analytics services in connection with their services to the Fund. From time to time rating and ranking organizations, such as S&P, Lipper and Morningstar, Inc., may request non-public portfolio holdings information in connection with rating the Fund. Similarly, institutional investors, financial planners, pension plan sponsors and/or their consultants or other third-parties may request portfolio holdings information in order to assess the risks of the Fund’s portfolio along with related performance attribution statistics. The lag time for such disclosures will vary. The Fund believes that these third parties have legitimate objectives in requesting such portfolio holdings information.

 

The Fund’s policies and procedures provide that the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer may authorize disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information to such parties at differing times and/or with different lag times. Prior to making any disclosure to a third party, the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer must determine that such disclosure serves a reasonable business purpose, is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders and that to the extent conflicts between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and those of the Fund’s Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Fund exist, such conflicts are addressed. Portfolio holdings information may be disclosed no more frequently than monthly to ratings agencies, consultants and other qualified financial professionals or individuals. The disclosures will not be made sooner than three days after the date of the information. The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer will regularly review these arrangements and will make periodic reports to the Board regarding disclosure pursuant to such arrangements.

 

With the exception of disclosures to rating and ranking organizations as described above, the Fund requires any third party receiving non-public holdings information to enter into a confidentiality agreement with the Adviser. The confidentiality agreement provides, among other things, that non-public portfolio holdings information will be kept confidential and that the recipient has a duty not to trade on the non-public information and will use such information solely to analyze and rank the Fund, or to perform due diligence and asset allocation, depending on the recipient of the information.

 

The Fund’s policies and procedures prohibit any compensation or other consideration from being paid to or received by any party in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information, including the Fund, the Adviser and its affiliates or recipients of the Fund’s portfolio holdings information.

 

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The Adviser may manage other accounts that are not subject to these policies and procedures with investment objectives and strategies that are substantially similar to those of the Fund. Because the portfolio holdings of such accounts may be substantially similar, and in some cases nearly identical, to those of the Fund, an investor in such an account may be able to infer the portfolio holdings of the Fund from the portfolio holdings of the account.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of funds and shares of the fund. Each share of the fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund with each other share. Shares are entitled upon liquidation to a pro rata share in the net assets of the fund. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Trustees may create additional series or classes of shares. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that fund and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto. Share certificates representing shares will not be issued. The Fund’s shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY

 

The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a “Massachusetts business trust.” Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the trust. Even if, however, the Trust were held to be a partnership, the possibility of the shareholders incurring financial loss for that reason appears remote because the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees, and because the Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the Trust property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust.

 

LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY

 

The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful defaults and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents, employees or investment advisers, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust unless it is determined in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. Nothing contained in this section attempts to disclaim a Trustee’s individual liability in any manner inconsistent with the federal securities laws.

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund to the Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which are included in Appendix B to this SAI.

 

The Trust is required to disclose annually the Fund’s complete proxy voting record during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 on Form N-PX. This voting record is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling (866) 474-5669; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov.

 

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CODES OF ETHICS

 

The Board, on behalf of the Trust, has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1. These Codes of Ethics (each a “Code of Ethics” and together the “Codes of Ethics”) apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers and certain employees (“access persons”). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by access persons. Under each Code of Ethics, access persons are permitted to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. The Codes of Ethics further require certain access persons to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings and limited offerings. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.

 

PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS

 

As of February 6, 2024, the following persons were record owners (or to the knowledge of the Trust, beneficial owners) of 5% or more of the shares of the Fund. The Trust believes that most of the shares referred to below were held by the below persons in accounts for their fiduciary, agency or custodial customers. Persons beneficially owning more than 25% of the Fund’s outstanding shares may be deemed to “control” the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Shareholders controlling the Fund may have a significant impact on any shareholder vote of the Fund.

 

Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio
Name and Address % of Fund

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

REINVEST ACCOUNT

ATTN MUTUAL FUND

101 MONTGOMERY ST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-4151

40.20%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

FBO REINVEST ACCOUNT

ATTN MUTUAL FUND

101 MONTGOMERY ST

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-4151

38.49%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES

499 WASHINGTON BLVD

JERSEY CITY, NJ 07310-1995

18.90%

NFS LLC FEBO

FILOC AS AGENT FOR

QUALIFIED EMPLOYEE BENEFIT

PLANS (401K) FINOPS-IC FUNDS

100 MAGELLAN WAY KW1C

COVINGTON, KY 41015-1987

14.50%

BNY MELLON NA

PO BOX 534005

PITTSBURGH, PA 15253-4005

9.32%

MITRA & CO FBO 98

C/O RELIANCE TRUST COMPANY WI

MAILCODE: BD1N - ATTN: MF

4900 W BROWN DEER RD

MILWAUKEE, WI 53223-2422

5.01%

 

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APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

 

Description of Ratings

 

The following descriptions of securities ratings have been published by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), respectively.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Ratings

 

Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Long-Term Ratings

 

Aaa Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

Aa Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

A Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

Baa Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

Ba Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

B Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

Caa Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

Ca Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

C Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

A-1

 

Hybrid Indicator (hyb)

 

The hybrid indicator (hyb) is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms. By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Short-Term Ratings

 

P-1 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-2 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-3 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

NP Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Description of Moody’s U.S. Municipal Short-Term Obligation Ratings

 

The Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale is used to rate U.S. municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less. Under certain circumstances, the MIG scale is used to rate bond anticipation notes with maturities of up to five years.

 

Moody’s U.S. municipal short-term obligation ratings are as follows:

 

MIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

MIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

MIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

Description of Moody’s Demand Obligation Ratings

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), Moody’s assigns both a long-term rating and a short-term payment obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer’s ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term payment obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to meet any purchase price payment obligation resulting from optional tenders (“on demand”) and/or mandatory tenders of the VRDO. The short-term payment obligation rating uses the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (“VMIG”) scale. VMIG ratings with liquidity support use as an input the short-term counterparty risk assessment of the support provider, or the long-term rating of the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support. Transitions of VMIG ratings with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions of Prime ratings reflecting the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade. For VRDOs, Moody’s typically assigns a VMIG rating if the frequency of the payment obligation is less than every three years. If the frequency of the payment obligation is less than three years, but the obligation is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the VMIG short-term rating is not assigned and it is denoted as “NR”.

 

A-2

 

Moody’s demand obligation ratings are as follows:

 

VMIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or legal protections.

 

Description of S&P’s Issue Credit Ratings

 

An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term issue credit ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. S&P would typically assign a long-term issue credit rating to an obligation with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. However, the ratings S&P assigns to certain instruments may diverge from these guidelines based on market practices. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

 

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations:

 

• The likelihood of payment—the capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitments on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

 

A-3

 

• The nature and provisions of the financial obligation, and the promise S&P imputes; and

 

• The protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

 

An issue rating is an assessment of default risk but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

 

NR indicates that a rating has not been assigned or is no longer assigned.

 

Description of S&P’s Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings*

 

AAA An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

AA An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.

 

A An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.

 

BBB An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

BB; B; CCC; CC; and C Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.

 

BB An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CCC An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

A-4

 

CC An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

C An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.

 

D An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

* Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.

 

Description of S&P’s Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

 

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

 

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

 

A-3 A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

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

 

D A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

A-5

 

Description of S&P’s Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings

 

An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

• Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

• Source of payment—the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

S&P’s municipal short-term note ratings are as follows:

 

SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

D ‘D’ is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.

 

Description of Fitch’s Credit Ratings

 

Fitch’s credit ratings relating to issuers are an opinion on the relative ability of an entity to meet financial commitments, such as interest, preferred dividends, repayment of principal, insurance claims or counterparty obligations. Credit ratings relating to securities and obligations of an issuer can include a recovery expectation. Credit ratings are used by investors as indications of the likelihood of receiving the money owed to them in accordance with the terms on which they invested.

 

Fitch’s credit rating scale for issuers and issues is expressed using the categories ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’ (investment grade) and ‘BB’ to ‘D’ (speculative grade) with an additional +/- for AA through CCC levels indicating relative differences of probability of default or recovery for issues. The terms “investment grade” and “speculative grade” are market conventions and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the speculative grade categories signal either a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred.

 

Fitch may also disclose issues relating to a rated issuer that are not and have not been rated. Such issues are also denoted as ‘NR’ on its web page.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. Credit ratings do not deal with the risk of market value loss due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and/or other market considerations. However, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay or refinance a financial commitment. Ratings nonetheless do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, in the case of payments linked to performance of an index).

 

A-6

 

In the default components of ratings assigned to individual obligations or instruments, the agency typically rates to the likelihood of non-payment or default in accordance with the terms of that instrument’s documentation. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations (i.e. rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation’s documentation).

 

Description of Fitch’s Long-Term Corporate Finance Obligations Ratings

 

AAA Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

AA Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

A High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

BBB Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

BB Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

B Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

CCC Substantial credit risk. ‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.

 

CC Very high levels of credit risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.

 

C Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. ‘C’ ratings indicate exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Ratings in the categories of ‘CCC’, ‘CC’ and ‘C’ can also relate to obligations or issuers that are in default. In this case, the rating does not opine on default risk but reflects the recovery expectation only.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned ‘RD’ or ‘D’ ratings, but are instead rated in the ‘CCC’ to ‘C’ rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

A-7

 

Description of Fitch’s Short-Term Ratings

 

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

 

Fitch’s short-term ratings are as follows:

 

F1 Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

F2 Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

F3 Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

B Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

C High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

 

RD Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

D Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

A-8

 

APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

 

PROXY VOTING

 
 
 
 

 

Amended: November 2023

 

In General

 

Rule 206(4)-6 of the Advisers Act (the “Rule”) requires investment advisers to adopt and implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure that proxies voted for on behalf of its clients are in the clients’ best interest. The Rule further requires advisers to disclose in Part 2 of Form ADV; a concise summary of the adviser’s proxy voting process; an offer to provide a copy of the adviser’s complete proxy voting policy and procedure to clients upon request; and disclosure regarding how clients may obtain the proxy voting records.

 

RHJ has adopted proxy voting policies and procedures and utilizes a third-party proxy voting service to administer, research, recommend, and record votes for client proxies. Under RHJ’s standard investment advisory contract, RHJ will vote all shares held on behalf of its clients, unless any such client indicates intent to retain voting responsibility or designates an alternate responsible party. Additionally, RHJ is responsible for voting proxies on behalf of the RHJ Mutual Funds.

 

Policy

 

RHJ’s general policy is to vote proxies on behalf of its clients, including the RHJ Mutual Funds, sub-advised funds, and the RHJ Collective Investment Trust (“RHJ CIT”). However, RHJ may choose not to vote proxies in certain situations or for certain accounts, such as: 1) when a client has informed RHJ it wishes to retain the right to vote proxies; in which case, RHJ shall instruct the custodian to send the proxy material directly to the client; 2) when RHJ determines the voting cost exceeds any anticipated benefit to the client; 3) when a proxy is received for a terminated client account; 4) when a proxy is received for a security RHJ no longer manages (i.e., had previously sold the entire position); and/or 5) when exercising the voting rights could restrict the Portfolio Manager’s ability to freely trade the security in question.

 

A summary of RHJ’s policies and procedures on proxy voting is disclosed in Form ADV Part 2A, along with an offer to provide a copy of these policies and procedures to clients upon request.

 

B-1

 

Proxy Voting

 

Proxy Voting Guidelines and Responsibility

 

The fundamental proxy voting guideline RHJ follows is to reasonably ensure the manner in which shares are voted is in the client’s best interest and considers the investment value. RHJ utilizes Glass, Lewis & Co. (GL) Proxy Voting Services for proxy voting administration and research. RHJ has adopted the Glass Lewis proxy voting guidelines but may override GL recommendations when RHJ believes it is in a client’s best interest.

 

Material Conflicts of Interest

 

RHJ and/or GL could be subject to conflicts of interest when voting RHJ client proxies due to business or personal relationships with persons who the vote could impact. For example, RHJ, GL or one or more of either party’s affiliates may provide services to or be an affiliate of a company whose management is soliciting proxies.

 

If at any time, RHJ, GL or either party’s employees become aware of a potential or actual conflict of interest relating to a proposed proxy vote, the actual or apparent conflict must be promptly reported to RHJ’s CCO. The manner in which the conflict of interest is remedied is dependent upon the conflict type and material impact. For example:

 

1.If the written voting guidelines state the voting position as either “for” or “against” such a proposal, then voting will be in accordance with the pre-determined guidelines.
2.If the written voting guidelines state the voting position will be determined on a “case by case” basis for such a proposal, or such a proposal is not listed in the proxy voting guidelines, then the CCO will select one of the two following methods depending upon the facts and circumstances of each situation, and the requirements of applicable law:

(i) The proxy vote will be determined by the party with no conflict of interest. In other words, if GL has a conflict, then RHJ will make the voting determination and vice versa; or

(ii) The proxy vote will be pursuant to client direction.

 

Overview of Proxy Voting Procedures

 

When a client elects RHJ to vote proxies for the account managed by RHJ, the client’s custodian is notified to forward proxy materials to Glass Lewis. RHJ provides GL with account and custodian information for reconciliation purposes.

 

As voting agent, Glass Lewis will:

 

1. Receive all materials directly from Broadridge or the custodian

2. Open proxy mail and log proxies

3. Reconcile ballots and, as necessary, contact custodians for missing ballots

4. Distribute research with suggested vote recommendations

5. Mark, copy and mail proxy cards

6. Maintain records of all votes cast

7. Provide customized written reports and voting records upon request

8. Notify RHJ’s CCO immediately if any conflicts of interest arise due to a pending vote

9. Handle conflicts of interest in accordance with RHJ procedures

 

B-2

 

In addition, RHJ’s proxy voting coordinator will notify the Portfolio Manager of all level 1 (i.e. mergers, large acquisitions and transactions resulting in over 50% ownership) and contested proxies for their review. RHJ’s proxy voting coordinator will ensure that the rationale for a proxy voted contrary to the GL proxy voting guidelines is documented and maintained as part of the firm’s books and records.

 

Any Report Feedback Statements from the issuer will be forwarded to the Portfolio Manager for her/his review. Similar to level 1/contested proxies, these will be logged and if necessary, the vote will be updated in the Glass Lewis platform, Viewpoint.

 

Proxy votes that have been updated on the Glass Lewis platform (i.e., votes different from the Glass Lewis recommendation) are reviewed by the Director of Operations or designee for accuracy.

 

After each calendar year-end, Glass Lewis (GL) updates their guidelines which are then reviewed by the Director of Operations, Chief Investment Officers, Chief Compliance Officer, and President.

 

Obtaining Proxy Voting Records

 

A client may request proxy voting records or a copy of the GL Proxy Voting Guidelines by emailing RHJ at info@ricehall.com or by submitting a written request to:

 

RHJ Proxy Voting Info

600 West Broadway, Suite 1000

San Diego, CA 92101

 

Due Diligence

 

The CCO or designee performs periodic due diligence reviews of GL, at least annually, to ensure GL receives and votes required RHJ’s clients’ proxies in accordance with written policies and procedures as well as maintains all required proxy voting records on behalf of RHJ.

 

Proxy Voting Records

 

RHJ will maintain the following records in accordance with these policies and procedures:

 

1.A copy of proxy voting policies and procedures
2.A copy of each proxy statement RHJ receives regarding client’s securities
3.A record of each vote cast by RHJ on behalf of a client
4.A copy of documents created by RHJ that were material to the proxy voting decision made on behalf of a client or that memorialize the basis for that decision, along with documentation of instances where RHJ voted proxies not in accordance with GL guidelines.
5.A copy of each written client request for information regarding decisions made on behalf of the requesting client, and a copy of RHJ’s response to any (written or oral) client request for information.

 

B-3

 

The foregoing records will be retained for such period of time as is required to comply with applicable laws and regulations, but no less than 7 years from the end of the fiscal year in which the record was created. RHJ relies on one, or more, third party to create and retain the records referred to in items 2 and 3 above.

 

Reporting and Disclosures

 

A copy of these policies and procedures will be provided to the RHJ Mutual Fund’s CCO and the designated personnel of the sub-advised funds and RHJ CIT any time upon request and upon amendment. In addition, information on each proxy voted for the RHJ Mutual Fund and the sub-advised funds will be provided annually to the RHJ Mutual Fund’s CCO or designee and the sub-advised fund’s designated personnel for purposes of completing and filing Form N-PX. RHJ will provide information on each proxy voted for the RHJ CIT annually to the designated personnel for reporting to the RHJ CIT Board.

 

As outlined in RHJ policies and procedures titled “Maintenance and Dissemination of Disclosure Documents and SEC Required Filings” Beginning in 2024, RHJ is required to complete and file a Form N-PX annually to report information on “say-on-pay” votes made by RHJ on behalf of its clients.

 

The Director of Operations is responsible for ensuring that the initial and annual Form N-PX reports are completed and within the required filing deadline.

 

Due Diligence

 

The CCO or designee will perform periodic due diligence reviews of GL, at least annually to ensure GL is performing all the services listed above in accordance with the written agreement between RHJ and GL.

 

B-4

 

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund

 

Institutional Class Shares

Ticker Symbol: SCMGX

 

 

 

 

Prospectus

March 1, 2024

 

 

Investment Adviser:

 

Sands Capital Management, LLC

 

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

 

 

 

About This Prospectus

 

This prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this important information. For detailed information about the Fund, please see:

 

   

Page

Fund Summary

1

Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategy

2

Principal Risks

5

Performance Information

10

Investment Adviser

12

Portfolio Managers

12

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

12

Tax Information

12

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

12

More Information about Risk

14

More Information about Fund Investments

20

Information about Portfolio Holdings

21

More Information about the Investment Adviser

21

Portfolio Managers

23

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

23

Other Policies

33

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

38

Dividends and Distributions

39

Taxes

39

Additional Information

42

Financial Highlights

43

How to Obtain More Information about the Fund

Back Cover

 

 

 

SCMGX Institutional Class Shares

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

 

The Sands Capital Global Growth Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Class Shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shares of the Fund are available in other share classes that have different fees and expenses.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

Sands Capital
Global Growth
Fund

Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if shares redeemed have been held for less than 90 days)

2.00%

 

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

 

 

Institutional
Class Shares

Management Fees

0.85%

Other Expenses

0.12%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses1

0.97%

 

1

Sands Capital Management, LLC (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive or reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for Institutional Class Shares (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 1.10% of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average daily net assets (the “expense cap”) until March 31, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee waivers or expense reimbursements made during the three-year period preceding the recoupment if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on March 31, 2025.

 

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Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

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

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

$99

$309

$536

$1,190

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 15% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategy

 

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests primarily in equity securities of publicly-traded companies located anywhere in the world, including equity securities in developed and emerging markets. Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to invest in at least three countries, including the United States, and invest at least 40% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in non-U.S. companies. For purposes of this policy, a company is considered to be a non-U.S. company if: (i) at least 50% of the company’s revenues or operating income is generated outside of the United States; (ii) the company is organized or maintains its principal place of business outside of the United States; or (iii) the company’s primary trading market is located outside of the United States. From time to time, the Fund

 

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may also focus its investments in a particular geographic region, such as Europe, Asia and North America.

 

In making investment decisions for the Fund, Sands Capital Management, LLC (the “Adviser”) focuses on companies that generate (or that the Adviser expects to generate) above average earnings growth and that, in the Adviser’s opinion, are leading growth businesses in the marketplace. The Fund typically invests in a portfolio of 30-50 issuers that the Adviser believes represents the best opportunities to achieve the Fund’s investment objective and, from time to time, may heavily invest in a particular sector. In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser utilizes a fundamental, bottom-up, business-focused research approach. This research starts with internal competitive landscape analysis, ongoing participation at industry conferences, review of industry and trade periodicals and quantitative screens to populate an initial universe of publicly traded companies that it expects will generate above average earnings growth. The Adviser then evaluates each company for six key investment criteria:

 

 

sustainable above-average earnings growth;

 

 

leadership position in a promising business space;

 

 

significant competitive advantages;

 

 

clear mission and value-added focus;

 

 

financial strength; and

 

 

rational valuation relative to the market and business prospects.

 

Companies that the Adviser determines may meet all six investment criteria are then screened with in-depth qualitative and quantitative research, including a full competitive analysis and proprietary financial modeling. This additional screening also typically includes identifying the key metrics for a particular business or industry, any specific risks or issues relating to a company, as well as a hypothetical “sell case,” i.e. evaluating a range of scenarios under which a position in a security would be reduced or sold.

 

The Fund intends to buy and hold securities for the long term and seeks to maintain a low level of portfolio turnover. The portfolio turnover rate of the Fund is expected to be below 50% of the average value of its portfolio. The Adviser employs a sell discipline in which the security of a company is sold if an issue emerges that negatively impacts the Adviser’s assessment of one or more of the six investment criteria discussed above and the Adviser believes that the issue cannot be resolved within an acceptable time frame. The

 

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Adviser may also sell a holding if it becomes materially overvalued versus its underlying business, for risk management purposes, and/or if a more attractive investment opportunity presents itself.

 

While the Fund may invest in equity securities of companies of any size, the Fund will primarily invest in large and mid-capitalization companies given the Adviser’s focus on what it considers to be established business “leaders.” As such, the Fund will generally not invest in companies with a market capitalization of less than $2 billion and its total median market capitalization will typically be significantly greater than that of the MSCI Barra’s (“MSCI”) All Country World Index, the Fund’s benchmark. As of December 31, 2023, the total median market capitalization of the MSCI All Country World Index was $11.5 billion.

 

The equity securities in which the Fund invests include common stocks as well as preferred securities. The Fund may also purchase American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs” and, together with ADRs and EDRs, “Depositary Receipts”), which are certificates typically issued by a bank or trust company that represent ownership interests in securities issued by a foreign or domestic company. From time to time, the Fund may have significant investments in one or more countries. The Fund may invest up to the greater of 30% of its net assets or three times the emerging markets component of the MSCI All Country World Index, in securities of companies located in emerging markets. As of December 31, 2023, the emerging markets component of the MSCI All Country World Index was 9.9% of the total index. The Fund may invest in A-Shares of companies based in China that trade on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange through the Shanghai – Hong Kong and Shenzhen – Hong Kong Stock Connect programs (“Stock Connect”). Stock Connect is a mutual stock market access program designed to, among other things, enable foreign investments in China. The Fund may use foreign exchange spot contracts to seek to hedge currency exposure. A foreign exchange spot contract is an agreement to buy or sell a specific currency for immediate delivery (i.e., “on the spot”) as opposed to at a set date in the future.

 

The Fund may also invest in derivatives, specifically (i) foreign exchange forwards to seek to hedge currency exposure and (ii) “market access products,” to seek to gain economic exposure to markets where holding an underlying security is not feasible. A market access product is a derivative security that provides market

 

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exposure to an underlying foreign issuer. Examples of market access products are low exercise price warrants (“LEPWs”) and participatory notes (“P-notes”), both of which allow the holder to gain exposure to issuers in certain emerging market countries. A LEPW entitles the holder to purchase a security with an exercise price significantly below the market price of the underlying security. Because of its low exercise price, a LEPW is virtually certain to be exercised and the value and performance of its intrinsic value is effectively identical to that of the underlying security. These features are designed to allow participation in the performance of a security where there are legal or financial obstacles to purchasing the underlying security directly. If the LEPW is cash-settled, the buyer profits to the same extent as with a direct holding in the underlying security, but without having to transact in it. P-notes are derivatives that are generally traded over the counter and constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks and broker-dealers that issue them. Generally, these banks and broker-dealers buy securities listed on certain foreign exchanges and then issue P-notes which are designed to replicate the performance of certain issuers and markets. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in market access products.

 

Principal Risks

 

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Equity Risk – Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities

 

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and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

Growth Style Risk – The Fund pursues a “growth style” of investing, meaning that the Fund invests in equity securities of companies that the Adviser believes will increase their earnings at a certain rate that is generally higher than the rate expected for non-growth companies. If a growth company does not meet these expectations, the price of its stock may decline significantly, even if it has increased earnings. Many growth companies do not pay dividends. Companies that pay dividends often have lower stock price declines during market downturns. Over time, a growth investing style may go in and out of favor, causing the Fund to sometimes underperform other equity funds that use differing investing styles.

 

Management Risk – The Fund is subject to the risk that the Adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value, or potential appreciation of the Fund’s investments may prove to be incorrect. If the investments selected and strategies employed by the Fund fail to produce the intended results, the Fund could underperform in comparison to other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.

 

Large-Capitalization Company Risk – The large capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may lag the performance of smaller capitalization companies because large capitalization companies may experience slower rates of growth than smaller capitalization companies and may not respond as quickly to market changes and opportunities.

 

Mid-Capitalization Company Risk – The mid-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in these mid-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, mid-cap stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies.

 

Foreign Company Risk – Investing in foreign companies, including direct investments and through Depositary Receipts, poses additional risks since political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. These

 

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risks will not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or similar issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign companies are generally denominated in a foreign currency, the value of which may be influenced by currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. Changes in the value of a currency compared to the U.S. dollar may affect (positively or negatively) the value of the Fund’s investments. These currency movements may occur separately from, and in response to, events that do not otherwise affect the value of the security in the issuer’s home country. Securities of foreign companies may not be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and foreign companies are generally not subject to the regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign securities than is available about domestic securities. Income from foreign securities owned by the Fund may be reduced by a withholding tax at the source, which tax would reduce income received from the securities comprising the Fund’s portfolio. Foreign securities may also be more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers. In addition, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may require the Fund to sell such investments at inopportune times, which could result in losses to the Fund. While Depositary Receipts provide an alternative to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their respective national markets and currencies, investments in Depositary Receipts continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.

 

Geographic Focus Risk – To the extent that it focuses its investments in a particular country or geographic region, the Fund may be more susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within that country or geographic region. As a result, the Fund may be subject to greater price volatility and risk of loss than a fund holding more geographically diverse investments.

 

Foreign Currency Risk – As a result of the Fund’s investments in securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies, the Fund will be subject to currency risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar or, in the case of hedging positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline in value relative to the currency hedged. In either event, the dollar value of an investment in the Fund would be adversely affected.

 

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Sector Focus Risk – Because the Fund may, from time to time, be more heavily invested in particular sectors, the value of its shares may be especially sensitive to factors and economic risks that specifically affect those sectors. As a result, the Fund’s share price may fluctuate more widely than the value of shares of a mutual fund that invests in a broader range of sectors.

 

Emerging Markets Securities Risk – The Fund may invest in companies located or doing business in emerging market countries. An “emerging market” country is any country determined by the Adviser to have an emerging market economy, considering factors such as the country’s credit rating, its political and economic stability and the development of its financial and capital markets. Typically, emerging markets are in countries that are in the process of industrialization, with lower gross national products than more developed countries. For purposes of determining whether a particular country is considered a developed market or an emerging market, the Fund uses the designation set forth by the MSCI, a prominent provider of investment tools and data services for institutions worldwide.

 

Investments in emerging markets securities are considered speculative and subject to heightened risks in addition to the general risks of investing in non-U.S. securities. Unlike more established markets, emerging markets may have governments that are less stable, markets that are less liquid and economies that are less developed. Differences in tax and accounting standards and difficulties in obtaining information about foreign governments or foreign companies may impair investment decisions. In addition, emerging markets securities may be subject to smaller market capitalization of securities markets, which may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; and possible restrictions on repatriation of investment income and capital. Furthermore, emerging market governments may have limited ability to raise taxes or authorize appropriations for debt repayment. In addition, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales, and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies. Moreover, the currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments in these currencies by the Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects

 

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on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries. The Fund may incur operating expenses that are higher than those of mutual funds that invest exclusively in U.S. equity securities due to higher custodial fees and brokerage commissions associated with investments in foreign securities. These risks may be magnified in less-established emerging markets.

 

Liquidity Risk – The risk that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the Fund would like. The Fund may have to lower the price of the security, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance.

 

Derivatives Risk – The Fund’s use of foreign exchange forwards and market access products (including P-Notes and LEPWs) is subject to market risk, correlation risk, valuation risk, liquidity risk and credit risk. Market risk is the risk that the market value of an investment may move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Correlation risk is the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. Valuation risk is the risk that the derivative may be difficult to value. Liquidity risk is the risk that the derivative may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the Fund would like, which may cause the Fund to have to accept a lower price to sell a derivative, sell other securities to raise cash, or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund’s management or performance. Credit risk is the risk that the counterparty to a derivative contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. The Fund’s use of foreign exchange forwards is also subject to leverage risk and hedging risk. Leverage risk is the risk that the use of leverage may amplify the effects of market volatility on the Fund’s share price and may also cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations. Hedging risk in this context is the risk that the derivatives instrument used for hedging currency exposure may also limit any potential gain that may result from a change in relative values of the underlying currencies. To the extent that the Fund engages in hedging strategies, there can be no assurance that such strategy will be effective or that there will be a hedge in place at any given time. Each of these risks could cause the Fund to lose more than the principal amount invested in a derivative instrument.

 

Preferred Stock Risk – Preferred stocks in which the Fund may invest are sensitive to interest rate changes, and are also subject

 

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to equity risk, which is the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. The rights of preferred stocks on the distribution of a company’s assets in the event of a liquidation are generally subordinate to the rights associated with a company’s debt securities.

 

Stock Connect Investing Risk – Trading through Stock Connect is subject to a number of restrictions that may affect the Fund’s investments and returns, including a daily quota that limits the maximum net purchases under Stock Connect each day. In addition, investments made through Stock Connect are subject to relatively untested trading, clearance and settlement procedures. Moreover, A-Shares purchased through Stock Connect generally may only be sold or otherwise transferred through Stock Connect. The Fund’s investments in A-Shares purchased through Stock Connect are generally subject to Chinese securities regulations and listing rules. While overseas investors currently are exempt from paying capital gains or value added taxes on income and gains from investments in A-Shares purchased through Stock Connect, these tax rules could be changed, which could result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund. Stock Connect operates only on days when both the Chinese and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banks in both markets are open on the corresponding settlement days. Therefore, the Fund may be subject to the risk of price fluctuations of A-Shares when Stock Connect is not trading.

 

Performance Information

 

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in Institutional Class Shares of the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average annual total returns for 1, 5 and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-888-826-5646.

 

 

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BEST QUARTER

WORST QUARTER

35.24%

(32.24)%

6/30/2020

6/30/2022

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”).

 

Institutional Class Shares

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since
Inception
(03/31/10)

Fund Returns Before Taxes

31.82%

9.74%

8.56%

10.71%

03/31/10

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

31.82%

8.68%

7.76%

10.06%

03/31/10

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

18.84%

7.87%

7.00%

9.09%

03/31/10

MSCI All Country World Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

22.20%

11.72%

7.93%

8.56%

03/31/10

 

MSCI All Country World Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

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Investment Adviser

 

 

Sands Capital Management, LLC

 

Portfolio Managers

 

 

David E. Levanson, CFA, Executive Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2010.

 

T. Perry Williams, CFA and President, has managed the Fund since 2013.

 

Brian A. Christiansen, CFA, Executive Managing Director, Senior Porfolio Manager and Research Analyst, has managed the Fund since 2020.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

 

To purchase Institutional Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, including an initial purchase through an IRA, you must invest at least $1 million. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion. There is no minimum for subsequent investments.

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-888-826-5646.

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to redeem your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

Tax Information

 

 

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as qualified dividend income, ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distribution will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

 

If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of

 

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interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s web site for more information.

 

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More Information about Risk

 

 

Investing in the Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good of a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund, just as you could with similar investments.

 

The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the value of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets in which it trades. The effect on the Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings.

 

Equity Risk – Equity securities include common and preferred stocks, as well as interests in Depositary Receipts. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stock provides a fixed dividend that is paid before any dividends are paid to common stockholders, and which takes precedence over common stock in the event of a liquidation. Like common stock, preferred stocks represent partial ownership in a company, although preferred stock shareholders do not enjoy any of the voting rights of common stockholders. Also, unlike common stock, a preferred stock pays a fixed dividend that does not fluctuate, although the company does not have to pay this dividend if it lacks the financial ability to do so. Investments in Depositary Receipts are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities, which are discussed below. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

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Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations, and by businesses, including changes to operations and reducing staff. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) to fluctuate. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

 

Foreign/Emerging Markets Securities Risk – Investments in securities of foreign companies or governments (including direct investments as well as through Depositary Receipts) can be more volatile than investments in U.S. companies or governments. Diplomatic, political, or economic developments, including nationalization or appropriation, could affect investments in foreign companies. Foreign securities markets generally have less trading volume and less liquidity than U.S. markets. In addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies, and of dividends from such securities, can change significantly when foreign currencies strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. dollar. Financial statements of foreign issuers are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial standards than the financial statements of U.S. issuers and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Thus, there may be less information publicly available about foreign issuers than about most U.S. issuers. Furthermore, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board does not have the ability to inspect audit work papers in certain foreign countries, including China. There is also less regulation, generally, of the securities markets in emerging countries than there is in more developed countries, and less enforcement action by regulators, which increases the risk posed by insufficient or misleading disclosure. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, and other U.S. authorities may be limited in their ability to bring and enforce actions against foreign issuers or foreign persons. Investors who have been harmed will have substantially less access to remedies, including with respect to fraud claims and class-action lawsuits regarding securities violations. Certain investment-related and other practices, such as the trading, settlement and safekeeping of investments, in emerging markets may be different from and less developed than in developed markets, making investing in such markets involve greater investment, operational and other risks. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and

 

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currency devaluations. Securities of emerging market companies may have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than securities of issuers in developed markets. Companies with economic ties to emerging markets may be susceptible to the same risks as companies organized in emerging markets. Transaction costs are generally higher than those in the United States and expenses for custodial arrangements of foreign securities may be somewhat greater than typical expenses for custodial arrangements of similar U.S. securities. Some foreign governments levy withholding taxes against dividend and interest income or may begin to do so with little or no advance notice. Although in some countries a portion of these taxes is recoverable, the non-recovered portion will reduce the income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Additionally, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in the Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. Government designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses. These risks may be heightened with respect to emerging market countries since political turmoil and rapid changes in economic conditions are more likely to occur in these countries.

 

European Economic Risk. The Economic and Monetary Union (the “EMU”) of the European Union (the “EU”) requires compliance with restrictions on inflation rates, deficits, interest rates and debt levels, as well as fiscal and monetary controls, each of which may significantly affect every country in Europe. Decreasing imports or exports, changes in governmental or EU regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate of the euro (the common currency of certain EU countries), the default or threat of default by an EU member country on its sovereign debt and/or an economic recession in an EU member country may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of EU member countries and their trading partners. The European financial markets have historically experienced volatility that affected the exchange rate of the euro and this trend may continue and may significantly impact European countries.

 

Responses to financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not produce the desired results, may result in social unrest, may limit future growth and economic recovery or may have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or

 

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restructurings by governments and other entities of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU. On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) formally withdrew from the EU (commonly referred to as “Brexit”). While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets and could have negative long-term impacts on financial markets in the UK and throughout Europe. Secessionist movements, such as the Catalan movement in Spain, may also create instability and uncertainty in the region.

 

The occurrence of terrorist incidents throughout Europe also could impact financial markets. The impact of these events is not clear but could be significant and far-reaching and adversely affect the value of the Fund.

 

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions. Russia’s actions and the resulting responses by the United States and other countries could increase volatility and uncertainty in the financial markets and adversely affect regional and global economies. The United States and other countries have imposed broad-ranging economic sanctions on Russia, certain Russian individuals, banking entities and corporations, and Belarus as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and may impose sanctions on other countries. The extent and duration of the war in Ukraine and the longevity and severity of sanctions remain unknown, but they could have a significant adverse impact on the European economy as well as the price and availability of certain commodities, including oil and natural gas, throughout the world. These sanctions, and the resulting disruption of the Russian economy, may cause volatility in other regional and global markets and may negatively impact the performance of various sectors and industries, as well as companies in other countries, which could have a negative effect on the performance of the Fund, even if the Fund does not have direct exposure to securities of Russian issuers.

 

Asian Economic Risk. Many Asian economies have experienced rapid growth and industrialization in recent years, but there is no assurance that this growth rate will be maintained. Other Asian economies, however, have experienced high inflation, high unemployment, currency devaluations and restrictions, and over-

 

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extension of credit. Economic events in any one Asian country may have a significant economic effect on the entire Asian region, as well as on major trading partners outside Asia. Many Asian countries are subject to political risk, including political instability, corruption and regional conflict with neighboring countries. In addition, many Asian countries are subject to social and labor risks associated with demands for improved political, economic and social conditions. These risks, among others, may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments.

 

Derivatives Risk – The Fund’s use of foreign exchange forwards and market access products (including P-Notes and LEPWs) is subject to derivatives risk. Derivatives are often more volatile than other investments and may magnify the Fund’s gains or losses. There are various factors that affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its objective with derivatives. Successful use of a derivative depends upon the degree to which prices of the underlying assets correlate with price movements in the derivatives the Fund buys or sells. The Fund could be negatively affected if the change in market value of its securities fails to correlate perfectly with the values of the derivatives it purchased or sold. The lack of a liquid secondary market for a derivative may prevent the Fund from closing its derivative positions and could adversely impact its ability to achieve its objective and to realize profits or limit losses. Since certain derivatives may be purchased for a fraction of their value, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss or gain to the Fund. Derivatives are often more volatile than other investments and the Fund may lose more in a derivative than it originally invested in it. Additionally, derivative instruments are subject to counterparty risk, meaning that the party that issues the derivative may experience a significant credit event and may be unwilling or unable to make timely settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations. There can be no assurance that the Adviser’s use of derivatives will be successful in achieving its intended goals. Additionally, regulation relating to the Fund’s use of derivatives and related instruments, including Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, could potentially limit or impact the Fund’s ability to invest in derivatives, limit the Fund’s ability to employ certain strategies that use derivatives and/or adversely affect the value of derivatives and the Fund’s performance.

 

P-Notes. P-Notes are derivatives that are generally traded over-the-counter and constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks and broker-dealers that issue them.

 

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Generally, these banks and broker-dealers buy securities listed on certain foreign exchanges and then issue P-Notes which are designed to replicate the performance of certain issuers and markets. The performance results of P-Notes will not correlate exactly to the performance of the issuers or markets that they seek to replicate due to transaction costs and other expenses. The holder of a P-Note typically does not receive voting or other rights as it would if it directly owned the underlying security, but is subject to the same risks as if it invested directly in the underlying security.

 

LEPWs. The Fund may invest in low exercise price warrants, which are warrants with an exercise price that is very low relative to the market price of the underlying instrument at the time of issue (e.g., one cent or less). The buyer of a low exercise price warrant effectively pays the full value of the underlying common stock at the outset. In the case of any exercise of warrants, there may be a time delay between the time a holder of warrants gives instructions to exercise and the time the price of the common stock relating to exercise or the settlement date is determined, during which time the price of the underlying security could change significantly. These warrants entail substantial credit risk, since the issuer of the warrant holds the purchase price of the warrant (approximately equal to the value of the underlying investment at the time of the warrant’s issue) for the life of the warrant.

 

Forward Contracts. A forward contract involves a negotiated obligation to purchase or sell a specific security or currency at a future date (with or without delivery required), which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. Forward contracts are not traded on exchanges; rather, a bank or dealer will act as agent or as principal in order to make or take future delivery of a specified lot of a particular security or currency for the Fund’s account. Risks associated with forwards may include: (i) an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of forward contracts and the securities or currencies underlying them; (ii) an illiquid market for forwards; (iii) difficulty in obtaining an accurate value for the forwards; and (iv) the risk that the counterparty to the forward contract will default or otherwise fail to honor its obligation. Because forwards require only a small initial investment in the form of a deposit or margin, they also involve a high degree of leverage.

 

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Stock Connect Investing Risk – The Fund may invest in A-Shares of companies based in China that trade on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange through the Shanghai – Hong Kong and Shenzhen – Hong Kong Stock Connect programs (“Stock Connect”). Trading through Stock Connect is subject to a number of restrictions that may affect the Fund’s investments and returns, including a daily quota that limits the maximum net purchases under Stock Connect each day. In addition, investments made through Stock Connect are subject to relatively untested trading, clearance and settlement procedures. Moreover, A-Shares purchased through Stock Connect generally may only be sold or otherwise transferred through Stock Connect. The Fund’s investments in A-Shares purchased through Stock Connect are generally subject to Chinese securities regulations and listing rules. While overseas investors currently are exempt from paying capital gains or value added taxes on income and gains from investments in A-Shares purchased through Stock Connect, these tax rules could be changed, which could result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund. Stock Connect operates only on days when both the Chinese and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banks in both markets are open on the corresponding settlement days. Therefore, the Fund may be subject to the risk of price fluctuations of A-Shares during the time when Stock Connect is not trading. Because of the way in which A-Shares are held in Stock Connect, the Fund may not be able to exercise the rights of a shareholder and may be limited in its ability to pursue claims against the issuer of a security, and may suffer losses in the event the depository of the Shanghai Stock Exchange or Shenzhen Stock Exchange becomes insolvent. Stock Connect is a relatively new program. Further developments are likely and there can be no assurance as to the program’s continued existence or whether future developments regarding the program may restrict or adversely affect the Fund’s investments or returns. In addition, the application and interpretation of the laws and regulations of Hong Kong and China, and the rules, policies or guidelines published or applied by relevant regulators and exchanges in respect of Stock Connect are uncertain, and they may have a detrimental effect on the Fund’s investments and returns.

 

More Information about Fund Investments

 

 

The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation. This investment objective may be changed without shareholder approval, upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

 

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The investments and strategies described in this prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive or liquidity purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments and other cash equivalents that would not ordinarily be consistent with its investment objective. If the Fund invests in this manner, it may not achieve its investment objective. The Fund will do so only if the Adviser believes that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity for capital appreciation. The Fund intends to remain as fully invested as practicable regardless of market conditions.

 

This prospectus describes the Fund’s principal investment strategies, and the Fund will normally invest in the types of securities described in this prospectus. In addition to the investments and strategies described in this prospectus, the Fund also may invest, to a lesser extent, in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and strategies, as well as the strategies described in this prospectus, are described in detail in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) (for information on how to obtain a copy of the SAI, see the back cover of this prospectus). Of course, the Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment goal.

 

Information about Portfolio Holdings

 

 

A description of the Fund’s policy and procedures with respect to the circumstances under which the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings is available in the SAI.

 

More Information about the Investment Adviser

 

 

Sands Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, serves as investment adviser to the Fund. The Adviser was initially formed in 1992 as a Sub-Chapter S-Corporation and converted to a limited liability company in 2005. The Adviser’s principal place of business is located at 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 3000, Arlington, VA 22209. The Adviser is an independent investment management firm focused exclusively on portfolios of high quality growth companies. Clients include, among other types, individuals (high net worth and other than high net worth), banking or thrift institutions, investment companies and pooled investment vehicles, pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations,

 

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state and municipal government entities, sovereign wealth funds and foreign official institutions, corporations, non-US pension funds, and superannuation funds. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $45.0 billion in discretionary assets under management in the firm’s public equity strategies. The Adviser makes investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Fund’s investment program. The Board oversees the Adviser and establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its management activities.

 

For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to an investment advisory fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.85% based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive or reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) for Institutional Class Shares of the Fund from exceeding 1.10% of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ average daily net assets (the “expense cap”) until March 31, 2025. To maintain this expense cap, the Adviser may waive a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses of the Fund. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee waivers or expense reimbursements made during the three-year period preceding the recoupment if at any point total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid 0.85% of its average daily net assets in advisory fees to the Adviser.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders dated April 30, 2024, which will cover the period from November 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.

 

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Portfolio Managers

 

 

The Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals, each of whom is jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

David E. Levanson, CFA, is a portfolio manager for the Fund. Mr. Levanson, Executive Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst, worked for the Adviser from 1992-1994 and rejoined the firm in 2002. From 1996-1999, he was a Vice President and Research Analyst at State Street Research & Management and from 1999-2002 he worked as a Research Analyst at MFS Investment Management. Prior to joining the Adviser in 1992, Mr. Levanson was a Research Analyst at the Capital Management Group, Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas, Inc. from 1990-1992. Mr. Levanson received his BS degree in Finance from the University of Florida and his MBA in 1996 from the Darden School at the University of Virginia.

 

T. Perry Williams, CFA, is a portfolio manager for the Fund. Mr. Williams, President, has worked for the Adviser since 2004. Mr. Williams initially joined the Adviser as a Director of Client Relations in 2004, and he transitioned to the Investment Team in 2006. Prior to joining the Adviser in 2004, Mr. Williams served as a Principal and Consultant at Mercer Investment Consulting, Inc. from 1995-2004. Mr. Williams received his BS degree in Finance from the University of Virginia in 1994 and his Master of Management degree in 1999 from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

 

Brian A. Christiansen, CFA, is a portfolio manager for the Fund. Mr. Christiansen, Executive Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst, joined the Adviser in June 2006. He has investment experience dating back to that same year. Mr. Christiansen received his BA in Economics from Yale University in 2005. He also earned his MBA from the Yale School of Management in 2009.

 

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

 

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

 

 

This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called “redeem”) and exchange Institutional Class Shares of the Fund.

 

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Institutional Class Shares are for individual and institutional investors.

 

For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Taxes.”

 

How to Purchase Fund Shares

 

To purchase shares directly from the Fund, complete and send in the application. If you need an application or have questions, please call 1-888-826-5646.

 

All investments must be made by check, Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), or wire. All checks must be made payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept purchases made by third-party checks, credit cards, credit card checks, cash, traveler’s checks, money orders or cashier’s checks.

 

You may also buy shares through accounts with financial intermediaries, such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures, which may be different from the procedures for investing directly. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund. You will also generally have to address your correspondence or questions regarding the Fund to your financial intermediary. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

The Fund reserves the right to suspend all sales of new shares or to reject any specific purchase order for any reason. The Fund is not intended for short-term trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For more information about the Fund’s policy on short-term trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

The Fund does not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Fund subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Fund for more information.

 

By Mail

 

You can open an account with the Fund by sending a check and your account application to the address below. You can add to an existing account by sending the Fund a check and, if possible, by sending the “Invest By Mail” stub that accompanies your confirmation statement. Be

 

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sure your check identifies clearly your name, your account number, the share class and the Fund’s name. Make your check payable to “Sands Capital Global Growth Fund.”

 

Regular Mail Address

 

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

 

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of purchase orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Wire

 

To open an account by wire, first call 1-888-826-5646 for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the wiring instructions set forth below (be sure to include the Fund’s name, share class and your account number). The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the wire in good order.

 

Wiring Instructions

 

UMB Bank, N.A.
ABA #101000695
Sands Capital Global Growth Fund
DDA Account #9870523965
Ref: Fund name/share class/account number/account name

 

Purchases In-Kind

 

Subject to the approval of the Fund, an investor may purchase shares of the Fund with liquid securities and other assets that

 

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are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Fund’s investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an appropriate investment for the Fund. Assets purchased by the Fund in such a transaction will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

 

General Information

 

You may purchase shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business (a “Business Day”). Shares cannot be purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days when either the NYSE or the Federal Reserve is closed. The price per share will be the NAV next determined after the Fund receives and accepts your purchase order in good order. “Good order” means that the Fund was provided a complete and signed account application, including the investor’s social security number or tax identification number, and other identification required by law or regulation, as well as sufficient purchase proceeds. Purchase orders that are not in good order cannot be accepted and processed even if money to purchase shares has been submitted by wire, check or ACH.

 

The Fund calculates its NAV once each Business Day as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day’s NAV, the Fund or an authorized institution must receive and accept your purchase order in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE. If your purchase order is not received and accepted in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV calculated on the subsequent Business Day on which your order is received and accepted in good order. If the NYSE closes early, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading, the Fund reserves the right to calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. The Fund will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or any other special conditions. Shares will only be priced on Business Days. Since securities that are traded on foreign exchanges may trade on days that are not Business Days, the value of the Fund’s assets may change on days when you are unable to purchase or redeem shares.

 

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Buying or Selling Shares through a Financial Intermediary

 

In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from the Fund through its transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of the Fund through accounts with financial intermediaries such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. When you purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to the financial intermediary at an earlier time for your transaction to become effective that day. This allows the financial intermediary time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund prior to the time the Fund calculates its NAV that day. Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. If your financial intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses. Unless your financial intermediary is an authorized institution (defined below), orders transmitted by the financial intermediary and received by the Fund after the time NAV is calculated for a particular day will receive the following day’s NAV.

 

Certain financial intermediaries, including certain broker-dealers and shareholder organizations, are authorized to act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to the receipt of purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares (“authorized institutions”). Authorized institutions are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized institution or, if applicable, an authorized institution’s designee, receives the order. Orders will be priced at the Fund’s NAV next computed after they are received by an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee. To determine whether your financial intermediary is an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee such that it may act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

If you deal directly with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with the Fund. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for your purchase and/or redemption transactions. For more information about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

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How the Fund Calculates NAV

 

The NAV of a class of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets attributable to the class, less any liabilities attributable to the class, by the total number of shares outstanding of the class.

 

In calculating NAV, the Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price. If market prices are not readily available or they are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that the Fund assigns to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

Although the Fund invests primarily in the stocks of U.S. companies that are traded on U.S. exchanges, there may be limited circumstances in which the Adviser would price securities at fair value – for example, if the exchange on which a portfolio security is principally traded closed early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time the Fund calculated its NAV.

 

With respect to non-U.S. securities held by the Fund, the Adviser may take factors influencing specific markets or issuers into consideration in determining the fair value of a non-U.S. security. International securities markets may be open on days when the U.S. markets are closed. In such cases, the value of any international securities owned by the Fund may be significantly affected on days when investors cannot buy or sell shares. In addition, due to the difference in times between the close of the international markets and the time the Fund prices its shares, the value the Adviser assigns to securities generally will not be the same as the quoted or published prices of those securities on their primary markets or exchanges. In determining fair value prices, the Adviser may

 

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consider the performance of securities on their primary exchanges, foreign currency appreciation/depreciation, securities market movements in the United States, or other relevant information as related to the securities.

 

Other assets for which market quotations are not readily available will be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board.

 

Minimum Investments

 

You can open an account with the Fund with a minimum initial investment of $1 million. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion. There is no minimum for subsequent investments.

 

Fund Codes

 

The reference information listed below will be helpful to you when you contact the Fund to purchase Institutional Class Shares, check daily NAV or obtain additional information.

 

Fund Name

Share Class

Ticker
Symbol

CUSIP

Fund Code

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund

Institutional

SCMGX

00769G303

1291

 

How to Sell Your Fund Shares

 

If you own your shares directly, you may sell your shares on any Business Day by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-888-826-5646.

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to sell your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

If you would like to close your account, or have your sales proceeds, including proceeds generated as a result of closing your account, sent to a third party or an address other than your own, please notify the Fund in writing.

 

Certain redemption requests will require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor institution. Eligible guarantors include commercial banks, savings and loans, savings banks, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any other

 

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member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. For example, signature guarantees may be required if your address of record has changed in the last 30 days, if you want the proceeds sent to a bank other than the bank of record on your account, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Please note that a notary public is not an acceptable provider of a signature guarantee and that the Fund must be provided with the original guarantee. Signature guarantees are for the protection of Fund shareholders. Before it grants a redemption request, the Fund may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to ensure proper authorization.

 

Accounts held by a corporation, trust, fiduciary or partnership may require additional documentation along with a signature guaranteed letter of instruction. The Fund participates in the Paperless Legal Program (the “Program”), which eliminates the need for accompanying paper documentation on legal securities transfers. Requests received with a Medallion Signature Guarantee will be reviewed for the proper criteria to meet the guidelines of the Program and may not require additional documentation. Please contact Shareholder Services at 1-888-826-5646 for more information.

 

The sale price will be the NAV next determined after the Fund receives your request in good order.

 

Receiving Your Money

 

Normally, the Fund will send your sale proceeds within one Business Day after it receives your redemption request. The Fund, however, may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account (may be subject to a $10 fee), sent to you by check or sent via ACH to your bank account if you have established banking instructions with the Fund. If you are selling shares that were recently purchased by check or through ACH, redemption proceeds may not be available until your check has cleared or the ACH transaction has been completed (which may take up to 15 days from your date of purchase).

 

The Fund typically expects to sell portfolio assets and/or hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. On a less regular basis, the Fund may also meet redemption requests by using short-term borrowings from its custodian and/or redeeming shares in-kind (as described below). These methods may be used during both normal and stressed market conditions.

 

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By Mail

 

To redeem shares by mail, please send a letter to the Fund signed by all registered parties on the account specifying:

 

 

The Fund name;

 

 

The share class;

 

 

The account number;

 

 

The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;

 

 

The account name(s); and

 

 

The address to which redemption (sale) proceeds should be sent.

 

All registered shareholders must sign the letter in the exact name(s) in which their account is registered and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.

 

Regular Mail Address

 

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

 

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of sell orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the sell order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

Redemptions In-Kind

 

The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders, the Fund might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in-kind). The Fund may also redeem in-kind to

 

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discourage short term trading of shares. It is highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in-kind, but if they were you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption. In addition, you would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in-kind until they are sold.

 

Involuntary Redemptions of Your Shares

 

If your account balance drops below $100,000 because of redemptions, you may be required to sell your shares. The Fund generally will provide you at least 30 days’ written notice to give you time to add to your account and avoid the involuntary redemption of your shares. If your shares are redeemed for this reason within 90 days of their purchase, the redemption fee will not be applied.

 

Suspension of Your Right to Sell Your Shares

 

The Fund may suspend your right to sell your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC. More information about this is in the SAI.

 

Redemption Fee

 

In an effort to discourage short-term trading and defray costs incurred by shareholders as a result of short-term trading, the Fund charges a 2.00% redemption fee on redemptions of shares that have been held for less than 90 days. The redemption fee is deducted from the Fund’s sale proceeds and cannot be paid separately, and any proceeds of the fee are credited to the assets of the Fund. The fee does not apply to shares purchased with reinvested dividends or distributions. In determining how long shares of the Fund have been held, the Fund assumes that shares held by the investor the longest period of time will be sold first.

 

The redemption fee is applicable to Fund shares purchased either directly or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the Fund on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. The Fund requests that financial intermediaries assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and collect and remit the proceeds to the Fund. However, the Fund recognizes that, due to operational requirements,

 

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the intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the Fund’s.

 

The Fund reserves the right to reduce all or a portion of the redemption fee in its discretion when it believes such reduction is in the best interests of the Fund, including with respect to certain categories of redemptions that the Fund reasonably believes may not raise frequent trading or market timing concerns. These categories include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) participants in certain group retirement plans whose processing systems are incapable of properly applying the redemption fee to underlying shareholders; (ii) redemptions resulting from certain transfers upon the death of a shareholder; (iii) redemptions by certain pension plans as required by law or by regulatory authorities; (iv) systematic redemptions; and (v) retirement loans and withdrawals.

 

How to Exchange Fund Shares

 

At no charge, you may convert Institutional Class Shares of the Fund directly to Investor Class Shares of the Fund, subject to the fees and expenses of Investor Class Shares, and provided that you meet the eligibility requirements applicable to investing in Investor Class Shares, as set forth in the Investor Class Shares prospectus. An exchange between share classes of the Fund is not a taxable event.

 

Telephone Transactions

 

Purchasing, selling and exchanging Fund shares over the telephone is extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or costs incurred by following telephone instructions it reasonably believes to be genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund over the telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.

 

Other Policies

 

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourages shareholders from engaging in “market timing” or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Fund may present risks to the Fund’s long-term shareholders and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The

 

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risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests and experiencing increased transaction costs.

 

Because the Fund may invest in mid-cap securities, which often may trade in lower volumes and may be less liquid, the Fund may be more susceptible to the risks posed by frequent trading because frequent transactions in the Fund’s shares may have a greater impact on the market price of these types of securities.

 

In addition, because the Fund invests in foreign securities traded primarily on markets that close prior to the time the Fund determines its NAV, the risks posed by frequent trading may have a greater potential to dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders than funds investing exclusively in U.S. securities. In instances where a significant event that affects the value of one or more foreign securities held by the Fund takes place after the close of the primary foreign market, but before the time that the Fund determines its NAV, certain investors may seek to take advantage of the fact that there will be a delay in the adjustment of the market price for a security caused by this event until the foreign market reopens (sometimes referred to as “price” or “time zone” arbitrage). Shareholders who attempt this type of arbitrage may dilute the value of the Fund’s shares if the prices of the Fund’s foreign securities do not reflect their fair value. Although the Adviser has procedures designed to determine the fair value of foreign securities for purposes of calculating the Fund’s NAV when such an event has occurred, fair value pricing, because it involves judgments which are inherently subjective, may not always eliminate the risk of price arbitrage. For more information on how the Fund uses fair value pricing, see “How the Fund Calculates NAV.”

 

The Fund’s service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Fund’s policies and procedures described in this prospectus and approved by the Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Fund’s service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control. The Fund’s policies and procedures include:

 

 

Shareholders are restricted from making more than five (5) “round trips” into or out of the Fund per calendar year. If a

 

34

 

 

 

shareholder exceeds this amount, the Fund and/or its service providers may, at their discretion, reject any additional purchase orders. The Fund defines a “round trip” as a purchase into the Fund by a shareholder, followed by a subsequent redemption out of the Fund, of an amount the Adviser reasonably believes would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

 

The Fund assesses a redemption fee of 2.00% on redemptions by shareholders of Fund shares held for less than 90 days (subject to certain exceptions as discussed in “Redemption Fee”).

 

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

The Fund and/or its service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. The Fund does not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders. Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in the Fund will occur.

 

Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Fund has entered into “information sharing agreements” with these financial intermediaries, which permit the Fund to obtain, upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary’s customers that invest in the Fund. If the Fund or its service providers identify omnibus account level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Fund, the Fund or its service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Fund or its service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Fund, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Fund by that customer. If the Fund is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Fund may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Fund’s shares is requested by the Fund and such information is

 

35

 

 

 

in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Fund on behalf of other persons.

 

The Fund and its service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Fund to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary’s customers. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

What this means to you: When you open an account, the Fund will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Fund to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.

 

The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

 

In certain instances, the Fund is required to collect documents to fulfill its legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify your identity.

 

Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker. If this information cannot be obtained within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund, your application will be rejected.

 

Upon receipt of your application in good order (or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application), your investment will be accepted and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV per share.

 

36

 

 

 

The Fund reserves the right to close or liquidate your account at the NAV next-determined and remit proceeds to you via check if it is unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund. Further, the Fund reserves the right to hold your proceeds until your original check clears the bank, which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

Customer identification and verification is part of the Fund’s overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Fund has adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Fund reserves the right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund or in cases when the Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Fund is required to withhold such proceeds.

 

Unclaimed Property

 

Each state has unclaimed property rules that generally provide for escheatment (or transfer) to the state of unclaimed property under various circumstances. Such circumstances include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or “RPO,” as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once it flags property as unclaimed, the Fund will attempt to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state.

 

Shareholders that reside in the state of Texas may designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that can be found on the website

 

37

 

 

 

of the Texas Comptroller. While the designated representative does not have any rights to claim or access the shareholder’s account or assets, the escheatment period will cease if the representative communicates knowledge of the shareholder’s location and confirms that the shareholder has not abandoned his or her property. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Fund (if shares are held directly with the Fund) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if shares are not held directly with the Fund).

 

More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-888-826-5646.

 

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

 

 

From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support for the Fund. These payments are sometimes characterized as “revenue sharing” payments and are made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own legitimate profits or other resources. Financial intermediaries include affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates. A financial intermediary may provide services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments for making shares of the Fund available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Fund with “shelf space,” placing it on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Fund in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries. For more information please see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

38

 

 

 

The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary or the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV or price of the Fund’s shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders.

 

In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, commissions or transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Fund, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

 

The Fund distributes its net investment income and makes distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Fund shares on the Fund’s record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.

 

You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you must notify the Fund in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Fund receives your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Fund written notice.

 

Taxes

 

 

Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific questions about U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax issues that affect the Fund and its shareholders. This summary is based on current tax laws, which may change. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not

 

39

 

 

 

subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future.

 

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) within the meaning of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable whether you receive them in cash or you reinvest them in additional shares of the Fund. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Fund as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain foreign countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). Once a year the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year. The Fund’s investment strategy may limit its ability to make distributions eligible for the reduced tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares have a short-term or long-

 

40

 

 

 

term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund will permit its shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review any cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

Each sale of Fund shares may be a taxable event. Assuming a shareholder holds Fund shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for 12 months or less or as a long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale of shares of the Fund).

 

Because the Fund invests in foreign securities, it may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the

 

41

 

 

 

Fund receives from sources in foreign countries. If more than 50% of the total assets of the Fund consist of foreign securities, the Fund will be eligible to and intends to file an election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. If the Fund makes the election, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions.

 

Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

More information about taxes is included in the SAI.

 

Additional Information

 

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

42

 

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

The table that follows presents performance information about the Institutional Class Shares of the Fund. The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the financial performance of the Fund for the past five fiscal years. Certain information contained in the table reflects the financial results for a single Institutional Class Share of the Fund. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The information provided below has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. The financial statements and the unqualified opinion of Ernst & Young LLP are included in the 2023 Annual Report of the Fund, which is available upon request by calling the Fund at 1-888-826-5646.

 

43

 

 

 

SANDS CAPITAL GLOBAL GROWTH FUND – INSTITUTIONAL CLASS

 

 

 

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

 

Year Ended
October 31,
2023

   

Year Ended
October 31,
2022

   

Year Ended
October 31,
2021

   

Year Ended
October 31,
2020

   

Year Ended
October 31,
2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 21.60     $ 46.72     $ 34.86     $ 26.64     $ 24.16  

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Loss

    (0.12 )     (0.17 )     (0.32 )     (0.21 )     (0.13 )

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    1.13       (20.10 )     13.46       10.03       4.59  

Total from Investment Operations

    1.01       (20.27 )     13.14       9.82       4.46  

Dividends and Distributions from:

                                       

Net Investment Income

                      (0.02 )     (0.02 )

Net Realized Gains

          (4.85 )     (1.28 )     (1.58 )     (1.96 )

Total Dividends and Distributions

          (4.85 )     (1.28 )     (1.60 )     (1.98 )

Redemption Fees^

                             

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 22.61     $ 21.60     $ 46.72     $ 34.86     $ 26.64  

Total Return††

    4.68 %     (47.86 )%     38.39 %     38.62 %     20.43 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 1,101,192     $ 1,244,453     $ 2,754,537     $ 2,027,252     $ 1,374,673  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    0.97 %     0.95 %     0.95 %     0.96 %     0.97 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    0.97 %     0.95 %     0.95 %     0.96 %     0.97 %

Ratio of Net Investment Loss to Average Net Assets

    (0.49 )%     (0.59 )%     (0.78 )%     (0.70 )%     (0.51 )%

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    15 %     21 %     32 %     23 %     34 %

 

^

See Note 2 in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the period.

 

††

Total return is for the period indicated and has not been annualized. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived its fee and reimbursed other expenses.

 

Amounts designated as “—” are $0.00 or round to $0.00 per share.

 

44

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund

 

Investment Adviser
Sands Capital Management, LLC
1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 3000
Arlington, Virginia 22209

 

Distributor
SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

 

Legal Counsel
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

 

More information about the Fund is available, without charge, through the following:

 

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI, dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time, includes detailed information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund and the Sands Capital Global Growth Fund. The SAI is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this prospectus.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports: These reports list the Fund’s holdings and contain information from the Adviser about investment strategies, and recent market conditions and trends and their impact on Fund performance. The reports also contain detailed financial information about the Fund.

 

To Obtain an SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report, or More Information:

 

By Telephone:

Call 1-888-826-5646

By Mail:

Write to us at:
Sands Capital Global Growth Fund
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009

By E-Mail:

sandscapfunds@seic.com

By Internet:

www.sandscapital.com

 

From the SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act registration number is 811-06400.

 

SAN-PS-002-1500

 

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

 

 

 

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund

 

Investor Class Shares

Ticker Symbol: SCGVX

 

 

 

 

Prospectus

March 1, 2024

 

 

Investment Adviser:

 

Sands Capital Management, LLC

 

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

 

 

About This Prospectus

 

This prospectus has been arranged into different sections so that you can easily review this important information. For detailed information about the Fund, please see:

 

   

Page

Fund Summary

1

Investment Objective

1

Fund Fees and Expenses

1

Principal Investment Strategy

2

Principal Risks

5

Performance Information

10

Investment Adviser

12

Portfolio Managers

12

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

12

Tax Information

12

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

12

More Information about Risk

14

More Information about Fund Investments

20

Information about Portfolio Holdings

21

More Information about the Investment Adviser

21

Portfolio Managers

23

Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

24

Other Policies

34

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

38

Dividends and Distributions

40

Taxes

40

Additional Information

43

Financial Highlights

44

How to Obtain More Information about the Fund

Back Cover

 

 

 

SCGVX Investor Class Shares

MSCI All Country World Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund

 

Investment Objective

 

 

The Sands Capital Global Growth Fund’s (the “Fund”) investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.

 

Fund Fees and Expenses

 

 

These tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Class Shares of the Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below. Shares of the Fund are available in other share classes that have different fees and expenses.

 

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

 

 

Sands Capital
Global Growth
Fund

Redemption Fee (as a percentage of amount redeemed, if shares redeemed have been held for less than 90 days)

2.00%

 

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

 

 

Investor Class
Shares

Management Fees

0.85%

Other Expenses

0.37%

Shareholder Servicing Fees

0.25%

Other Operating Expenses

0.12%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses1,2

1.22%

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 

1

Sands Capital Management, LLC (the “Adviser”) has contractually agreed to waive or reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses for Investor Class Shares (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 1.35% of the Fund’s Investor Class Shares’ average daily net assets (the “expense cap”) until March 31, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee waivers or expense reimbursements made during the three-year period preceding the recoupment if at any point Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment. This Agreement may be terminated: (i) by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”), for any reason at any time, or (ii) by the Adviser upon ninety (90) days’ prior written notice to the Trust, effective as of the close of business on March 31, 2025.

 

2

The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses in this fee table do not correlate to the expense ratios in the Fund’s Financial Highlights because the maximum Shareholder Servicing Fees were not incurred during the prior fiscal year.

 

1

 

 

 

 

Example

 

This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

 

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

 

1 Year

3 Years

5 Years

10 Years

$124

$387

$670

$1,477

 

Portfolio Turnover

 

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in total annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 15% of the average value of its portfolio.

 

Principal Investment Strategy

 

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests primarily in equity securities of publicly-traded companies located anywhere in the world, including equity securities in developed and emerging markets. Under normal market conditions, the Fund expects to invest in at least three countries, including the United States, and invest at least 40% of its net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in non-U.S. companies. For purposes of this policy, a company is considered to be a non-U.S. company if: (i) at least 50% of the company’s revenues or operating income is generated outside of the United States; (ii) the company

 

2

 

 

 

is organized or maintains its principal place of business outside of the United States; or (iii) the company’s primary trading market is located outside of the United States. From time to time, the Fund may also focus its investments in a particular geographic region, such as Europe, Asia and North America.

 

In making investment decisions for the Fund, Sands Capital Management, LLC (the “Adviser”) focuses on companies that generate (or that the Adviser expects to generate) above average earnings growth and that, in the Adviser’s opinion, are leading growth businesses in the marketplace. The Fund typically invests in a portfolio of 30-50 issuers that the Adviser believes represents the best opportunities to achieve the Fund’s investment objective and, from time to time, may heavily invest in a particular sector. In selecting securities for the Fund, the Adviser utilizes a fundamental, bottom-up, business-focused research approach. This research starts with internal competitive landscape analysis, ongoing participation at industry conferences, review of industry and trade periodicals and quantitative screens to populate an initial universe of publicly traded companies that it expects will generate above average earnings growth. The Adviser then evaluates each company for six key investment criteria:

 

 

sustainable above-average earnings growth;

 

 

leadership position in a promising business space;

 

 

significant competitive advantages;

 

 

clear mission and value-added focus;

 

 

financial strength; and

 

 

rational valuation relative to the market and business prospects.

 

Companies that the Adviser determines may meet all six investment criteria are then screened with in-depth qualitative and quantitative research, including a full competitive analysis and proprietary financial modeling. This additional screening also typically includes identifying the key metrics for a particular business or industry, any specific risks or issues relating to a company, as well as a hypothetical “sell case,” i.e. evaluating a range of scenarios under which a position in a security would be reduced or sold.

 

The Fund intends to buy and hold securities for the long term and seeks to maintain a low level of portfolio turnover. The portfolio turnover rate of the Fund is expected to be below 50% of the average value of its portfolio. The Adviser employs a sell discipline in which the security of a company is sold if an issue emerges that

 

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negatively impacts the Adviser’s assessment of one or more of the six investment criteria discussed above and the Adviser believes that the issue cannot be resolved within an acceptable time frame. The Adviser may also sell a holding if it becomes materially overvalued versus its underlying business, for risk management purposes, and/or if a more attractive investment opportunity presents itself.

 

While the Fund may invest in equity securities of companies of any size, the Fund will primarily invest in large and mid-capitalization companies given the Adviser’s focus on what it considers to be established business “leaders.” As such, the Fund will generally not invest in companies with a market capitalization of less than $2 billion and its total median market capitalization will typically be significantly greater than that of the MSCI Barra’s (“MSCI”) All Country World Index, the Fund’s benchmark. As of December 31, 2023, the total median market capitalization of the MSCI All Country World Index was $11.5 billion.

 

The equity securities in which the Fund invests include common stocks as well as preferred securities. The Fund may also purchase American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs” and, together with ADRs and EDRs, “Depositary Receipts”), which are certificates typically issued by a bank or trust company that represent ownership interests in securities issued by a foreign or domestic company. From time to time, the Fund may have significant investments in one or more countries. The Fund may invest up to the greater of 30% of its net assets or three times the emerging markets component of the MSCI All Country World Index, in securities of companies located in emerging markets. As of December 31, 2023, the emerging markets component of the MSCI All Country World Index was 9.9% of the total index. The Fund may invest in A-Shares of companies based in China that trade on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange through the Shanghai – Hong Kong and Shenzhen – Hong Kong Stock Connect programs (“Stock Connect”). Stock Connect is a mutual stock market access program designed to, among other things, enable foreign investments in China. The Fund may use foreign exchange spot contracts to seek to hedge currency exposure. A foreign exchange spot contract is an agreement to buy or sell a specific currency for immediate delivery (i.e., “on the spot”) as opposed to at a set date in the future.

 

The Fund may also invest in derivatives, specifically (i) foreign exchange forwards to seek to hedge currency exposure and (ii)

 

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“market access products,” to seek to gain economic exposure to markets where holding an underlying security is not feasible. A market access product is a derivative security that provides market exposure to an underlying foreign issuer. Examples of market access products are low exercise price warrants (“LEPWs”) and participatory notes (“P-notes”), both of which allow the holder to gain exposure to issuers in certain emerging market countries. A LEPW entitles the holder to purchase a security with an exercise price significantly below the market price of the underlying security. Because of its low exercise price, a LEPW is virtually certain to be exercised and the value and performance of its intrinsic value is effectively identical to that of the underlying security. These features are designed to allow participation in the performance of a security where there are legal or financial obstacles to purchasing the underlying security directly. If the LEPW is cash-settled, the buyer profits to the same extent as with a direct holding in the underlying security, but without having to transact in it. P-notes are derivatives that are generally traded over the counter and constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks and broker-dealers that issue them. Generally, these banks and broker-dealers buy securities listed on certain foreign exchanges and then issue P-notes which are designed to replicate the performance of certain issuers and markets. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its net assets in market access products.

 

Principal Risks

 

 

As with all mutual funds, there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. You could lose money by investing in the Fund. A Fund share is not a bank deposit and it is not insured or guaranteed by the FDIC or any government agency. The principal risk factors affecting shareholders’ investments in the Fund are set forth below.

 

Equity Risk – Since it purchases equity securities, the Fund is subject to the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. Historically, the equity markets have moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s equity securities may fluctuate drastically from day-to-day. Individual companies may report poor results or be negatively affected by industry and/or economic trends and developments. The prices of securities issued by such companies may suffer a decline in response. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the

 

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financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund. These factors contribute to price volatility, which is the principal risk of investing in the Fund.

 

Growth Style Risk – The Fund pursues a “growth style” of investing, meaning that the Fund invests in equity securities of companies that the Adviser believes will increase their earnings at a certain rate that is generally higher than the rate expected for non-growth companies. If a growth company does not meet these expectations, the price of its stock may decline significantly, even if it has increased earnings. Many growth companies do not pay dividends. Companies that pay dividends often have lower stock price declines during market downturns. Over time, a growth investing style may go in and out of favor, causing the Fund to sometimes underperform other equity funds that use differing investing styles.

 

Management Risk – The Fund is subject to the risk that the Adviser’s judgments about the attractiveness, value, or potential appreciation of the Fund’s investments may prove to be incorrect. If the investments selected and strategies employed by the Fund fail to produce the intended results, the Fund could underperform in comparison to other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.

 

Large-Capitalization Company Risk – The large capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may lag the performance of smaller capitalization companies because large capitalization companies may experience slower rates of growth than smaller capitalization companies and may not respond as quickly to market changes and opportunities.

 

Mid-Capitalization Company Risk – The mid-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In particular, investments in these mid-sized companies may pose additional risks, including liquidity risk, because these companies tend to have limited product lines, markets and financial resources, and may depend upon a relatively small management group. Therefore, mid-cap stocks may be more volatile than those of larger companies.

 

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Foreign Company Risk – Investing in foreign companies, including direct investments and through Depositary Receipts, poses additional risks since political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. These risks will not necessarily affect the U.S. economy or similar issuers located in the United States. In addition, investments in foreign companies are generally denominated in a foreign currency, the value of which may be influenced by currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations. Changes in the value of a currency compared to the U.S. dollar may affect (positively or negatively) the value of the Fund’s investments. These currency movements may occur separately from, and in response to, events that do not otherwise affect the value of the security in the issuer’s home country. Securities of foreign companies may not be registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and foreign companies are generally not subject to the regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers and, as a consequence, there is generally less publicly available information about foreign securities than is available about domestic securities. Income from foreign securities owned by the Fund may be reduced by a withholding tax at the source, which tax would reduce income received from the securities comprising the Fund’s portfolio. Foreign securities may also be more difficult to value than securities of U.S. issuers. In addition, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may require the Fund to sell such investments at inopportune times, which could result in losses to the Fund. While Depositary Receipts provide an alternative to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their respective national markets and currencies, investments in Depositary Receipts continue to be subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities.

 

Geographic Focus Risk – To the extent that it focuses its investments in a particular country or geographic region, the Fund may be more susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers and countries within that country or geographic region. As a result, the Fund may be subject to greater price volatility and risk of loss than a fund holding more geographically diverse investments.

 

Foreign Currency Risk – As a result of the Fund’s investments in securities denominated in, and/or receiving revenues in, foreign currencies, the Fund will be subject to currency risk. Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to the

 

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U.S. dollar or, in the case of hedging positions, that the U.S. dollar will decline in value relative to the currency hedged. In either event, the dollar value of an investment in the Fund would be adversely affected.

 

Sector Focus Risk – Because the Fund may, from time to time, be more heavily invested in particular sectors, the value of its shares may be especially sensitive to factors and economic risks that specifically affect those sectors. As a result, the Fund’s share price may fluctuate more widely than the value of shares of a mutual fund that invests in a broader range of sectors.

 

Emerging Markets Securities Risk – The Fund may invest in companies located or doing business in emerging market countries. An “emerging market” country is any country determined by the Adviser to have an emerging market economy, considering factors such as the country’s credit rating, its political and economic stability and the development of its financial and capital markets. Typically, emerging markets are in countries that are in the process of industrialization, with lower gross national products than more developed countries. For purposes of determining whether a particular country is considered a developed market or an emerging market, the Fund uses the designation set forth by the MSCI, a prominent provider of investment tools and data services for institutions worldwide.

 

Investments in emerging markets securities are considered speculative and subject to heightened risks in addition to the general risks of investing in non-U.S. securities. Unlike more established markets, emerging markets may have governments that are less stable, markets that are less liquid and economies that are less developed. Differences in tax and accounting standards and difficulties in obtaining information about foreign governments or foreign companies may impair investment decisions. In addition, emerging markets securities may be subject to smaller market capitalization of securities markets, which may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; and possible restrictions on repatriation of investment income and capital. Furthermore, emerging market governments may have limited ability to raise taxes or authorize appropriations for debt repayment. In addition, foreign investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales, and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies. Moreover, the currencies of emerging market countries may experience significant declines against the U.S. dollar, and devaluation may occur subsequent to investments

 

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in these currencies by the Fund. Inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and securities markets of certain emerging market countries. The Fund may incur operating expenses that are higher than those of mutual funds that invest exclusively in U.S. equity securities due to higher custodial fees and brokerage commissions associated with investments in foreign securities. These risks may be magnified in less-established emerging markets.

 

Liquidity Risk – The risk that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the Fund would like. The Fund may have to lower the price of the security, sell other securities instead or forego an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on Fund management or performance.

 

Derivatives Risk – The Fund’s use of foreign exchange forwards and market access products (including P-Notes and LEPWs) is subject to market risk, correlation risk, valuation risk, liquidity risk and credit risk. Market risk is the risk that the market value of an investment may move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably. Correlation risk is the risk that changes in the value of the derivative may not correlate perfectly with the underlying asset, rate or index. Valuation risk is the risk that the derivative may be difficult to value. Liquidity risk is the risk that the derivative may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the Fund would like, which may cause the Fund to have to accept a lower price to sell a derivative, sell other securities to raise cash, or give up an investment opportunity, any of which could have a negative effect on the Fund’s management or performance. Credit risk is the risk that the counterparty to a derivative contract will default or otherwise become unable to honor a financial obligation. The Fund’s use of foreign exchange forwards is also subject to leverage risk and hedging risk. Leverage risk is the risk that the use of leverage may amplify the effects of market volatility on the Fund’s share price and may also cause the Fund to liquidate portfolio positions when it would not be advantageous to do so in order to satisfy its obligations. Hedging risk in this context is the risk that the derivatives instrument used for hedging currency exposure may also limit any potential gain that may result from a change in relative values of the underlying currencies. To the extent that the Fund engages in hedging strategies, there can be no assurance that such strategy will be effective or that there will be a hedge in place at any given time. Each of these risks could cause the Fund to lose more than the principal amount invested in a derivative instrument.

 

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Preferred Stock Risk – Preferred stocks in which the Fund may invest are sensitive to interest rate changes, and are also subject to equity risk, which is the risk that stock prices will fall over short or extended periods of time. The rights of preferred stocks on the distribution of a company’s assets in the event of a liquidation are generally subordinate to the rights associated with a company’s debt securities.

 

Stock Connect Investing Risk – Trading through Stock Connect is subject to a number of restrictions that may affect the Fund’s investments and returns, including a daily quota that limits the maximum net purchases under Stock Connect each day. In addition, investments made through Stock Connect are subject to relatively untested trading, clearance and settlement procedures. Moreover, A-Shares purchased through Stock Connect generally may only be sold or otherwise transferred through Stock Connect. The Fund’s investments in A-Shares purchased through Stock Connect are generally subject to Chinese securities regulations and listing rules. While overseas investors currently are exempt from paying capital gains or value added taxes on income and gains from investments in A-Shares purchased through Stock Connect, these tax rules could be changed, which could result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund. Stock Connect operates only on days when both the Chinese and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banks in both markets are open on the corresponding settlement days. Therefore, the Fund may be subject to the risk of price fluctuations of A-Shares when Stock Connect is not trading.

 

Performance Information

 

 

The bar chart and the performance table below illustrate the risks and volatility of an investment in Investor Class Shares of the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s Investor Class Shares’ performance from year to year and by showing how the Fund’s Investor Class Shares’ average annual total returns for 1, 5 and 10 years and since inception compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. Of course, the Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available by calling 1-888-826-5646.

 

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BEST QUARTER

WORST QUARTER

35.17%

(32.22)%

6/30/2020

6/30/2022

 

Average Annual Total Returns for Periods Ended December 31, 2023

 

This table compares the Fund’s Investor Class Shares’ average annual total returns for the periods ended December 31, 2023 to those of an appropriate broad based index.

 

After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”).

 

Investor Class Shares

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Since
Inception
(03/31/10)

Fund Returns Before Taxes

31.49%

9.54%

8.34%

10.48%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions

31.49%

8.47%

7.54%

9.84%

Fund Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares

18.64%

7.71%

6.81%

8.89%

MSCI All Country World Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

22.20%

11.72%

7.93%

8.56%

 

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Investment Adviser

 

 

Sands Capital Management, LLC

 

Portfolio Managers

 

 

David E. Levanson, CFA, Executive Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2010.

 

T. Perry Williams, CFA and President, has managed the Fund since 2013.

 

Brian A. Christiansen, CFA, Executive Managing Director, Senior Porfolio Manager and Research Analyst, has managed the Fund since 2020.

 

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

 

 

To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, including an initial purchase through an IRA, you must invest at least $100,000. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion. There is no minimum for subsequent investments.

 

If you own your shares directly, you may redeem your shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange is open for business by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-888-826-5646.

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to redeem your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

Tax Information

 

 

The Fund intends to make distributions that may be taxed as qualified dividend income, ordinary income or capital gains, unless you are investing through a tax-deferred arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan or IRA, in which case your distribution will be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

 

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

 

 

If you purchase shares of the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of

 

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SCGVX Investor Class Shares

MSCI All Country World Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)

 

interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s web site for more information.

 

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More Information about Risk

 

 

Investing in the Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that the Fund will achieve its goal. The Adviser’s judgments about the markets, the economy, or companies may not anticipate actual market movements, economic conditions or company performance, and these judgments may affect the return on your investment. In fact, no matter how good of a job the Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in the Fund, just as you could with similar investments.

 

The value of your investment in the Fund is based on the value of the securities the Fund holds. These prices change daily due to economic and other events that affect particular companies and other issuers. These price movements, sometimes called volatility, may be greater or lesser depending on the types of securities the Fund owns and the markets in which it trades. The effect on the Fund of a change in the value of a single security will depend on how widely the Fund diversifies its holdings.

 

Equity Risk – Equity securities include common and preferred stocks, as well as interests in Depositary Receipts. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. Preferred stock provides a fixed dividend that is paid before any dividends are paid to common stockholders, and which takes precedence over common stock in the event of a liquidation. Like common stock, preferred stocks represent partial ownership in a company, although preferred stock shareholders do not enjoy any of the voting rights of common stockholders. Also, unlike common stock, a preferred stock pays a fixed dividend that does not fluctuate, although the company does not have to pay this dividend if it lacks the financial ability to do so. Investments in Depositary Receipts are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities, which are discussed below. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. In addition, the impact of any epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster, or widespread fear that such events may occur, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

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Recent examples include pandemic risks related to COVID-19 and aggressive measures taken worldwide in response by governments, including closing borders, restricting international and domestic travel, and the imposition of prolonged quarantines of large populations, and by businesses, including changes to operations and reducing staff. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which a mutual fund invests will cause the fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) to fluctuate. An investment in a portfolio of equity securities may be more suitable for long-term investors who can bear the risk of these share price fluctuations.

 

Foreign/Emerging Markets Securities Risk – Investments in securities of foreign companies or governments (including direct investments as well as through Depositary Receipts) can be more volatile than investments in U.S. companies or governments. Diplomatic, political, or economic developments, including nationalization or appropriation, could affect investments in foreign companies. Foreign securities markets generally have less trading volume and less liquidity than U.S. markets. In addition, the value of securities denominated in foreign currencies, and of dividends from such securities, can change significantly when foreign currencies strengthen or weaken relative to the U.S. dollar. Financial statements of foreign issuers are governed by different accounting, auditing, and financial standards than the financial statements of U.S. issuers and may be less transparent and uniform than in the United States. Thus, there may be less information publicly available about foreign issuers than about most U.S. issuers. Furthermore, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board does not have the ability to inspect audit work papers in certain foreign countries, including China. There is also less regulation, generally, of the securities markets in emerging countries than there is in more developed countries, and less enforcement action by regulators, which increases the risk posed by insufficient or misleading disclosure. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, and other U.S. authorities may be limited in their ability to bring and enforce actions against foreign issuers or foreign persons. Investors who have been harmed will have substantially less access to remedies, including with respect to fraud claims and class-action lawsuits regarding securities violations. Certain investment-related and other practices, such as the trading, settlement and safekeeping of investments, in emerging markets may be different from and less developed than in developed markets, making investing in such markets involve greater investment, operational and other risks. Emerging markets are more likely to experience hyperinflation and

 

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currency devaluations. Securities of emerging market companies may have far lower trading volumes and less liquidity than securities of issuers in developed markets. Companies with economic ties to emerging markets may be susceptible to the same risks as companies organized in emerging markets. Transaction costs are generally higher than those in the United States and expenses for custodial arrangements of foreign securities may be somewhat greater than typical expenses for custodial arrangements of similar U.S. securities. Some foreign governments levy withholding taxes against dividend and interest income or may begin to do so with little or no advance notice. Although in some countries a portion of these taxes is recoverable, the non-recovered portion will reduce the income received from the securities comprising the portfolio. Additionally, periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in the Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. Government designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses. These risks may be heightened with respect to emerging market countries since political turmoil and rapid changes in economic conditions are more likely to occur in these countries.

 

European Economic Risk. The Economic and Monetary Union (the “EMU”) of the European Union (the “EU”) requires compliance with restrictions on inflation rates, deficits, interest rates and debt levels, as well as fiscal and monetary controls, each of which may significantly affect every country in Europe. Decreasing imports or exports, changes in governmental or EU regulations on trade, changes in the exchange rate of the euro (the common currency of certain EU countries), the default or threat of default by an EU member country on its sovereign debt and/or an economic recession in an EU member country may have a significant adverse effect on the economies of EU member countries and their trading partners. The European financial markets have historically experienced volatility that affected the exchange rate of the euro and this trend may continue and may significantly impact European countries.

 

Responses to financial problems by European governments, central banks and others, including austerity measures and reforms, may not produce the desired results, may result in social unrest, may limit future growth and economic recovery or may have other unintended consequences. Further defaults or

 

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restructurings by governments and other entities of their debt could have additional adverse effects on economies, financial markets and asset valuations around the world. In addition, one or more countries may abandon the euro and/or withdraw from the EU. On January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) formally withdrew from the EU (commonly referred to as “Brexit”). While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets and could have negative long-term impacts on financial markets in the UK and throughout Europe. Secessionist movements, such as the Catalan movement in Spain, may also create instability and uncertainty in the region.

 

The occurrence of terrorist incidents throughout Europe also could impact financial markets. The impact of these events is not clear but could be significant and far-reaching and adversely affect the value of the Fund.

 

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions. Russia’s actions and the resulting responses by the United States and other countries could increase volatility and uncertainty in the financial markets and adversely affect regional and global economies. The United States and other countries have imposed broad-ranging economic sanctions on Russia, certain Russian individuals, banking entities and corporations, and Belarus as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and may impose sanctions on other countries. The extent and duration of the war in Ukraine and the longevity and severity of sanctions remain unknown, but they could have a significant adverse impact on the European economy as well as the price and availability of certain commodities, including oil and natural gas, throughout the world. These sanctions, and the resulting disruption of the Russian economy, may cause volatility in other regional and global markets and may negatively impact the performance of various sectors and industries, as well as companies in other countries, which could have a negative effect on the performance of the Fund, even if the Fund does not have direct exposure to securities of Russian issuers.

 

Asian Economic Risk. Many Asian economies have experienced rapid growth and industrialization in recent years, but there is no assurance that this growth rate will be maintained. Other Asian economies, however, have experienced high inflation, high unemployment, currency devaluations and restrictions, and over-

 

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extension of credit. Economic events in any one Asian country may have a significant economic effect on the entire Asian region, as well as on major trading partners outside Asia. Many Asian countries are subject to political risk, including political instability, corruption and regional conflict with neighboring countries. In addition, many Asian countries are subject to social and labor risks associated with demands for improved political, economic and social conditions. These risks, among others, may adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments.

 

Derivatives Risk – The Fund’s use of foreign exchange forwards and market access products (including P-Notes and LEPWs) is subject to derivatives risk. Derivatives are often more volatile than other investments and may magnify the Fund’s gains or losses. There are various factors that affect the Fund’s ability to achieve its objective with derivatives. Successful use of a derivative depends upon the degree to which prices of the underlying assets correlate with price movements in the derivatives the Fund buys or sells. The Fund could be negatively affected if the change in market value of its securities fails to correlate perfectly with the values of the derivatives it purchased or sold. The lack of a liquid secondary market for a derivative may prevent the Fund from closing its derivative positions and could adversely impact its ability to achieve its objective and to realize profits or limit losses. Since certain derivatives may be purchased for a fraction of their value, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss or gain to the Fund. Derivatives are often more volatile than other investments and the Fund may lose more in a derivative than it originally invested in it. Additionally, derivative instruments are subject to counterparty risk, meaning that the party that issues the derivative may experience a significant credit event and may be unwilling or unable to make timely settlement payments or otherwise honor its obligations. There can be no assurance that the Adviser’s use of derivatives will be successful in achieving its intended goals. Additionally, regulation relating to the Fund’s use of derivatives and related instruments, including Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act, could potentially limit or impact the Fund’s ability to invest in derivatives, limit the Fund’s ability to employ certain strategies that use derivatives and/or adversely affect the value of derivatives and the Fund’s performance.

 

P-Notes. P-Notes are derivatives that are generally traded over-the-counter and constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks and broker-dealers that issue them. Generally, these

 

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banks and broker-dealers buy securities listed on certain foreign exchanges and then issue P-Notes which are designed to replicate the performance of certain issuers and markets. The performance results of P-Notes will not correlate exactly to the performance of the issuers or markets that they seek to replicate due to transaction costs and other expenses. The holder of a P-Note typically does not receive voting or other rights as it would if it directly owned the underlying security, but is subject to the same risks as if it invested directly in the underlying security.

 

LEPWs. The Fund may invest in low exercise price warrants, which are warrants with an exercise price that is very low relative to the market price of the underlying instrument at the time of issue (e.g., one cent or less). The buyer of a low exercise price warrant effectively pays the full value of the underlying common stock at the outset. In the case of any exercise of warrants, there may be a time delay between the time a holder of warrants gives instructions to exercise and the time the price of the common stock relating to exercise or the settlement date is determined, during which time the price of the underlying security could change significantly. These warrants entail substantial credit risk, since the issuer of the warrant holds the purchase price of the warrant (approximately equal to the value of the underlying investment at the time of the warrant’s issue) for the life of the warrant.

 

Forward Contracts. A forward contract involves a negotiated obligation to purchase or sell a specific security or currency at a future date (with or without delivery required), which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. Forward contracts are not traded on exchanges; rather, a bank or dealer will act as agent or as principal in order to make or take future delivery of a specified lot of a particular security or currency for the Fund’s account. Risks associated with forwards may include: (i) an imperfect correlation between the movement in prices of forward contracts and the securities or currencies underlying them; (ii) an illiquid market for forwards; (iii) difficulty in obtaining an accurate value for the forwards; and (iv) the risk that the counterparty to the forward contract will default or otherwise fail to honor its obligation. Because forwards require only a small initial investment in the form of a deposit or margin, they also involve a high degree of leverage.

 

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Stock Connect Investing Risk – The Fund may invest in A-Shares of companies based in China that trade on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Exchange through the Shanghai – Hong Kong and Shenzhen – Hong Kong Stock Connect programs (“Stock Connect”). Trading through Stock Connect is subject to a number of restrictions that may affect the Fund’s investments and returns, including a daily quota that limits the maximum net purchases under Stock Connect each day. In addition, investments made through Stock Connect are subject to relatively untested trading, clearance and settlement procedures. Moreover, A-Shares purchased through Stock Connect generally may only be sold or otherwise transferred through Stock Connect. The Fund’s investments in A-Shares purchased through Stock Connect are generally subject to Chinese securities regulations and listing rules. While overseas investors currently are exempt from paying capital gains or value added taxes on income and gains from investments in A-Shares purchased through Stock Connect, these tax rules could be changed, which could result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund. Stock Connect operates only on days when both the Chinese and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and when banks in both markets are open on the corresponding settlement days. Therefore, the Fund may be subject to the risk of price fluctuations of A-Shares during the time when Stock Connect is not trading. Because of the way in which A-Shares are held in Stock Connect, the Fund may not be able to exercise the rights of a shareholder and may be limited in its ability to pursue claims against the issuer of a security, and may suffer losses in the event the depository of the Shanghai Stock Exchange or Shenzhen Stock Exchange becomes insolvent. Stock Connect is a relatively new program. Further developments are likely and there can be no assurance as to the program’s continued existence or whether future developments regarding the program may restrict or adversely affect the Fund’s investments or returns. In addition, the application and interpretation of the laws and regulations of Hong Kong and China, and the rules, policies or guidelines published or applied by relevant regulators and exchanges in respect of Stock Connect are uncertain, and they may have a detrimental effect on the Fund’s investments and returns.

 

More Information about Fund Investments

 

 

The investment objective of the Fund is long-term capital appreciation. This investment objective may be changed without shareholder approval, upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

 

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The investments and strategies described in this prospectus are those that the Fund uses under normal conditions. During unusual economic or market conditions, or for temporary defensive or liquidity purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in money market instruments and other cash equivalents that would not ordinarily be consistent with its investment objective. If the Fund invests in this manner, it may not achieve its investment objective. The Fund will do so only if the Adviser believes that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity for capital appreciation. The Fund intends to remain as fully invested as practicable regardless of market conditions.

 

This prospectus describes the Fund’s principal investment strategies, and the Fund will normally invest in the types of securities described in this prospectus. In addition to the investments and strategies described in this prospectus, the Fund also may invest, to a lesser extent, in other securities, use other strategies and engage in other investment practices that are not part of its principal investment strategies. These investments and strategies, as well as the strategies described in this prospectus, are described in detail in the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information (the “SAI”) (for information on how to obtain a copy of the SAI, see the back cover of this prospectus). Of course, the Fund cannot guarantee that it will achieve its investment goal.

 

Information about Portfolio Holdings

 

 

A description of the Fund’s policy and procedures with respect to the circumstances under which the Fund discloses its portfolio holdings is available in the SAI.

 

More Information about the Investment Adviser

 

 

Sands Capital Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, serves as investment adviser to the Fund. The Adviser was initially formed in 1992 as a Sub-Chapter S-Corporation and converted to a limited liability company in 2005. The Adviser’s principal place of business is located at 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 3000, Arlington, VA 22209. The Adviser is an independent investment management firm focused exclusively on portfolios of high quality growth companies. Clients include, among other types, individuals (high net worth and other than high net worth), banking or thrift institutions, investment companies and pooled investment

 

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vehicles, pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations, state and municipal government entities, sovereign wealth funds and foreign official institutions, corporations, non-US pension funds, and superannuation funds. As of December 31, 2023, the Adviser had approximately $45.0 billion in discretionary assets under management in the firm’s public equity strategies. The Adviser makes investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the Fund’s investment program. The Board oversees the Adviser and establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its management activities.

 

For its services to the Fund, the Adviser is entitled to an investment advisory fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.85% based on the average daily net assets of the Fund. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive or reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) for Investor Class Shares of the Fund from exceeding 1.35% of the Fund’s Investor Class Shares’ average daily net assets (the “expense cap”) until March 31, 2025. To maintain this expense cap, the Adviser may waive a portion of its management fee and/or reimburse certain expenses of the Fund. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) and the expense cap to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee waivers or expense reimbursements made during the three-year period preceding the recoupment if at any point total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund paid 0.85% of its average daily net assets in advisory fees to the Adviser.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s investment advisory agreement will be available in the Fund’s Semi-Annual Report to Shareholders dated April 30, 2024, which will cover the period from November 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.

 

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Portfolio Managers

 

 

The Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals, each of whom is jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

David E. Levanson, CFA, is a portfolio manager for the Fund. Mr. Levanson, Executive Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst, worked for the Adviser from 1992-1994 and rejoined the firm in 2002. From 1996-1999, he was a Vice President and Research Analyst at State Street Research & Management and from 1999-2002 he worked as a Research Analyst at MFS Investment Management. Prior to joining the Adviser in 1992, Mr. Levanson was a Research Analyst at the Capital Management Group, Folger Nolan Fleming Douglas, Inc. from 1990-1992. Mr. Levanson received his BS degree in Finance from the University of Florida and his MBA in 1996 from the Darden School at the University of Virginia.

 

T. Perry Williams, CFA, is a portfolio manager for the Fund. Mr. Williams, President, has worked for the Adviser since 2004. Mr. Williams initially joined the Adviser as a Director of Client Relations in 2004, and he transitioned to the Investment Team in 2006. Prior to joining the Adviser in 2004, Mr. Williams served as a Principal and Consultant at Mercer Investment Consulting, Inc. from 1995-2004. Mr. Williams received his BS degree in Finance from the University of Virginia in 1994 and his Master of Management degree in 1999 from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

 

Brian A. Christiansen, CFA, is a portfolio manager for the Fund. Mr. Christiansen, Executive Managing Director, Senior Portfolio Manager and Research Analyst, joined the Adviser in June 2006. He has investment experience dating back to that same year. Mr. Christiansen received his BA in Economics from Yale University in 2005. He also earned his MBA from the Yale School of Management in 2009.

 

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

 

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Purchasing, Selling and Exchanging Fund Shares

 

 

This section tells you how to purchase, sell (sometimes called “redeem”) and exchange Investor Class Shares of the Fund.

 

Investor Class Shares are for individual and institutional investors.

 

For information regarding the federal income tax consequences of transactions in shares of the Fund, including information about cost basis reporting, see “Taxes.”

 

How to Purchase Fund Shares

 

To purchase shares directly from the Fund, complete and send in the application. If you need an application or have questions, please call 1-888-826-5646.

 

All investments must be made by check, Automated Clearing House (“ACH”), or wire. All checks must be made payable in U.S. dollars and drawn on U.S. financial institutions. The Fund does not accept purchases made by third-party checks, credit cards, credit card checks, cash, traveler’s checks, money orders or cashier’s checks.

 

You may also buy shares through accounts with financial intermediaries, such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. If you invest through a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures, which may be different from the procedures for investing directly. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for its services in addition to the fees charged by the Fund. You will also generally have to address your correspondence or questions regarding the Fund to your financial intermediary. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

The Fund reserves the right to suspend all sales of new shares or to reject any specific purchase order for any reason. The Fund is not intended for short-term trading by shareholders in response to short-term market fluctuations. For more information about the Fund’s policy on short-term trading, see “Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures.”

 

The Fund does not generally accept investments by non-U.S. persons. Non-U.S. persons may be permitted to invest in the Fund subject to the satisfaction of enhanced due diligence. Please contact the Fund for more information.

 

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By Mail

 

You can open an account with the Fund by sending a check and your account application to the address below. You can add to an existing account by sending the Fund a check and, if possible, by sending the “Invest By Mail” stub that accompanies your confirmation statement. Be sure your check identifies clearly your name, your account number, the share class and the Fund’s name. Make your check payable to “Sands Capital Global Growth Fund.”

 

Regular Mail Address

 

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

Express Mail Address

 

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of purchase orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Wire

 

To open an account by wire, first call 1-888-826-5646 for details. To add to an existing account by wire, wire your money using the wiring instructions set forth below (be sure to include the Fund’s name, share class and your account number). The share price used to fill the purchase order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the wire in good order.

 

Wiring Instructions

 

UMB Bank, N.A.
ABA #101000695
Sands Capital Global Growth Fund
DDA Account #9870523965
Ref: Fund name/share class/account number/account name

 

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By Automatic Investment Plan (via ACH)

 

You may not open an account via ACH. However, once you have established an account, you can set up an automatic investment plan by mailing a completed application to the Fund. These purchases can be made monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually in amounts of at least $250. To cancel or change a plan, write to the Fund at: Sands Capital Global Growth Fund, P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009 (Express Mail Address: Sands Capital Global Growth Fund, c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 430 West 7th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105). Please allow up to 15 days to create the plan and 3 days to cancel or change it.

 

Purchases In-Kind

 

Subject to the approval of the Fund, an investor may purchase shares of the Fund with liquid securities and other assets that are eligible for purchase by the Fund (consistent with the Adviser’s investment policies and restrictions) and that have a value that is readily ascertainable in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. These transactions will be effected only if the Adviser deems the security to be an appropriate investment for the Fund. Assets purchased by the Fund in such a transaction will be valued in accordance with the valuation procedures used by the Fund. The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate this practice at any time.

 

General Information

 

You may purchase shares on any day that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business (a “Business Day”). Shares cannot be purchased by Federal Reserve wire on days when either the NYSE or the Federal Reserve is closed. The price per share will be the NAV next determined after the Fund receives and accepts your purchase order in good order. “Good order” means that the Fund was provided a complete and signed account application, including the investor’s social security number or tax identification number, and other identification required by law or regulation, as well as sufficient purchase proceeds. Purchase orders that are not in good order cannot be accepted and processed even if money to purchase shares has been submitted by wire, check or ACH.

 

The Fund calculates its NAV once each Business Day as of the close of normal trading on the NYSE (normally, 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time). To receive the current Business Day’s NAV, the Fund or an authorized institution must receive and accept your purchase order

 

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in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE. If your purchase order is not received and accepted in good order before the close of normal trading on the NYSE, you will receive the NAV calculated on the subsequent Business Day on which your order is received and accepted in good order. If the NYSE closes early, as in the case of scheduled half-day trading or unscheduled suspensions of trading, the Fund reserves the right to calculate NAV as of the earlier closing time. The Fund will not accept orders that request a particular day or price for the transaction or any other special conditions. Shares will only be priced on Business Days. Since securities that are traded on foreign exchanges may trade on days that are not Business Days, the value of the Fund’s assets may change on days when you are unable to purchase or redeem shares.

 

Buying or Selling Shares through a Financial Intermediary

 

In addition to being able to buy and sell Fund shares directly from the Fund through its transfer agent, you may also buy or sell shares of the Fund through accounts with financial intermediaries such as brokers and other institutions that are authorized to place trades in Fund shares for their customers. When you purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary (rather than directly from the Fund), you may have to transmit your purchase and sale requests to the financial intermediary at an earlier time for your transaction to become effective that day. This allows the financial intermediary time to process your requests and transmit them to the Fund prior to the time the Fund calculates its NAV that day. Your financial intermediary is responsible for transmitting all purchase and redemption requests, investment information, documentation and money to the Fund on time. If your financial intermediary fails to do so, it may be responsible for any resulting fees or losses. Unless your financial intermediary is an authorized institution (defined below), orders transmitted by the financial intermediary and received by the Fund after the time NAV is calculated for a particular day will receive the following day’s NAV.

 

Certain financial intermediaries, including certain broker-dealers and shareholder organizations, are authorized to act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to the receipt of purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares (“authorized institutions”). Authorized institutions are also authorized to designate other intermediaries to receive purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf. The Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an authorized institution or, if applicable, an authorized

 

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institution’s designee, receives the order. Orders will be priced at the Fund’s NAV next computed after they are received by an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee. To determine whether your financial intermediary is an authorized institution or an authorized institution’s designee such that it may act as agent on behalf of the Fund with respect to purchase and redemption orders for Fund shares, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

If you deal directly with a financial intermediary, you will have to follow its procedures for transacting with the Fund. Your financial intermediary may charge a fee for your purchase and/or redemption transactions. For more information about how to purchase or sell Fund shares through a financial intermediary, you should contact your financial intermediary directly.

 

How the Fund Calculates NAV

 

The NAV of a class of the Fund’s shares is determined by dividing the total value of the Fund’s portfolio investments and other assets attributable to the class, less any liabilities attributable to the class, by the total number of shares outstanding of the class.

 

In calculating NAV, the Fund generally values its investment portfolio at market price. If market prices are not readily available or they are unreliable, such as in the case of a security value that has been materially affected by events occurring after the relevant market closes, securities are valued at fair value. The Board has designated the Adviser as the Fund’s valuation designee to make all fair value determinations with respect to the Fund’s portfolio investments, subject to the Board’s oversight. The Adviser has adopted and implemented policies and procedures to be followed when making fair value determinations, and it has established a Valuation Committee through which the Adviser makes fair value determinations. The Adviser’s determination of a security’s fair value price often involves the consideration of a number of subjective factors, and is therefore subject to the unavoidable risk that the value that is assigned to a security may be higher or lower than the security’s value would be if a reliable market quotation for the security was readily available.

 

Although the Fund invests primarily in the stocks of U.S. companies that are traded on U.S. exchanges, there may be limited circumstances in which the Adviser would price securities at fair value – for example, if the exchange on which a portfolio security

 

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is principally traded closed early or if trading in a particular security was halted during the day and did not resume prior to the time the Fund calculated its NAV.

 

With respect to non-U.S. securities held by the Fund, the Adviser may take factors influencing specific markets or issuers into consideration in determining the fair value of a non-U.S. security. International securities markets may be open on days when the U.S. markets are closed. In such cases, the value of any international securities owned by the Fund may be significantly affected on days when investors cannot buy or sell shares. In addition, due to the difference in times between the close of the international markets and the time the Fund prices its shares, the value the Adviser assigns to securities generally will not be the same as the quoted or published prices of those securities on their primary markets or exchanges. In determining fair value prices, the Adviser may consider the performance of securities on their primary exchanges, foreign currency appreciation/depreciation, securities market movements in the United States, or other relevant information as related to the securities.

 

Other assets for which market quotations are not readily available will be valued at their fair value as determined in good faith by or under the direction of the Board.

 

Minimum Investments

 

To purchase Investor Class Shares of the Fund for the first time, including an initial purchase through an IRA, you must invest at least $100,000. The Fund may accept investments of smaller amounts in its sole discretion. There is no minimum for subsequent investments.

 

Fund Codes

 

The reference information listed below will be helpful to you when you contact the Fund to purchase Investor Class Shares, check daily NAV or obtain additional information.

 

Fund Name

Share Class

Ticker
Symbol

CUSIP

Fund Code

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund

Investor

SCGVX

00769G402

1290

 

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How to Sell Your Fund Shares

 

If you own your shares directly, you may sell your shares on any Business Day by contacting the Fund directly by mail or telephone at 1-888-826-5646.

 

If you own your shares through an account with a broker or other institution, contact that broker or institution to sell your shares. Your broker or institution may charge a fee for its services, in addition to the fees charged by the Fund.

 

If you would like to close your account, or have your sales proceeds, including proceeds generated as a result of closing your account, sent to a third party or an address other than your own, please notify the Fund in writing.

 

Certain redemption requests will require a signature guarantee by an eligible guarantor institution. Eligible guarantors include commercial banks, savings and loans, savings banks, trust companies, credit unions, member firms of a national stock exchange, or any other member or participant of an approved signature guarantor program. For example, signature guarantees may be required if your address of record has changed in the last 30 days, if you want the proceeds sent to a bank other than the bank of record on your account, or if you ask that the proceeds be sent to a different person or address. Please note that a notary public is not an acceptable provider of a signature guarantee and that the Fund must be provided with the original guarantee. Signature guarantees are for the protection of Fund shareholders. Before it grants a redemption request, the Fund may require a shareholder to furnish additional legal documents to ensure proper authorization.

 

Accounts held by a corporation, trust, fiduciary or partnership may require additional documentation along with a signature guaranteed letter of instruction. The Fund participates in the Paperless Legal Program (the “Program”), which eliminates the need for accompanying paper documentation on legal securities transfers. Requests received with a Medallion Signature Guarantee will be reviewed for the proper criteria to meet the guidelines of the Program and may not require additional documentation. Please contact Shareholder Services at 1-888-826-5646 for more information.

 

The sale price will be the NAV next determined after the Fund receives your request in good order.

 

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Receiving Your Money

 

Normally, the Fund will send your sale proceeds within one Business Day after it receives your redemption request. The Fund, however, may take up to seven days to pay redemption proceeds. Your proceeds can be wired to your bank account (may be subject to a $10 fee), sent to you by check or sent via ACH to your bank account if you have established banking instructions with the Fund. If you are selling shares that were recently purchased by check or through ACH, redemption proceeds may not be available until your check has cleared or the ACH transaction has been completed (which may take up to 15 days from your date of purchase).

 

The Fund typically expects to sell portfolio assets and/or hold cash or cash equivalents to meet redemption requests. On a less regular basis, the Fund may also meet redemption requests by using short-term borrowings from its custodian and/or redeeming shares in-kind (as described below). These methods may be used during both normal and stressed market conditions.

 

By Mail

 

To redeem shares by mail, please send a letter to the Fund signed by all registered parties on the account specifying:

 

 

The Fund name;

 

 

The share class;

 

 

The account number;

 

 

The dollar amount or number of shares you wish to redeem;

 

 

The account name(s); and

 

 

The address to which redemption (sale) proceeds should be sent.

 

All registered shareholders must sign the letter in the exact name(s) in which their account is registered and must designate any special capacity in which they are registered.

 

Regular Mail Address

 

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, MO 64121-9009

 

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Express Mail Address

 

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund
c/o SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc.
430 West 7th Street
Kansas City, MO 64105

 

The Fund does not consider the U.S. Postal Service or other independent delivery services to be its agents. Therefore, deposit in the mail or with such services of sell orders does not constitute receipt by the Fund’s transfer agent. The share price used to fill the sell order is the next price calculated by the Fund after the Fund’s transfer agent receives and accepts the order in good order at the P.O. Box provided for regular mail delivery or the office address provided for express mail delivery.

 

By Systematic Withdrawal Plan (via ACH)

 

If your account balance is at least $100,000, you may transfer as little as $250 per month from your account to another financial institution. To participate in this service you must complete the appropriate sections of the account application and mail it to the Fund.

 

Redemptions In-Kind

 

The Fund generally pays sale (redemption) proceeds in cash. However, under unusual conditions that make the payment of cash unwise and for the protection of the Fund’s remaining shareholders, the Fund might pay all or part of your redemption proceeds in securities with a market value equal to the redemption price (redemption in-kind). The Fund may also redeem in-kind to discourage short term trading of shares. It is highly unlikely that your shares would ever be redeemed in-kind, but if they were you would have to pay transaction costs to sell the securities distributed to you, as well as taxes on any capital gains from the sale as with any redemption. In addition, you would continue to be subject to the risks of any market fluctuation in the value of the securities you receive in-kind until they are sold.

 

Involuntary Redemptions of Your Shares

 

If your account balance drops below $100,000 because of redemptions, you may be required to sell your shares. The Fund generally will provide you at least 30 days’ written notice to give you time to add to your account and avoid the involuntary redemption of your shares. If your shares are redeemed for this reason within 90 days of their purchase, the redemption fee will not be applied.

 

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Suspension of Your Right to Sell Your Shares

 

The Fund may suspend your right to sell your shares or delay payment of redemption proceeds for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, or as otherwise permitted by the SEC. More information about this is in the SAI.

 

Redemption Fee

 

In an effort to discourage short-term trading and defray costs incurred by shareholders as a result of short-term trading, the Fund charges a 2.00% redemption fee on redemptions of shares that have been held for less than 90 days. The redemption fee is deducted from the Fund’s sale proceeds and cannot be paid separately, and any proceeds of the fee are credited to the assets of the Fund. The fee does not apply to shares purchased with reinvested dividends or distributions. In determining how long shares of the Fund have been held, the Fund assumes that shares held by the investor the longest period of time will be sold first.

 

The redemption fee is applicable to Fund shares purchased either directly or through a financial intermediary, such as a broker-dealer. Transactions through financial intermediaries typically are placed with the Fund on an omnibus basis and include both purchase and sale transactions placed on behalf of multiple investors. The Fund requests that financial intermediaries assess the redemption fee on customer accounts and collect and remit the proceeds to the Fund. However, the Fund recognizes that, due to operational requirements, the intermediaries’ methods for tracking and calculating the fee may be inadequate or differ in some respects from the Fund’s.

 

The Fund reserves the right to reduce all or a portion of the redemption fee in its discretion when it believes such reduction is in the best interests of the Fund, including with respect to certain categories of redemptions that the Fund reasonably believes may not raise frequent trading or market timing concerns. These categories include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) participants in certain group retirement plans whose processing systems are incapable of properly applying the redemption fee to underlying shareholders; (ii) redemptions resulting from certain transfers upon the death of a shareholder; (iii) redemptions by certain pension plans as required by law or by regulatory authorities; (iv) systematic redemptions; and (v) retirement loans and withdrawals.

 

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How to Exchange Fund Shares

 

At no charge, you may convert Investor Class Shares of the Fund directly to Institutional Class Shares of the Fund, subject to the fees and expenses of Institutional Class Shares, and provided that you meet the eligibility requirements applicable to investing in Institutional Class Shares, as set forth in the Institutional Class Shares prospectus. An exchange between share classes of the Fund is not a taxable event.

 

Telephone Transactions

 

Purchasing, selling and exchanging Fund shares over the telephone is extremely convenient, but not without risk. Although the Fund has certain safeguards and procedures to confirm the identity of callers and the authenticity of instructions, the Fund is not responsible for any losses or costs incurred by following telephone instructions it reasonably believes to be genuine. If you or your financial institution transact with the Fund over the telephone, you will generally bear the risk of any loss.

 

Other Policies

 

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Fund is intended for long-term investment purposes only and discourages shareholders from engaging in “market timing” or other types of excessive short-term trading. This frequent trading into and out of the Fund may present risks to the Fund’s long-term shareholders and could adversely affect shareholder returns. The risks posed by frequent trading include interfering with the efficient implementation of the Fund’s investment strategies, triggering the recognition of taxable gains and losses on the sale of Fund investments, requiring the Fund to maintain higher cash balances to meet redemption requests and experiencing increased transaction costs.

 

Because the Fund may invest in mid-cap securities, which often may trade in lower volumes and may be less liquid, the Fund may be more susceptible to the risks posed by frequent trading because frequent transactions in the Fund’s shares may have a greater impact on the market price of these types of securities.

 

In addition, because the Fund invests in foreign securities traded primarily on markets that close prior to the time the Fund determines its NAV, the risks posed by frequent trading may have a greater

 

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potential to dilute the value of Fund shares held by long-term shareholders than funds investing exclusively in U.S. securities. In instances where a significant event that affects the value of one or more foreign securities held by the Fund takes place after the close of the primary foreign market, but before the time that the Fund determines its NAV, certain investors may seek to take advantage of the fact that there will be a delay in the adjustment of the market price for a security caused by this event until the foreign market reopens (sometimes referred to as “price” or “time zone” arbitrage). Shareholders who attempt this type of arbitrage may dilute the value of the Fund’s shares if the prices of the Fund’s foreign securities do not reflect their fair value. Although the Adviser has procedures designed to determine the fair value of foreign securities for purposes of calculating the Fund’s NAV when such an event has occurred, fair value pricing, because it involves judgments which are inherently subjective, may not always eliminate the risk of price arbitrage. For more information on how the Fund uses fair value pricing, see “How the Fund Calculates NAV.”

 

The Fund’s service providers will take steps reasonably designed to detect and deter frequent trading by shareholders pursuant to the Fund’s policies and procedures described in this prospectus and approved by the Board. For purposes of applying these policies, the Fund’s service providers may consider the trading history of accounts under common ownership or control. The Fund’s policies and procedures include:

 

 

Shareholders are restricted from making more than five (5) “round trips” into or out of the Fund per calendar year. If a shareholder exceeds this amount, the Fund and/or its service providers may, at their discretion, reject any additional purchase orders. The Fund defines a “round trip” as a purchase into the Fund by a shareholder, followed by a subsequent redemption out of the Fund, of an amount the Adviser reasonably believes would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

 

The Fund assesses a redemption fee of 2.00% on redemptions by shareholders of Fund shares held for less than 90 days (subject to certain exceptions as discussed in “Redemption Fee”).

 

 

The Fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request by any investor or group of investors for any reason without prior notice, including, in particular, if the Fund or the Adviser reasonably believes that the trading activity would be harmful or disruptive to the Fund.

 

35

 

 

 

The Fund and/or its service providers seek to apply these policies to the best of their abilities uniformly and in a manner they believe is consistent with the interests of the Fund’s long-term shareholders. The Fund does not knowingly accommodate frequent purchases and redemptions by Fund shareholders. Although these policies are designed to deter frequent trading, none of these measures alone nor all of them taken together eliminate the possibility that frequent trading in the Fund will occur. Systematic purchases and redemptions are exempt from these policies.

 

Financial intermediaries (such as investment advisers and broker-dealers) often establish omnibus accounts in the Fund for their customers through which transactions are placed. The Fund has entered into “information sharing agreements” with these financial intermediaries, which permit the Fund to obtain, upon request, information about the trading activity of the intermediary’s customers that invest in the Fund. If the Fund or its service providers identify omnibus account level trading patterns that have the potential to be detrimental to the Fund, the Fund or its service providers may, in their sole discretion, request from the financial intermediary information concerning the trading activity of its customers. Based upon a review of that information, if the Fund or its service providers determine that the trading activity of any customer may be detrimental to the Fund, they may, in their sole discretion, request the financial intermediary to restrict or limit further trading in the Fund by that customer. If the Fund is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, the Fund may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in Fund shares. When information regarding transactions in the Fund’s shares is requested by the Fund and such information is in the possession of a person that is itself a financial intermediary to a financial intermediary (an “indirect intermediary”), any financial intermediary with whom the Fund has an information sharing agreement is obligated to obtain transaction information from the indirect intermediary or, if directed by the Fund, to restrict or prohibit the indirect intermediary from purchasing shares of the Fund on behalf of other persons.

 

The Fund and its service providers will use reasonable efforts to work with financial intermediaries to identify excessive short-term trading in omnibus accounts that may be detrimental to the Fund. However, there can be no assurance that the monitoring of omnibus account level trading will enable the Fund to identify or prevent all such trading by a financial intermediary’s customers. Please contact your financial intermediary for more information.

 

36

 

 

 

Customer Identification and Verification

 

To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an account.

 

What this means to you: When you open an account, the Fund will ask your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow the Fund to identify you. This information is subject to verification to ensure the identity of all persons opening a mutual fund account.

 

The Fund is required by law to reject your new account application if the required identifying information is not provided.

 

In certain instances, the Fund is required to collect documents to fulfill its legal obligation. Documents provided in connection with your application will be used solely to establish and verify your identity. Attempts to collect the missing information required on the application will be performed by either contacting you or, if applicable, your broker. If this information cannot be obtained within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund, your application will be rejected.

 

Upon receipt of your application in good order (or upon receipt of all identifying information required on the application), your investment will be accepted and your order will be processed at the next-determined NAV per share.

 

The Fund reserves the right to close or liquidate your account at the NAV next-determined and remit proceeds to you via check if it is unable to verify your identity. Attempts to verify your identity will be performed within a reasonable timeframe established in the sole discretion of the Fund. Further, the Fund reserves the right to hold your proceeds until your original check clears the bank, which may take up to 15 days from the date of purchase. In such an instance, you may be subject to a gain or loss on Fund shares and will be subject to corresponding tax implications.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Program

 

Customer identification and verification is part of the Fund’s overall obligation to deter money laundering under federal law. The Fund has adopted an anti-money laundering compliance program designed to prevent the Fund from being used for money laundering or the financing of illegal activities. In this regard, the Fund reserves the

 

37

 

 

 

right to: (i) refuse, cancel or rescind any purchase or exchange order; (ii) freeze any account and/or suspend account services; or (iii) involuntarily close your account in cases of threatening conduct or suspected fraudulent or illegal activity. These actions will be taken when, in the sole discretion of Fund management, they are deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund or in cases when the Fund is requested or compelled to do so by governmental or law enforcement authority. If your account is closed at the request of governmental or law enforcement authority, you may not receive proceeds of the redemption if the Fund is required to withhold such proceeds.

 

Unclaimed Property

 

Each state has unclaimed property rules that generally provide for escheatment (or transfer) to the state of unclaimed property under various circumstances. Such circumstances include inactivity (e.g., no owner-initiated contact for a certain period), returned mail (e.g., when mail sent to a shareholder is returned by the post office, or “RPO,” as undeliverable), or a combination of both inactivity and returned mail. Once it flags property as unclaimed, the Fund will attempt to contact the shareholder, but if that attempt is unsuccessful, the account may be considered abandoned and escheated to the state.

 

Shareholders that reside in the state of Texas may designate a representative to receive escheatment notifications by completing and submitting a designation form that can be found on the website of the Texas Comptroller. While the designated representative does not have any rights to claim or access the shareholder’s account or assets, the escheatment period will cease if the representative communicates knowledge of the shareholder’s location and confirms that the shareholder has not abandoned his or her property. A completed designation form may be mailed to the Fund (if shares are held directly with the Fund) or to the shareholder’s financial intermediary (if shares are not held directly with the Fund).

 

More information on unclaimed property and how to maintain an active account is available through your state or by calling 1-888-826-5646.

 

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

 

 

The Fund and/or the Adviser may compensate financial intermediaries for providing a variety of services to the Fund and/or its shareholders. Financial intermediaries include affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies,

 

38

 

 

 

registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates. This section briefly describes how financial intermediaries may be paid for providing these services. For more information please see “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

Shareholder Servicing Plan

 

The Fund has adopted a shareholder servicing plan that provides that the Fund may pay financial intermediaries for shareholder services in an annual amount not to exceed 0.25% based on the average daily net assets of the Fund’s Investor Class Shares. The services for which financial intermediaries are compensated may include record-keeping, transaction processing for shareholders’ accounts and other shareholder services.

 

Payments by the Adviser

 

From time to time, the Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments to certain affiliated or unaffiliated financial intermediaries to compensate them for the costs associated with distribution, marketing, administration and shareholder servicing support for the Fund. These payments are sometimes characterized as “revenue sharing” payments and are made out of the Adviser’s and/or its affiliates’ own legitimate profits or other resources, and may be in addition to any payments made to financial intermediaries by the Fund. A financial intermediary may provide these services with respect to Fund shares sold or held through programs such as retirement plans, qualified tuition programs, fund supermarkets, fee-based advisory or wrap fee programs, bank trust programs, and insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. In addition, financial intermediaries may receive payments for making shares of the Fund available to their customers or registered representatives, including providing the Fund with “shelf space,” placing it on a preferred or recommended fund list, or promoting the Fund in certain sales programs that are sponsored by financial intermediaries. To the extent permitted by SEC and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) rules and other applicable laws and regulations, the Adviser and/or its affiliates may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments to financial intermediaries.

 

The level of payments made by the Adviser and/or its affiliates to individual financial intermediaries varies in any given year and may

 

39

 

 

 

be negotiated on the basis of sales of Fund shares, the amount of Fund assets serviced by the financial intermediary or the quality of the financial intermediary’s relationship with the Adviser and/or its affiliates. These payments may be more or less than the payments received by the financial intermediaries from other mutual funds and may influence a financial intermediary to favor the sales of certain funds or share classes over others. In certain instances, the payments could be significant and may cause a conflict of interest for your financial intermediary. Any such payments will not change the NAV or price of the Fund’s shares. Please contact your financial intermediary for information about any payments it may receive in connection with the sale of Fund shares or the provision of services to Fund shareholders.

 

In addition to these payments, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, commissions or transaction fees for buying or redeeming shares of the Fund, or other fees for servicing your account. Your financial intermediary should provide a schedule of its fees and services to you upon request.

 

Dividends and Distributions

 

 

The Fund distributes its net investment income and makes distributions of its net realized capital gains, if any, at least annually. If you own Fund shares on the Fund’s record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.

 

You will receive dividends and distributions in the form of additional Fund shares unless you elect to receive payment in cash. To elect cash payment, you must notify the Fund in writing prior to the date of the distribution. Your election will be effective for dividends and distributions paid after the Fund receives your written notice. To cancel your election, simply send the Fund written notice.

 

Taxes

 

 

Please consult your tax advisor regarding your specific questions about U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax issues that affect the Fund and its shareholders. This summary is based on current tax laws, which may change. This summary does not apply to shares held in an IRA or other tax-qualified plans, which are generally not subject to current tax. Transactions relating to shares held in such accounts may, however, be taxable at some time in the future.

 

40

 

 

 

The Fund has elected and intends to qualify each year for treatment as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) within the meaning of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. If it meets certain minimum distribution requirements, a RIC is not subject to tax at the fund level on income and gains from investments that are timely distributed to shareholders. However, the Fund’s failure to qualify as a RIC or to meet minimum distribution requirements would result (if certain relief provisions were not available) in fund-level taxation and, consequently, a reduction in income available for distribution to shareholders.

 

The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and net realized capital gains, if any. The dividends and distributions you receive may be subject to federal, state, and local taxation, depending upon your tax situation. Distributions you receive from the Fund may be taxable whether you receive them in cash or you reinvest them in additional shares of the Fund. Income distributions, including distributions of net short-term capital gains but excluding distributions of qualified dividend income, are generally taxable at ordinary income tax rates. Distributions reported by the Fund as long-term capital gains and as qualified dividend income are generally taxable at the rates applicable to long-term capital gains currently set at a maximum tax rate for individuals at 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets). Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain foreign countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). Once a year the Fund (or its administrative agent) will send you a statement showing the types and total amount of distributions you received during the previous year. The Fund’s investment strategy may limit its ability to make distributions eligible for the reduced tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for Fund shares. In addition to reporting the gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares have a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund will permit its shareholders to elect from among

 

41

 

 

 

several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as the default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by the Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review any cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

You should note that if you purchase shares just before a distribution, the purchase price would reflect the amount of the upcoming distribution. In this case, you would be taxed on the entire amount of the distribution received, even though, as an economic matter, the distribution simply constitutes a return of your investment. This is known as “buying a dividend” and generally should be avoided by taxable investors.

 

Each sale of Fund shares may be a taxable event. Assuming a shareholder holds Fund shares as a capital asset, the gain or loss on the sale of Fund shares generally will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for 12 months or less or as a long-term capital gain or loss if you held the shares for longer. Any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares held for six months or less will be treated as long-term, rather than short-term, to the extent of any long-term capital gain distributions received (or deemed received) by you with respect to Fund shares. All or a portion of any loss realized upon a taxable disposition of Fund shares will be disallowed if you purchase other substantially identical shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. In such a case, the basis of the newly purchased shares will be adjusted to reflect the disallowed loss.

 

U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly) are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including capital gains realized on the sale of shares of the Fund).

 

Because the Fund invests in foreign securities, it may be subject to foreign withholding taxes with respect to dividends or interest the Fund receives from sources in foreign countries. If more than

 

42

 

 

 

50% of the total assets of the Fund consist of foreign securities, the Fund will be eligible to and intends to file an election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. If the Fund makes the election, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions.

 

Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, you should consult your tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

More information about taxes is in the SAI.

 

Additional Information

 

 

The Trust enters into contractual arrangements with various parties, including, among others, the Fund’s investment adviser, custodian, transfer agent, accountants, administrator and distributor, who provide services to the Fund. Shareholders are not parties to, or intended (or “third-party”) beneficiaries of, any of those contractual arrangements, and those contractual arrangements are not intended to create in any individual shareholder or group of shareholders any right to enforce the terms of the contractual arrangements against the service providers or to seek any remedy under the contractual arrangements against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the Trust.

 

This prospectus and the SAI provide information concerning the Trust and the Fund that you should consider in determining whether to purchase shares of the Fund. The Fund may make changes to this information from time to time. Neither this prospectus, the SAI or any document filed as an exhibit to the Trust’s registration statement, is intended to, nor does it, give rise to an agreement or contract between the Trust or the Fund and any shareholder, or give rise to any contract or other rights in any individual shareholder, group of shareholders or other person other than any rights conferred explicitly by federal or state securities laws that may not be waived.

 

 

43

 

 

 

Financial Highlights

 

 

The table that follows presents performance information about the Investor Class Shares of the Fund. The financial highlights table is intended to help you understand the financial performance of the Fund for the past five fiscal years. Certain information contained in the table reflects the financial results for a single Investor Class Share of the Fund. The total returns in the table represent the rate that an investor would have earned (or lost) on an investment in the Fund assuming all dividends and distributions were reinvested. The information provided below has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. The financial statements and the unqualified opinion of Ernst & Young LLP are included in the 2023 Annual Report of the Fund, which is available upon request by calling the Fund at 1-888-826-5646.

 

44

 

 

 

SANDS CAPITAL GLOBAL GROWTH FUND – INVESTOR CLASS

 

 

 

 

Selected Per Share Data & Ratios
For a Share Outstanding Throughout Each Year

 

 

 

Year Ended
October 31,
2023

   

Year Ended
October 31,
2022

   

Year Ended
October 31,
2021

   

Year Ended
October 31,
2020

   

Year Ended
October 31,
2019

 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year

  $ 21.09     $ 45.78     $ 34.24     $ 26.22     $ 23.85  

Income (Loss) from Investment Operations:

                                       

Net Investment Loss

    (0.17 )     (0.25 )     (0.43 )     (0.26 )     (0.18 )

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

    1.12       (19.62 )     13.22       9.86       4.51  

Total from Investment Operations

    0.95       (19.87 )     12.79       9.60       4.33  

Dividends and Distributions from:

                                       

Net Investment Income

                             

Net Realized Gains

          (4.85 )     (1.28 )     (1.58 )     (1.96 )

Total Dividends and Distributions

          (4.85 )     (1.28 )     (1.58 )     (1.96 )

Redemption Fees^

          0.03       0.03              

Net Asset Value, End of Year

  $ 22.04     $ 21.09     $ 45.78     $ 34.24     $ 26.22  

Total Return††

    4.50 %     (47.91 )%     38.15 %     38.39 %     20.13 %

Ratios and Supplemental Data

                                       

Net Assets, End of Year (Thousands)

  $ 17,493     $ 18,924     $ 35,978     $ 20,171     $ 15,868  

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets

    1.20 %     1.15 %     1.15 %     1.16 %     1.17 %

Ratio of Expenses to Average Net Assets (Excluding Waivers and Fees Paid Indirectly)

    1.20 %     1.15 %     1.15 %     1.16 %     1.17 %

Ratio of Net Investment Loss to Average Net Assets

    (0.72 )%     (0.78 )%     (0.98 )%     (0.89 )%     (0.72 )%

Portfolio Turnover Rate

    15 %     21 %     32 %     23 %     34 %

 

^

See Note 2 in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

 

Per share calculations were performed using average shares for the period.

 

††

Total return is for the period indicated and has not been annualized. Returns shown do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on Fund distributions or the redemption of Fund shares. Total return would have been lower had the Adviser not waived its fee and reimbursed other expenses, as applicable.

 

Amounts designated as “—” are $0.00 or round to $0.00 per share.

 

45

 

 

 

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund

 

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund

 

Investment Adviser
Sands Capital Management, LLC
1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 3000
Arlington, Virginia 22209

 

Distributor
SEI Investments Distribution Co.
One Freedom Valley Drive
Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

 

Legal Counsel
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

 

More information about the Fund is available, without charge, through the following:

 

Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”): The SAI, dated March 1, 2024, as it may be amended from time to time, includes detailed information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund and the Sands Capital Global Growth Fund. The SAI is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This means that the SAI, for legal purposes, is a part of this prospectus.

 

Annual and Semi-Annual Reports: These reports list the Fund’s holdings and contain information from the Adviser about investment strategies, and recent market conditions and trends and their impact on Fund performance. The reports also contain detailed financial information about the Fund.

 

To Obtain an SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report, or More Information:

 

By Telephone:

Call 1-888-826-5646

By Mail:

Write to us at:
Sands Capital Global Growth Fund
P.O. Box 219009
Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9009

By E-Mail:

sandscapfunds@seic.com

By Internet:

www.sandscapital.com

 

From the SEC: You can also obtain the SAI or the Annual and Semi-Annual Reports, as well as other information about The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, from the EDGAR Database on the SEC’s website at: http://www.sec.gov. You may also obtain this information, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by e-mailing the SEC at the following address: publicinfo@sec.gov.

 

The Trust’s Investment Company Act registration number is 811-06400.

 

SAN-PS-001-1500

 

 

 

 

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

SANDS CAPITAL GLOBAL GROWTH FUND

(Institutional Class Shares Ticker Symbol: SCMGX)

(Investor Class Shares Ticker Symbol: SCGVX)

 

a series of THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND

 

March 1, 2024

 

Investment Adviser:

SANDS CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

This Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) is not a prospectus. This SAI is intended to provide additional information regarding the activities and operations of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”) and the Sands Capital Global Growth Fund (the “Fund”). This SAI is incorporated by reference into and should be read in conjunction with the Fund’s prospectuses dated March 1, 2024, as they may be amended from time to time (the “Prospectuses”). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Prospectuses. The most recent Annual Report for the Fund, which includes the Fund’s audited financial statements dated October 31, 2023, is incorporated by reference into this SAI. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Prospectuses or Annual Report free of charge by writing to the Fund at P.O. Box 219009, Kansas City, Missouri 64121 or by calling 1-888-826-5646.

 

 

 

  Page
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE TRUST S-1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES S-1
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS S-2
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS S-29
THE ADVISER S-31
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS S-31
THE ADMINISTRATOR S-33
THE DISTRIBUTOR S-33
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES S-33
THE TRANSFER AGENT S-34
THE CUSTODIAN S-35
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM S-35
LEGAL COUNSEL S-35
SECURITIES LENDING S-35
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST S-36
PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES S-46
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE S-46
TAXES S-48
FUND TRANSACTIONS S-55
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS S-57
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES S-59
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY S-59
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY S-59
PROXY VOTING S-59
CODES OF ETHICS S-60
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS S-60
APPENDIX A – DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS A-1
APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES B-1

 

March 1, 2024 SAN-SX-001-1500

 

 

 

THE TRUST

 

General. The Fund is a series of the Trust. The Trust is an open-end investment management company established under Massachusetts law as a Massachusetts voluntary association (commonly known as a business trust) under a Declaration of Trust dated July 18, 1991, as amended and restated February 18, 1997 and amended May 15, 2012 and August 18, 2020 (the “Declaration of Trust”). The Declaration of Trust permits the Trust to offer separate series (“funds”) of shares of beneficial interest (“shares”). The Trust reserves the right to create and issue shares of additional funds. Each fund is a separate mutual fund or exchange traded fund ("ETF"), and each share of each fund represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any fund and all assets of such fund belong solely to that fund and would be subject to liabilities related thereto. Each fund pays its (i) operating expenses, including fees of its service providers, expenses of preparing prospectuses, proxy solicitation material and reports to shareholders, costs of custodial services and registering its shares under federal and state securities laws, pricing and insurance expenses, brokerage costs, interest charges, taxes and organization expenses, and (ii) pro rata share of the fund’s other expenses, including audit and legal expenses. Expenses attributable to a specific fund shall be payable solely out of the assets of that fund. Expenses not attributable to a specific fund are allocated across all of the funds on the basis of relative net assets. The other funds of the Trust are described in one or more separate SAIs.

 

Description of Multiple Classes of Shares. The Trust is authorized to offer shares of the Fund in Institutional Class and Investor Class Shares. The different classes provide for variations in certain shareholder servicing expenses and in the minimum initial investment requirements. Minimum investment requirements and investor eligibility are described in the Prospectuses. The Trust reserves the right to create and issue additional classes of shares. For more information on shareholder servicing expenses, see the “Payments to Financial Intermediaries” section in this SAI.

 

Voting Rights. Each shareholder of record is entitled to one vote for each share held on the record date for the meeting. The Fund will vote separately on matters relating solely to it. As a Massachusetts voluntary association, the Trust is not required, and does not intend, to hold annual meetings of shareholders. Approval of shareholders will be sought, however, for certain changes in the operation of the Trust and for the election of the Board of Trustees of the Trust (each, a “Trustee” and collectively, the “Board”) under certain circumstances. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to liquidate the Fund without shareholder approval. While the Trustees have no present intention of exercising this power, they may do so if the Fund fails to reach a viable size within a reasonable amount of time or for such other reasons as may be determined by the Board.

 

In addition, a Trustee may be removed by the remaining Trustees or by shareholders at a special meeting called upon written request of shareholders owning at least 10% of the outstanding shares of the Trust. In the event that such a meeting is requested, the Trust will provide appropriate assistance and information to the shareholders requesting the meeting.

 

Any series of the Trust created on or after November 11, 1996 may reorganize or merge with one or more other series of the Trust or of another investment company. Any such reorganization or merger shall be pursuant to the terms and conditions specified in an agreement and plan of reorganization authorized and approved by the Trustees and entered into by the relevant series in connection therewith. In addition, such reorganization or merger may be authorized by vote of a majority of the Trustees then in office and, to the extent permitted by applicable law and the Declaration of Trust, without the approval of shareholders of any series.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES

 

The Fund’s investment objective and principal investment strategies are described in the Prospectuses. The following information supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectuses. For a description of certain permitted investments discussed below, see “Description of Permitted Investments” in this SAI.

S-1 

 

 

Sands Capital Global Growth Fund. The Fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. This investment objective is non-fundamental, and may be changed without shareholder approval. There can be no assurance that the Fund will be able to achieve its investment objective. The Fund is classified as a “diversified” investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). This means that with respect to 75% of its total assets, the Fund may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than obligations of, or guaranteed by, the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer’s voting securities would be held by the Fund. Under applicable federal securities laws, the diversification of a mutual fund’s holdings is measured at the time a fund purchases a security. If the Fund holds securities that perform well on a relative basis, the value of those securities could appreciate such that the value of the Fund’s securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, in the aggregate, might exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets. In these circumstances, the Adviser might determine that it is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders not to reduce one or more of the Fund’s holdings in securities that constitute more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. If the Adviser makes such a determination, the Fund’s holdings in such securities would continue to exceed 25% of the Fund’s total assets, and the Fund would not purchase any additional shares of securities that constituted more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets. The Fund would continue to qualify as a diversified fund under applicable federal securities laws. If more than 25% of the Fund’s assets were invested, in the aggregate, in securities of issuers that individually represented more than 5% of the Fund’s total assets, the Fund would be subject to the risk that its performance could be disproportionately affected by the performance of such securities.

 

DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS

 

The Fund may invest in any of the following instruments or engage in any of the following investment practices unless such investment or activity is inconsistent with or is not permitted by the Fund’s stated investment policies, including those stated below.

 

Derivatives

 

Derivatives are financial instruments whose value is based on an underlying asset (such as a stock or a bond), an underlying economic factor (such as an interest rate) or a market benchmark. Unless otherwise stated in the Prospectuses, the Fund may use derivatives for a number of purposes including managing risk, gaining exposure to various markets in a cost-efficient manner, reducing transaction costs, remaining fully invested and speculating. The Fund may also invest in derivatives with the goal of protecting itself from broad fluctuations in market prices, interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates (a practice known as “hedging”). When hedging is successful, the Fund will have offset any depreciation in the value of its portfolio securities by the appreciation in the value of the derivative position. Although techniques other than the sale and purchase of derivatives could be used to control the exposure of the Fund to market fluctuations, the use of derivatives may be a more effective means of hedging this exposure. In the future, to the extent such use is consistent with the Fund’s investment objective and is legally permissible, the Fund may use instruments and techniques that are not presently contemplated, but that may be subsequently developed.

 

There can be no assurance that a derivative strategy, if employed, will be successful. Because many derivatives have a leverage or borrowing component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself.

 

Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act (the “Derivatives Rule”) provides a comprehensive framework for the use of derivatives by registered investment companies. The Derivatives Rule permits a registered investment company, subject to various conditions described below, to enter into derivatives transactions and certain other transactions notwithstanding the restrictions on the issuance of “senior securities” under Section 18 of the 1940 Act. Section 18 of the 1940 Act, among other things, prohibits open-end funds, including the Fund, from issuing or selling any “senior security,” other than borrowing from a bank (subject to a requirement to maintain 300% “asset coverage”).

 

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Registered investment companies that don’t qualify as “limited derivatives users” as defined below, are required by the Derivatives Rule to, among other things, (i) adopt and implement a derivatives risk management program (“DRMP”) and new testing requirements; (ii) comply with a relative or absolute limit on fund leverage risk calculated based on value-at-risk (“VaR”); and (iii) comply with new requirements related to Board and SEC reporting. The DRMP is administered by a “derivatives risk manager,” who is appointed by the Board and periodically reviews the DRMP and reports to the Board.

 

The Derivatives Rule provides an exception from the DRMP, VaR limit and certain other requirements for a registered investment company that limits its “derivatives exposure” to no more than 10% of its net assets (as calculated in accordance with the Derivatives Rule) (a “limited derivatives user”), provided that the registered investment company establishes appropriate policies and procedures reasonably designed to manage derivatives risks, including the risk of exceeding the 10% “derivatives exposure” threshold.

 

The requirements of the Derivatives Rule may limit the Fund’s ability to engage in derivatives transactions as part of its investment strategies. These requirements may also increase the cost of the Fund’s investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect the value of the Fund’s investments and/or the performance of the Fund. The rule also may not be effective to limit the Fund’s risk of loss. In particular, measurements of VaR rely on historical data and may not accurately measure the degree of risk reflected in the Fund’s derivatives or other investments. There may be additional regulation of the use of derivatives transactions by registered investment companies, which could significantly affect their use. The ultimate impact of the regulations remains unclear. Additional regulation of derivatives transactions may make them more costly, limit their availability or utility, otherwise adversely affect their performance or disrupt markets.

 

CFTC Regulations. Pursuant to rules adopted under the Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”) by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), the Fund must either operate within certain guidelines and restrictions with respect to the Fund's use of futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps, or the Adviser will be subject to registration with the CFTC as a “commodity pool operator” (“CPO”).

 

Consistent with the CFTC’s regulations, the Adviser, on behalf of the Fund, has filed a notice of exclusion from the definition of the term CPO under the CEA pursuant to CFTC Rule 4.5 with respect to the Fund's operation. Therefore, the Fund is not subject to regulation as a commodity pool under the CEA and the Adviser is not subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA with respect to the Fund. As a result, the Fund will be limited in its ability to use futures, options on such futures, commodity options and certain swaps. Complying with the limitations may restrict the Adviser’s ability to implement the Fund’s investment strategies and may adversely affect the Fund’s performance.

 

Types of Derivatives:

 

Futures. A futures contract is an agreement between two parties whereby one party agrees to sell and the other party agrees to buy a specified amount of a financial instrument at an agreed upon price and time. The financial instrument underlying the contract may be a stock, stock index, bond, bond index, interest rate, foreign exchange rate or other similar instrument. Agreeing to buy the underlying financial instrument is called buying a futures contract or taking a long position in the contract. Likewise, agreeing to sell the underlying financial instrument is called selling a futures contract or taking a short position in the contract.

 

Futures contracts are traded in the United States on commodity exchanges or boards of trade (known as “contract markets”) approved for such trading and regulated by the CFTC. These contract markets standardize the terms, including the maturity date and underlying financial instrument, of all futures contracts.

 

Unlike other securities, the parties to a futures contract do not have to pay for or deliver the underlying financial instrument until some future date (the “delivery date”). Contract markets require both the purchaser and seller to deposit “initial margin” with a futures broker, known as a futures commission merchant or custodian bank, when they enter into the contract. Initial margin deposits are typically equal to a percentage of the contract’s value. Initial margin is similar to a performance bond or good faith deposit on a contract and is returned to the depositing party upon termination of the futures contract if all contractual obligations have been satisfied. After they open a futures contract, the parties to the transaction must compare the purchase price of the contract to its daily market value. If the value of the futures contract changes in such a way that a party’s position declines, that party must make additional “variation margin” payments so that the margin payment is adequate. On the other hand, the value of the contract may change in such a way that there is excess margin on deposit, possibly entitling the party that has a gain to receive all or a portion of this amount. This process is known as “marking to the market.” Variation margin does not represent a borrowing or loan by a party but is instead a settlement between the party and the futures broker of the amount one party would owe the other if the futures contract terminated. In computing daily net asset value (“NAV”), each party marks to market its open futures positions.

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Although the terms of a futures contract call for the actual delivery of and payment for the underlying security, in many cases the parties may close the contract early by taking an opposite position in an identical contract. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is less than the original purchase price, the party closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the sale price upon closing out the contract is more than the original purchase price, the party closing out the contract will realize a gain. Conversely, if the purchase price upon closing out the contract is more than the original sale price, the party closing out the contract will realize a loss. If the purchase price upon closing out the contract is less than the original sale price, the party closing out the contract will realize a gain.

 

The Fund may incur commission expenses when it opens or closes a futures position.

 

Options. An option is a contract between two parties for the purchase and sale of a financial instrument for a specified price (known as the “strike price” or “exercise price”) at any time during the option period. Unlike a futures contract, an option grants a right (not an obligation) to buy or sell a financial instrument. Generally, a seller of an option can grant a buyer two kinds of rights: a “call” (the right to buy the security) or a “put” (the right to sell the security). Options have various types of underlying instruments, including specific securities, indices of securities prices, foreign currencies, interest rates and futures contracts. Options may be traded on an exchange (exchange-traded options) or may be customized agreements between the parties (over-the-counter or “OTC” options). Like futures, a financial intermediary, known as a clearing corporation, financially backs exchange-traded options. However, OTC options have no such intermediary and are subject to the risk that the counterparty will not fulfill its obligations under the contract. The principal factors affecting the market value of an option include supply and demand, interest rates, the current market value of the underlying instrument relative to the exercise price of the option, the volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until the option expires.

 

Purchasing Put and Call Options

 

When the Fund purchases a put option, it buys the right to sell the instrument underlying the option at a fixed strike price. In return for this right, the Fund pays the current market price for the option (known as the “option premium”). The Fund may purchase put options to offset or hedge against a decline in the market value of its securities (“protective puts”) or to benefit from a decline in the price of securities that it does not own. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying securities decreased below the exercise price sufficiently to cover the premium and transaction costs. However, if the price of the underlying instrument does not fall enough to offset the cost of purchasing the option, a put buyer would lose the premium and related transaction costs.

 

Call options are similar to put options, except that the Fund obtains the right to purchase, rather than sell, the underlying instrument at the option’s strike price. The Fund would normally purchase call options in anticipation of an increase in the market value of securities it owns or wants to buy. The Fund would ordinarily realize a gain if, during the option period, the value of the underlying instrument exceeded the exercise price plus the premium paid and related transaction costs. Otherwise, the Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.

 

The purchaser of an option may terminate its position by:

 

Allowing it to expire and losing its entire premium;

 

Exercising the option and either selling (in the case of a put option) or buying (in the case of a call option) the underlying instrument at the strike price; or

 

Closing it out in the secondary market at its current price.

 

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Selling (Writing) Put and Call Options

 

When the Fund writes a call option it assumes an obligation to sell specified securities to the holder of the option at a fixed strike price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. Similarly, when the Fund writes a put option it assumes an obligation to purchase specified securities from the option holder at a fixed strike price if the option is exercised at any time before the expiration date. The Fund may terminate its position in an exchange-traded put option before exercise by buying an option identical to the one it has written. Similarly, the Fund may cancel an OTC option by entering into an offsetting transaction with the counterparty to the option.

 

The Fund could try to hedge against an increase in the value of securities it would like to acquire by writing a put option on those securities. If security prices rise, the Fund would expect the put option to expire and the premium it received to offset the increase in the security’s value. If security prices remain the same over time, the Fund would hope to profit by closing out the put option at a lower price. If security prices fall, the Fund may lose an amount of money equal to the difference between the value of the security and the premium it received. Writing covered put options may deprive the Fund of the opportunity to profit from a decrease in the market price of the securities it would like to acquire.

 

The characteristics of writing call options are similar to those of writing put options, except that call writers expect to profit if prices remain the same or fall. The Fund could try to hedge against a decline in the value of securities it already owns by writing a call option. If the price of that security falls as expected, the Fund would expect the option to expire and the premium it received to offset the decline of the security’s value. However, the Fund must be prepared to deliver the underlying instrument in return for the strike price, which may deprive it of the opportunity to profit from an increase in the market price of the securities it holds.

 

The Fund is permitted to write only “covered” options. At the time of selling a call option, the Fund may cover the option by owning, among other things:

 

The underlying security (or securities convertible into the underlying security without additional consideration), index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract;

 

A call option on the same security or index with the same or lesser exercise price;

 

Cash or liquid securities equal to at least the market value of the optioned securities, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract; or

 

In the case of an index, the portfolio of securities that corresponds to the index.

 

At the time of selling a put option, the Fund may cover the option by, among other things:

 

Entering into a short position in the underlying security;

 

Purchasing a put option on the same security, index, interest rate, foreign currency or futures contract with the same or greater exercise price; or

 

Maintaining the entire exercise price in liquid securities.

 

Options on Securities Indices

 

Options on securities indices are similar to options on securities, except that the exercise of securities index options requires cash settlement payments and does not involve the actual purchase or sale of securities. In addition, securities index options are designed to reflect price fluctuations in a group of securities or segment of the securities market rather than price fluctuations in a single security.

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Options on Credit Default Swaps

 

An option on a credit default swap (“CDS”) gives the holder the right to enter into a CDS at a specified future date and under specified terms in exchange for a purchase price or premium. The writer of the option bears the risk of any unfavorable move in the value of the CDS relative to the market value on the exercise date, while the purchaser may allow the option to expire unexercised.

 

Options on Futures

 

An option on a futures contract provides the holder with the right to buy a futures contract (in the case of a call option) or sell a futures contract (in the case of a put option) at a fixed time and price. Upon exercise of the option by the holder, the contract market clearing house establishes a corresponding short position for the writer of the option (in the case of a call option) or a corresponding long position (in the case of a put option). If the option is exercised, the parties will be subject to the futures contracts. In addition, the writer of an option on a futures contract is subject to initial and variation margin requirements on the option position. Options on futures contracts are traded on the same contract market as the underlying futures contract.

 

The buyer or seller of an option on a futures contract may terminate the option early by purchasing or selling an option of the same series (i.e., the same exercise price and expiration date) as the option previously purchased or sold. The difference between the premiums paid and received represents the trader’s profit or loss on the transaction.

 

The Fund may purchase put and call options on futures contracts instead of selling or buying futures contracts. The Fund may buy a put option on a futures contract for the same reasons it would sell a futures contract. It also may purchase such a put option in order to hedge a long position in the underlying futures contract. The Fund may buy a call option on a futures contract for the same purpose as the actual purchase of a futures contract, such as in anticipation of favorable market conditions.

 

The Fund may write a call option on a futures contract to hedge against a decline in the prices of the instrument underlying the futures contracts. If the price of the futures contract at expiration were below the exercise price, the Fund would retain the option premium, which would offset, in part, any decline in the value of its portfolio securities.

 

The writing of a put option on a futures contract is similar to the purchase of the futures contracts, except that, if the market price declines, the Fund would pay more than the market price for the underlying instrument. The premium received on the sale of the put option, less any transaction costs, would reduce the net cost to the Fund.

 

Options on Foreign Currencies

 

A put option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to sell a foreign currency at the exercise price until the option expires. A call option on a foreign currency gives the purchaser of the option the right to purchase the currency at the exercise price until the option expires. The Fund may purchase or write put and call options on foreign currencies for the purpose of hedging against changes in future currency exchange rates.

 

The Fund may use foreign currency options given the same circumstances under which it could use forward foreign currency exchange contracts. For example, a decline in the U.S. dollar value of a foreign currency in which the Fund’s securities are denominated would reduce the U.S. dollar value of the securities, even if their value in the foreign currency remained constant. In order to hedge against such a risk, the Fund may purchase a put option on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency then declined, the Fund could sell the currency for a fixed amount in U.S. dollars and thereby offset, at least partially, the negative effect on its securities that otherwise would have resulted. Conversely, if the Fund anticipates a rise in the U.S. dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated, the Fund may purchase call options on the currency in order to offset, at least partially, the effects of negative movements in exchange rates. If currency exchange rates do not move in the direction or to the extent anticipated, the Fund could sustain losses on transactions in foreign currency options.

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Combined Positions

 

The Fund may purchase and write options in combination with each other, or in combination with futures or forward contracts or swap agreements, to adjust the risk and return characteristics of the overall position. For example, the Fund could construct a combined position whose risk and return characteristics are similar to selling a futures contract by purchasing a put option and writing a call option on the same underlying instrument. Alternatively, the Fund could write a call option at one strike price and buy a call option at a lower price to reduce the risk of the written call option in the event of a substantial price increase. Because combined options positions involve multiple trades, they result in higher transaction costs and may be more difficult to open and close out.

 

Forward Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts. A forward foreign currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific amount of currency at a future date or date range at a specific price. In the case of a cancelable forward contract, the holder has the unilateral right to cancel the contract at maturity by paying a specified fee. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts differ from foreign currency futures contracts in certain respects. Unlike futures contracts, forward contracts:

 

Do not have standard maturity dates or amounts (i.e., the parties to the contract may fix the maturity date and the amount);

 

Are typically traded directly between currency traders (usually large commercial banks) and their customers in the inter-bank markets, as opposed to on exchanges regulated by the CFTC (note, however, that under definitions adopted by the CFTC and SEC, many non-deliverable foreign currency forwards will be considered swaps for certain purposes, including determination of whether such instruments must be traded on exchanges and centrally cleared);

 

Do not require an initial margin deposit; and

 

May be closed by entering into a closing transaction with the currency trader who is a party to the original forward contract, as opposed to with a commodities exchange.

 

Foreign Currency Hedging Strategies

 

A “settlement hedge” or “transaction hedge” is designed to protect the Fund against an adverse change in foreign currency values between the date a security is purchased or sold and the date on which payment is made or received. Entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of the amount of foreign currency involved in an underlying security transaction for a fixed amount of U.S. dollars “locks in” the U.S. dollar price of the security. The Fund may also use forward contracts to purchase or sell a foreign currency when it anticipates purchasing or selling securities denominated in foreign currency, even if it has not yet selected the specific investments.

 

The Fund may use forward contracts to hedge against a decline in the value of existing investments denominated in foreign currency. Such a hedge, sometimes referred to as a “position hedge,” would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations, but would not offset changes in security values caused by other factors. The Fund could also hedge the position by selling another currency expected to perform similarly to the currency in which the Fund’s investment is denominated. This type of hedge, sometimes referred to as a “proxy hedge,” could offer advantages in terms of cost, yield, or efficiency, but generally would not hedge currency exposure as effectively as a direct hedge into U.S. dollars. Proxy hedges may result in losses if the currency used to hedge does not perform similarly to the currency in which the hedged securities are denominated.

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Transaction and position hedging do not eliminate fluctuations in the underlying prices of the securities that the Fund owns or intends to purchase or sell. They simply establish a rate of exchange that one can achieve at some future point in time. Additionally, these techniques tend to minimize the risk of loss due to a decline in the value of the hedged currency and to limit any potential gain that might result from the increase in value of such currency.

 

The Fund may enter into forward contracts to shift its investment exposure from one currency into another. Such transactions may call for the delivery of one foreign currency in exchange for another foreign currency, including currencies in which its securities are not then denominated. This may include shifting exposure from U.S. dollars to a foreign currency, or from one foreign currency to another foreign currency. This type of strategy, sometimes known as a “cross-hedge,” will tend to reduce or eliminate exposure to the currency that is sold, and increase exposure to the currency that is purchased. Cross-hedges may protect against losses resulting from a decline in the hedged currency but will cause the Fund to assume the risk of fluctuations in the value of the currency it purchases. Cross-hedging transactions also involve the risk of imperfect correlation between changes in the values of the currencies involved.

 

It is difficult to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration or maturity of a forward or futures contract. Accordingly, the Fund may have to purchase additional foreign currency on the spot (cash) market if the market value of a security it is hedging is less than the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver. Conversely, the Fund may have to sell on the spot market some of the foreign currency it received upon the sale of a security if the market value of such security exceeds the amount of foreign currency it is obligated to deliver.

 

Equity-Linked Securities. The Fund may invest in privately issued securities whose investment results are designed to correspond generally to the performance of a specified stock index or “basket” of securities, or sometimes a single stock (referred to as “equity-linked securities”). These securities are used for many of the same purposes as derivative instruments and share many of the same risks. Equity-linked securities may be considered illiquid and thus subject to the Fund’s restrictions on investments in illiquid investments.

 

Participatory Notes (“P-Notes”). P-Notes are participation interest notes that are issued by banks or broker-dealers and are designed to offer a return linked to a particular underlying equity, debt, currency or market. When purchasing a P-Note, the posting of margin is not required because the full cost of the P-Note (plus commission) is paid at the time of purchase. When the P-Note matures, the issuer will pay to, or receive from, the purchaser the difference between the nominal value of the underlying instrument at the time of purchase and that instrument's value at maturity. Investments in P-Notes involve the same risks associated with a direct investment in the underlying foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate.

 

In addition, there can be no assurance that the trading price of P-Notes will equal the underlying value of the foreign companies or foreign securities markets that they seek to replicate. The holder of a P-Note that is linked to a particular underlying security is entitled to receive any dividends paid in connection with an underlying security or instrument. However, the holder of a P-Note does not receive the same voting rights as it would if it directly owned the underlying security or instrument. P-Notes are generally traded over-the-counter. P-Notes constitute general unsecured contractual obligations of the banks or broker-dealers that issue them. There is also counterparty risk associated with these investments because the Fund is relying on the creditworthiness of such counterparty and has no rights under a P-Note against the issuer of the underlying security. In addition, the Fund will incur transaction costs as a result of investment in P-Notes.

 

Swap Agreements. A swap agreement is a financial instrument that typically involves the exchange of cash flows between two parties on specified dates (settlement dates), where the cash flows are based on agreed-upon prices, rates, indices, etc. The nominal amount on which the cash flows are calculated is called the notional amount. Swap agreements are individually negotiated and structured to include exposure to a variety of different types of investments or market factors, such as interest rates, foreign currency rates, mortgage securities, corporate borrowing rates, security prices or inflation rates.

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Swap agreements may increase or decrease the overall volatility of the investments of the Fund and its share price. The performance of swap agreements may be affected by a change in the specific interest rate, currency, or other factors that determine the amounts of payments due to and from the Fund. If a swap agreement calls for payments by the Fund, the Fund must be prepared to make such payments when due. In addition, if the counterparty’s creditworthiness declined, the value of a swap agreement would be likely to decline, potentially resulting in losses.

 

Generally, swap agreements have a fixed maturity date that will be agreed upon by the parties. The agreement can be terminated before the maturity date under certain circumstances, such as default by one of the parties or insolvency, among others, and can be transferred by a party only with the prior written consent of the other party. The Fund may be able to eliminate its exposure under a swap agreement either by assignment or by other disposition, or by entering into an offsetting swap agreement with the same party or a similarly creditworthy party. If the counterparty is unable to meet its obligations under the contract, declares bankruptcy, defaults or becomes insolvent, the Fund may not be able to recover the money it expected to receive under the swap agreement. The Fund will not enter into any swap agreement unless the Adviser believes that the counterparty to the transaction is creditworthy.

 

A swap agreement can be a form of leverage, which can magnify the Fund’s gains or losses.

 

Equity Swaps

 

In a typical equity swap, one party agrees to pay another party the return on a stock, stock index or basket of stocks in return for a specified interest rate. By entering into an equity index swap, for example, the index receiver can gain exposure to stocks making up the index of securities without actually purchasing those stocks. Equity index swaps involve not only the risk associated with investment in the securities represented in the index, but also the risk that the performance of such securities, including dividends, will not exceed the return on the interest rate that the Fund will be committed to pay.

 

Total Return Swaps

 

Total return swaps are contracts in which one party agrees to make payments of the total return from a reference instrument—which may be a single asset, a pool of assets or an index of assets—during a specified period, in return for payments equal to a fixed or floating rate of interest or the total return from another underlying reference instrument. The total return includes appreciation or depreciation on the underlying asset, plus any interest or dividend payments. Payments under the swap are based upon an agreed upon principal amount but, since the principal amount is not exchanged, it represents neither an asset nor a liability to either counterparty, and is referred to as notional. Total return swaps are marked to market daily using different sources, including quotations from counterparties, pricing services, brokers or market makers. The unrealized appreciation or depreciation related to the change in the valuation of the notional amount of the swap is combined with the amount due to the Fund at termination or settlement. The primary risks associated with total return swaps are credit risks (if the counterparty fails to meet its obligations) and market risk (if there is no liquid market for the swap or unfavorable changes occur to the underlying reference instrument).

 

Interest Rate Swaps

 

Interest rate swaps are financial instruments that involve the exchange of one type of interest rate for another type of interest rate cash flow on specified dates in the future. Some of the different types of interest rate swaps are “fixed-for-floating rate swaps,” “termed basis swaps” and “index amortizing swaps.” Fixed-for-floating rate swaps involve the exchange of fixed interest rate cash flows for floating rate cash flows. Termed basis swaps entail cash flows to both parties based on floating interest rates, where the interest rate indices are different. Index amortizing swaps are typically fixed-for-floating rate swaps where the notional amount changes if certain conditions are met.

 

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As with a traditional investment in a debt security, the Fund could lose money by investing in an interest rate swap if interest rates change adversely. For example, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a floating rate of interest for a fixed rate of interest, the Fund may have to pay more money than it receives. Similarly, if the Fund enters into a swap where it agrees to exchange a fixed rate of interest for a floating rate of interest, the Fund may receive less money than it has agreed to pay.

 

Currency Swaps

 

A currency swap is an agreement between two parties in which one party agrees to make interest rate payments in one currency and the other promises to make interest rate payments in another currency. The Fund may enter into a currency swap when it has one currency and desires a different currency. Typically, the interest rates that determine the currency swap payments are fixed, although occasionally one or both parties may pay a floating rate of interest. Unlike an interest rate swap, however, the principal amounts are exchanged at the beginning of the agreement and returned at the end of the agreement. Changes in foreign exchange rates and changes in interest rates, as described above, may negatively affect currency swaps.

 

Inflation Swaps

 

Inflation swaps are fixed-maturity, over-the-counter derivatives where one party pays a fixed rate in exchange for payments tied to an inflation index, such as the Consumer Price Index. The fixed rate, which is set by the parties at the initiation of the swap, is often referred to as the “breakeven inflation” rate and generally represents the current difference between treasury yields and Treasury Inflation Protected Securities yields of similar maturities at the initiation of the swap agreement. Inflation swaps are typically designated as “zero coupon,” where all cash flows are exchanged at maturity. The value of an inflation swap is expected to fluctuate in response to changes in the relationship between nominal interest rates and the rate of inflation. An inflation swap can lose value if the realized rate of inflation over the life of the swap is less than the fixed market implied inflation rate (the breakeven inflation rate) the investor agreed to pay at the initiation of the swap.

 

Credit Default Swaps

 

A credit default swap is an agreement between a “buyer” and a “seller” for credit protection. The credit default swap agreement may have as reference obligations one or more securities that are not then held by the Fund. The protection buyer is generally obligated to pay the protection seller an upfront payment and/or a periodic stream of payments over the term of the agreement until a credit event on a reference obligation has occurred. If no default occurs, the seller would keep the stream of payments and would have no payment obligations. If a credit event occurs, the seller generally must pay the buyer the full notional amount (the “par value”) of the swap.

 

Caps, Collars and Floors

 

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

 

Risks of Derivatives:

 

While transactions in derivatives may reduce certain risks, these transactions themselves entail certain other risks. For example, unanticipated changes in interest rates, securities prices or currency exchange rates may result in a poorer overall performance of the Fund than if it had not entered into any derivatives transactions. Derivatives may magnify the Fund’s gains or losses, causing it to make or lose substantially more than it invested.

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When used for hedging purposes, increases in the value of the securities the Fund holds or intends to acquire should offset any losses incurred with a derivative. Purchasing derivatives for purposes other than hedging could expose the Fund to greater risks.

 

Use of derivatives involves transaction costs, which may be significant, and may also increase the amount of taxable income to shareholders.

 

Correlation of Prices. The Fund’s ability to hedge its securities through derivatives depends on the degree to which price movements in the underlying index or instrument correlate with price movements in the relevant securities. In the case of poor correlation, the price of the securities the Fund is hedging may not move in the same amount, or even in the same direction as the hedging instrument. The Adviser will try to minimize this risk by investing in only those contracts whose behavior it expects to correlate with the behavior of the portfolio securities it is trying to hedge. However, if the Adviser’s prediction of interest and currency rates, market value, volatility or other economic factors is incorrect, the Fund may lose money, or may not make as much money as it expected.

 

Derivative prices can diverge from the prices of their underlying instruments, even if the characteristics of the underlying instruments are very similar to the derivative. Listed below are some of the factors that may cause such a divergence:

 

current and anticipated short-term interest rates, changes in volatility of the underlying instrument, and the time remaining until expiration of the contract;

 

a difference between the derivatives and securities markets, including different levels of demand, how the instruments are traded, the imposition of daily price fluctuation limits or discontinued trading of an instrument; and

 

differences between the derivatives, such as different margin requirements, different liquidity of such markets and the participation of speculators in such markets.

 

Derivatives based upon a narrower index of securities, such as those of a particular industry group, may present greater risk than derivatives based on a broad market index. Since narrower indices are made up of a smaller number of securities, they are more susceptible to rapid and extreme price fluctuations because of changes in the value of those securities.

 

While currency futures and options values are expected to correlate with exchange rates, they may not reflect other factors that affect the value of the investments of the Fund. A currency hedge, for example, should protect a yen-denominated security from a decline in the yen, but will not protect the Fund against a price decline resulting from deterioration in the issuer’s creditworthiness. Because the value of the Fund’s foreign-denominated investments changes in response to many factors other than exchange rates, it may not be possible to match the amount of currency options and futures to the value of the Fund’s investments precisely over time.

 

Lack of Liquidity. Before a futures contract or option is exercised or expires, the Fund can terminate it only by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. Moreover, the Fund may close out a futures contract only on the exchange the contract was initially traded. Although the Fund intends to purchase options and futures only where there appears to be an active market, there is no guarantee that such a liquid market will exist. If there is no secondary market for the contract, or the market is illiquid, the Fund may not be able to close out its position. In an illiquid market, the Fund may:

 

have to sell securities to meet its daily margin requirements at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so;

 

have to purchase or sell the instrument underlying the contract;

 

not be able to hedge its investments; and/or

 

not be able to realize profits or limit its losses.

 

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Derivatives may become illiquid (i.e., difficult to sell at a desired time and price) under a variety of market conditions. For example:

 

an exchange may suspend or limit trading in a particular derivative instrument, an entire category of derivatives or all derivatives, which sometimes occurs because of increased market volatility;

 

unusual or unforeseen circumstances may interrupt normal operations of an exchange;

 

the facilities of the exchange may not be adequate to handle current trading volume;

 

equipment failures, government intervention, insolvency of a brokerage firm or clearing house or other occurrences may disrupt normal trading activity; or

 

investors may lose interest in a particular derivative or category of derivatives.

 

Management Risk. Successful use of derivatives by the Fund is subject to the ability of the Adviser to forecast stock market and interest rate trends. If the Adviser incorrectly predicts stock market and interest rate trends, the Fund may lose money by investing in derivatives. For example, if the Fund were to write a call option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would fall, but the price were to rise instead, the Fund could be required to sell the security upon exercise at a price below the current market price. Similarly, if the Fund were to write a put option based on the Adviser’s expectation that the price of the underlying security would rise, but the price were to fall instead, the Fund could be required to purchase the security upon exercise at a price higher than the current market price.

 

Pricing Risk. At times, market conditions might make it hard to value some investments. For example, if the Fund has valued its securities too high, shareholders may end up paying too much for Fund shares when they buy into the Fund. If the Fund underestimates its price, shareholders may not receive the full market value for their Fund shares when they sell.

 

Margin. Because of the low margin deposits required upon the opening of a derivative position, such transactions involve an extremely high degree of leverage. Consequently, a relatively small price movement in a derivative may result in an immediate and substantial loss (as well as gain) to the Fund and it may lose more than it originally invested in the derivative.

 

If the price of a futures contract changes adversely, the Fund may have to sell securities at a time when it is disadvantageous to do so to meet its minimum daily margin requirement. The Fund may lose its margin deposits if a broker-dealer with whom it has an open futures contract or related option becomes insolvent or declares bankruptcy.

 

Volatility and Leverage. The Fund’s use of derivatives may have a leveraging effect. Leverage generally magnifies the effect of any increase or decrease in value of an underlying asset and results in increased volatility, which means the Fund will have the potential for greater gains, as well as the potential for greater losses, than if the Fund does not use derivative instruments that have a leveraging effect. The prices of derivatives are volatile (i.e., they may change rapidly, substantially and unpredictably) and are influenced by a variety of factors, including:

 

actual and anticipated changes in interest rates;

 

fiscal and monetary policies; and

 

national and international political events.

 

Most exchanges limit the amount by which the price of a derivative can change during a single trading day. Daily trading limits establish the maximum amount that the price of a derivative may vary from the settlement price of that derivative at the end of trading on the previous day. Once the price of a derivative reaches this value, the Fund may not trade that derivative at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movements during a given day and does not limit potential gains or losses. Derivative prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days, preventing prompt liquidation of the derivative.

 

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Government Regulation. The regulation of derivatives markets in the U.S. is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to modification by government and judicial action. For example, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law in 2010, granted significant new authority to the SEC and the CFTC to impose comprehensive regulations on the over-the-counter and cleared derivatives markets. These regulations include, but are not limited to, mandatory clearing of certain derivatives and requirements relating to disclosure, margin and trade reporting. The law and regulations may negatively impact the Fund by increasing transaction and/or regulatory compliance costs, limiting the availability of certain derivatives or otherwise adversely affecting the value or performance of the derivatives the Fund trades.

 

In addition, the SEC adopted the Derivatives Rule on October 28, 2020. Since its compliance date of August 19, 2022, the Derivatives Rule has replaced prior SEC and staff guidance with an updated, comprehensive framework for registered funds’ use of derivatives. See “Derivatives – Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act” above for additional information on the requirements imposed on registered funds by the Derivatives Rule. Complying with the Derivatives Rule may increase the cost of the Fund's investments and cost of doing business, which could adversely affect investors. Other potentially adverse regulatory obligations can develop suddenly and without notice.

 

Equity Securities (U.S. and Foreign)

 

Equity securities represent ownership interests in a company and consist of common stocks, preferred stocks, warrants to acquire common stock, and securities convertible into common stock. Investments in equity securities in general are subject to market risks that may cause their prices to fluctuate over time. Fluctuations in the value of equity securities in which the Fund invests will cause the NAV of the Fund to fluctuate. The Fund purchases equity securities traded in the United States on registered exchanges or the over-the-counter market. Equity securities are described in more detail below:

 

Common Stock. Common stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds and preferred stock take precedence over the claims of those who own common stock.

 

Preferred Stock. Preferred stock represents an equity or ownership interest in an issuer that pays dividends at a specified rate and that has precedence over common stock in the payment of dividends. In the event an issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock.

 

Rights and Warrants. A right is a privilege granted to existing shareholders of a corporation to subscribe to shares of a new issue of common stock before it is issued. Rights normally have a short life, usually two to four weeks, are freely transferable and entitle the holder to buy the new common stock at a lower price than the public offering price. Warrants are securities that are usually issued together with a debt security or preferred stock and that give the holder the right to buy proportionate amount of common stock at a specified price. Warrants are freely transferable and are traded on major exchanges. Unlike rights, warrants normally have a life that is measured in years and entitles the holder to buy common stock of a company at a price that is usually higher than the market price at the time the warrant is issued. Corporations often issue warrants to make the accompanying debt security more attractive.

 

An investment in warrants and rights may entail greater risks than certain other types of investments. Generally, rights and warrants do not carry the right to receive dividends or exercise voting rights with respect to the underlying securities, and they do not represent any rights in the assets of the issuer. In addition, their value does not necessarily change with the value of the underlying securities, and they cease to have value if they are not exercised on or before their expiration date. Investing in rights and warrants increases the potential profit or loss to be realized from the investment as compared with investing the same amount in the underlying securities.

 

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Convertible Securities. Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stocks or other securities that may be converted or exchanged (by the holder or by the issuer) into shares of the underlying common stock (or cash or securities of equivalent value) at a stated exchange ratio. A convertible security may also be called for redemption or conversion by the issuer after a particular date and under certain circumstances (including a specified price) established upon issue. If a convertible security held by the Fund is called for redemption or conversion, the Fund could be required to tender it for redemption, convert it into the underlying common stock, or sell it to a third party.

 

Convertible securities generally have less potential for gain or loss than common stocks. Convertible securities generally provide yields higher than the underlying common stocks, but generally lower than comparable non-convertible securities. Because of this higher yield, convertible securities generally sell at a price above their “conversion value,” which is the current market value of the stock to be received upon conversion. The difference between this conversion value and the price of convertible securities will vary over time depending on changes in the value of the underlying common stocks and interest rates. When the underlying common stocks decline in value, convertible securities will tend not to decline to the same extent because of the interest or dividend payments and the repayment of principal at maturity for certain types of convertible securities. However, securities that are convertible other than at the option of the holder generally do not limit the potential for loss to the same extent as securities convertible at the option of the holder. When the underlying common stocks rise in value, the value of convertible securities may also be expected to increase. At the same time, however, the difference between the market value of convertible securities and their conversion value will narrow, which means that the value of convertible securities will generally not increase to the same extent as the value of the underlying common stocks. Because convertible securities may also be interest-rate sensitive, their value may increase as interest rates fall and decrease as interest rates rise. Convertible securities are also subject to credit risk, and are often lower-quality securities.

 

Large and Medium Capitalization Issuers. Large capitalization companies may lag the performance of smaller capitalization companies because large capitalization companies may experience slower rates of growth than smaller capitalization companies and may not respond as quickly to market changes and opportunities. Investing in equity securities of medium capitalization companies often involves greater risk than is customarily associated with investments in larger capitalization companies. This increased risk may be due to the greater business risks of smaller size, limited markets and financial resources, narrow product lines and frequent lack of depth of management. The securities of smaller companies are often traded in the over-the-counter market and even if listed on a national securities exchange may not be traded in volumes typical for that exchange. Consequently, the securities of smaller companies are less likely to be liquid, may have limited market stability, and may be subject to more abrupt or erratic market movements than securities of larger, more established growth companies or the market averages in general.

 

Initial Public Offerings (“IPOs”). The Fund may invest a portion of its assets in securities of companies offering shares in IPOs. IPOs may have a magnified performance impact on a fund with a small asset base. The Fund may hold IPO shares for a very short period of time, which may increase the turnover of the Fund’s portfolio and may lead to increased expenses for the Fund, such as commissions and transaction costs. By selling IPO shares, the Fund may realize taxable gains it will subsequently distribute to shareholders. In addition, the market for IPO shares can be speculative and/or inactive for extended periods of time. The limited number of shares available for trading in some IPOs may make it more difficult for the Fund to buy or sell significant amounts of shares without an unfavorable impact on prevailing prices. Holders of IPO shares can be affected by substantial dilution in the value of their shares, by sales of additional shares and by concentration of control in existing management and principal shareholders.

 

The Fund’s investment in IPO shares may include the securities of unseasoned companies (companies with less than three years of continuous operations), which presents risks considerably greater than common stocks of more established companies. These companies may have limited operating histories and their prospects for profitability may be uncertain. These companies may be involved in new and evolving businesses and may be vulnerable to competition and changes in technology, markets and economic conditions. They may be more dependent on key managers and third parties and may have limited product lines.

 

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Foreign Securities

 

Foreign securities are debt and equity securities of issuers organized or located outside of the United States. The markets in which these securities are traded can be developed or emerging. Consistent with its investment strategies, the Fund can invest in foreign securities in a number of ways:

 

It can invest directly in foreign securities denominated in a foreign currency;

 

It can invest in American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and other similar global instruments; and

 

It can invest in investment funds.

 

Types of Foreign Securities:

 

American Depositary Receipts. ADRs as well as other “hybrid” forms of ADRs, including EDRs and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”), are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer. These certificates are issued by depository banks and generally trade on an established market in the United States or elsewhere. A custodian bank or similar financial institution in the issuer’s home country holds the underlying shares in trust. The depository bank may not have physical custody of the underlying securities at all times and may charge fees for various services, including forwarding dividends and interest and corporate actions. ADRs are alternatives to directly purchasing the underlying foreign securities in their national markets and currencies. ADRs are subject to many of the risks associated with investing directly in foreign securities. European Depositary Receipts are similar to ADRs, except that they are typically issued by European banks or trust companies.

 

ADRs can be sponsored or unsponsored. While these types are similar, there are differences regarding a holder's rights and obligations and the practices of market participants. A depository may establish an unsponsored facility without participation by (or acquiescence of) the underlying issuer; typically, however, the depository requests a letter of non-objection from the underlying issuer prior to establishing the facility. Holders of unsponsored depositary receipts generally bear all the costs of the facility. The depository usually charges fees upon the deposit and withdrawal of the underlying securities, the conversion of dividends into U.S. dollars or other currency, the disposition of non-cash distributions, and the performance of other services. Sponsored depositary receipt facilities are created in generally the same manner as unsponsored facilities, except that sponsored depositary receipts are established jointly by a depository and the underlying issuer through a deposit agreement. The deposit agreement sets out the rights and responsibilities of the underlying issuer, the depository, and the depositary receipt holders. With sponsored facilities, the underlying issuer typically bears some of the costs of the depositary receipts (such as dividend payment fees of the depository), although most sponsored depositary receipts holders may bear costs such as deposit and withdrawal fees. Depositories of most sponsored depositary receipts agree to distribute notices of shareholder meetings, voting instructions, and other shareholder communications and information to the depositary receipt holders at the underlying issuer’s request. The depositary of an unsponsored facility frequently is under no obligation to distribute shareholder communications received from the issuer of the deposited security or to pass through, to the holders of the receipts, voting rights with respect to the deposited securities.

 

Emerging Markets. An “emerging country” is generally a country that the MSCI Barra would consider to be an emerging or developing country. The MSCI Barra classifies countries as being located in emerging markets based on three criteria: economic development, size and liquidity, and market accessibility. These countries generally include every nation in the world except the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and most nations located in Western Europe.

 

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Investing in emerging markets may magnify the risks of foreign investing. Security prices in emerging markets can be significantly more volatile than those in more developed markets, reflecting the greater uncertainties of investing in less established markets and economies. In particular, countries with emerging markets may:

 

Have relatively unstable governments;

 

Present greater risks of nationalization of businesses, restrictions on foreign ownership and prohibitions on the repatriation of assets;

 

Offer less protection of property rights than more developed countries; and

 

Have economies that are based on only a few industries, may be highly vulnerable to changes in local or global trade conditions, and may suffer from extreme and volatile debt burdens or inflation rates.

 

Local securities markets may trade a small number of securities and may be unable to respond effectively to increases in trading volume, potentially making prompt liquidation of holdings difficult or impossible at times.

 

Investment Funds. Some emerging countries currently prohibit direct foreign investment in the securities of their companies. Certain emerging countries, however, permit indirect foreign investment in the securities of companies listed and traded on their stock exchanges through investment funds that they have specifically authorized. Investments in these investment funds are subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act. If the Fund invests in such investment funds, shareholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the expenses (including operating expenses and the fees of the Adviser), but also will indirectly bear similar expenses of the underlying investment funds. In addition, these investment funds may trade at a premium over their NAV.

 

Risks of Foreign Securities:

 

Foreign securities, foreign currencies, and securities issued by U.S. entities with substantial foreign operations may involve significant risks in addition to the risks inherent in U.S. investments.

 

Political and Economic Factors. Local political, economic, regulatory, or social instability, military action or unrest, or adverse diplomatic developments may affect the value of foreign investments. Listed below are some of the more important political and economic factors that could negatively affect an investment in foreign securities:

 

The economies of foreign countries may differ from the economy of the United States in such areas as growth of gross national product, rate of inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, budget deficits and national debt;

 

Foreign governments sometimes participate to a significant degree, through ownership interests or regulation, in their respective economies. Actions by these governments could significantly influence the market prices of securities and payment of dividends;

 

The economies of many foreign countries are dependent on international trade and their trading partners and they could be severely affected if their trading partners were to enact protective trade barriers and economic conditions;

 

The internal policies of a particular foreign country may be less stable than in the United States. Other countries face significant external political risks, such as possible claims of sovereignty by other countries or tense and sometimes hostile border clashes;

 

A foreign government may act adversely to the interests of U.S. investors, including expropriation or nationalization of assets, confiscatory taxation and other restrictions on U.S. investment. A country may restrict or control foreign investments in its securities markets. These restrictions could limit the Fund’s ability to invest in a particular country or make it very expensive for the Fund to invest in that country. Some countries require prior governmental approval or limit the types or amount of securities or companies in which a foreigner can invest. Other countries may restrict the ability of foreign investors to repatriate their investment income and capital gains; and

 

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Periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in the Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. Government designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses.

 

Given the increasing interdependence among global economies and markets, conditions in one country, region or market might adversely affect financial conditions or issuers in other countries, regions or markets. For example, on January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom (the “UK”) formally withdrew from the EU (commonly referred to as “Brexit”). Following a transition period, the UK and the EU signed a post-Brexit trade agreement governing their future economic relationship on December 30, 2020. This agreement became effective on a provisional basis on January 1, 2021 and formally entered into force on May 1, 2021. While the full impact of Brexit is unknown, Brexit has already resulted in volatility in European and global markets. The effects of Brexit on the UK and EU economies and the broader global economy could be significant, resulting in negative impacts, such as business and trade disruptions, increased volatility and illiquidity, and potentially lower economic growth of markets in the UK, EU and globally, which could negatively impact the value of the Fund investments. Brexit could also lead to legal uncertainty and politically divergent national laws and regulations while the new relationship between the UK and EU is further defined and the UK determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Additionally, depreciation of the British pound sterling and/or the euro in relation to the U.S. dollar following Brexit could adversely affect Fund investments denominated in the British pound sterling and/or the euro, regardless of the performance of the investment.

 

In addition, on February 24, 2022, Russian military forces invaded Ukraine, significantly amplifying already existing geopolitical tensions among Russia, Ukraine, Europe, NATO, and the West. Following Russia’s actions, various countries, including the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, as well as the European Union, issued broad-ranging economic sanctions against Russia. The sanctions consist of the prohibition of trading in certain Russian securities and engaging in certain private transactions, the prohibition of doing business with certain Russian corporate entities, large financial institutions, officials and oligarchs, and the freezing of Russian assets. The extent and duration of the war in Ukraine and the longevity and severity of sanctions remain unknown, but they could have a significant adverse impact on the European economy as well as the price and availability of certain commodities, including oil and natural gas, throughout the world. These sanctions, and the resulting disruption of the Russian economy, may cause volatility in other regional and global markets and may negatively impact the performance of various sectors and industries, as well as companies in other countries, which could have a negative effect on the performance of the Fund, even if the Fund does not have direct exposure to securities of Russian issuers.

 

Whether or not the Fund invests in securities of issuers located in Europe or with significant exposure to European issuers or countries, these events could negatively affect the value and liquidity of the Fund's investments due to the interconnected nature of the global economy and capital markets.

 

Information and Supervision. There is generally less publicly available information about foreign companies than companies based in the United States. For example, there are often no reports and ratings published about foreign companies comparable to the ones written about U.S. companies. Foreign companies are typically not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements comparable to those applicable to U.S. companies. The lack of comparable information makes investment decisions concerning foreign companies more difficult and less reliable than those concerning domestic companies.

 

Stock Exchange and Market Risk. The Adviser anticipates that in most cases an exchange or over-the-counter market located outside of the United States will be the best available market for foreign securities. Foreign stock markets, while growing in volume and sophistication, are generally not as developed as the markets in the United States. Foreign stock markets tend to differ from those in the United States in a number of ways.

 

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Foreign stock markets:

 

are generally more volatile than, and not as developed or efficient as, those in the United States;

 

have substantially less volume;

 

trade securities that tend to be less liquid and experience rapid and erratic price movements;

 

have generally higher commissions and are subject to set minimum rates, as opposed to negotiated rates;

 

employ trading, settlement and custodial practices less developed than those in U.S. markets; and

 

may have different settlement practices, which may cause delays and increase the potential for failed settlements.

 

Foreign markets may offer less protection to shareholders than U.S. markets because:

 

foreign accounting, auditing, and financial reporting requirements may render a foreign corporate balance sheet more difficult to understand and interpret than one subject to U.S. law and standards;

 

adequate public information on foreign issuers may not be available, and it may be difficult to secure dividends and information regarding corporate actions on a timely basis;

 

in general, there is less overall governmental supervision and regulation of securities exchanges, brokers, and listed companies than in the United States;

 

over-the-counter markets tend to be less regulated than stock exchange markets and, in certain countries, may be totally unregulated;

 

economic or political concerns may influence regulatory enforcement and may make it difficult for shareholders to enforce their legal rights; and

 

restrictions on transferring securities within the United States or to U.S. persons may make a particular security less liquid than foreign securities of the same class that are not subject to such restrictions.

 

Foreign Currency Risk. While the Fund denominates its NAV in U.S. dollars, the securities of foreign companies are frequently denominated in foreign currencies. Thus, a change in the value of a foreign currency against the U.S. dollar will result in a corresponding change in value of securities denominated in that currency. Some of the factors that may impair the investments denominated in a foreign currency are:

 

It may be expensive to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars and vice versa;

 

Complex political and economic factors may significantly affect the values of various currencies, including U.S. dollars, and their exchange rates;

 

Government intervention may increase risks involved in purchasing or selling foreign currency options, forward contracts and futures contracts, since exchange rates may not be free to fluctuate in response to other market forces;

 

There may be no systematic reporting of last sale information for foreign currencies or regulatory requirement that quotations available through dealers or other market sources be firm or revised on a timely basis;

 

Available quotation information is generally representative of very large round-lot transactions in the inter-bank market and thus may not reflect exchange rates for smaller odd-lot transactions (less than $1 million) where rates may be less favorable; and

 

The inter-bank market in foreign currencies is a global, around-the-clock market. To the extent that a market is closed while the markets for the underlying currencies remain open, certain markets may not always reflect significant price and rate movements.

 

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Taxes. Certain foreign governments levy withholding taxes on dividend and interest income. Although in some countries it is possible for the Fund to recover a portion of these taxes, the portion that cannot be recovered will reduce the income the Fund receives from its investments.

 

Investment in the People’s Republic of China (“China”)

 

Investments in China. China is an emerging market, and as a result, investments in securities of companies organized and listed in China may be subject to liquidity constraints and significantly higher volatility, from time to time, than investments in securities of more developed markets. China may be subject to considerable government intervention and varying degrees of economic, political and social instability. These factors may result in, among other things, a greater risk of stock market, interest rate, and currency fluctuations, as well as inflation. Accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards in China are different from U.S. standards and, therefore, disclosure of certain material information may not be made, may be less available, or may be less reliable. It may also be difficult or impossible for the Fund to obtain or enforce a judgment in a Chinese court. In addition, periodically there may be restrictions on investments in Chinese companies. For example, on November 12, 2020, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order (the “November 2020 Executive Order”) prohibiting U.S. persons from purchasing or investing in publicly-traded securities of companies identified by the U.S. Government as “Communist Chinese military companies” or in instruments that are derivative of, or are designed to provide investment exposure to, those companies. In addition, on August 9, 2023, the President of the United States signed an Executive Order (the “August 2023 Executive Order” and, together with the November 2020 Executive Order, the “Executive Orders”) directing the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury”) to promulgate regulations requiring notification of, or restricting, investments in China in certain categories of national security technologies, including semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information, and certain artificial intelligence technologies. Concurrent with the August 2023 Executive Order, the Treasury issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking which contemplates the possibility that the regulations adopted would not apply to investments made by collectively offered funds such as the Fund. These regulations have not yet been proposed or adopted by the Treasury and their scope and impact therefore are unclear, but if they were adopted in a way that applies to the Fund, the regulations could adversely affect the Fund’s ability to make certain outbound investments.

 

The universe of securities affected by the Executive Orders can change from time to time. As a result of an increase in the number of investors looking to sell such securities, or because of an inability to participate in an investment that the Adviser otherwise believes is attractive, the Fund may incur losses. Certain securities that are or become designated as prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, potentially causing losses to the Fund. In addition, the market for securities of other Chinese-based issuers may also be negatively impacted, resulting in reduced liquidity and price declines.

 

The economy of China is in a state of transition from a planned economy to a more market oriented economy and investments may be sensitive to changes in law and regulation together with political, social or economic policy which includes possible government intervention.

 

The Fund may incur losses due to limited investment capabilities, or may not be able to fully implement or pursue its investment objective or strategy, due to local investment restrictions, illiquidity of the Chinese domestic securities market, and/or delay or disruption in execution and settlement of trades.

 

Investments in China A Shares. The Fund may invest in A Shares of companies based in China through the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect program or Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect program (collectively, “Stock Connect”) subject to any applicable regulatory limits. Stock Connect is a securities trading and clearing linked program developed by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (“HKEx”), the Hong Kong Securities Clearing Company Limited (“HKSCC”), Shanghai Stock Exchange (“SSE”), Shenzhen Stock Exchange (“SZSE”) and China Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation Limited (“ChinaClear”) with the aim of achieving mutual stock market access between China and Hong Kong. This program allows foreign investors to trade certain SSE-listed or SZSE-listed China A Shares through their Hong Kong based brokers. All Hong Kong and overseas investors in Stock Connect will trade and settle SSE or SZSE securities in the offshore Renminbi (“CNH”) only. The Fund will be exposed to any fluctuation in the exchange rate between the U.S. Dollar and CNH in respect of such investments.

 

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By seeking to invest in the domestic securities markets of China via Stock Connect the Fund is subject to the following additional risks:

 

General Risks. The relevant regulations and legal structures are relatively untested and subject to change. There is no certainty as to how the regulations will be applied, which could adversely affect the Fund. The program requires use of new cross-border information technology systems which are subject to operational risk. If the relevant systems fail to function properly, trading in both Hong Kong and Chinese markets through the program could be disrupted. Stock Connect will only operate on days when both the Chinese and Hong Kong markets are open for trading and settlement. There may be occasions when it is a normal trading day for the Chinese market but Stock Connect is not trading. As a result, the Fund may be subject to the risk of price fluctuations in China A Shares when the Fund cannot carry out any China A Shares trading. Moreover, cross-border investment arrangements may be more sensitive to political risks, including political interventions leading to delisting of shares or suspension of trading or other actions that could lead to the Fund experiencing losses. Political, regulatory and diplomatic events, such as the U.S.-China “trade war” that intensified in 2018 and 2019, could have an adverse effect on the Chinese or Hong Kong economies and on investments made through Stock Connect, and thus could adversely impact the Fund investing through Stock Connect. There can be no assurance the Stock Connect program will continue to operate and remain available to the Fund, including for purposes of liquidating investments made through the program.

 

Foreign Shareholding Restrictions. The trading, acquisition, disposal and holding of securities under Stock Connect are subject at all times to applicable law, which imposes purchasing and holding limits. These limitations and restrictions may have the effect of restricting an investor’s ability to purchase, subscribe for or hold any China A Shares or to take up any entitlements in respect of such shares, or requiring an investor to reduce its holding in any securities, whether generally or at a particular point of time, and whether by way of forced sale or otherwise. As such, investors may incur loss arising from such limitations, restrictions and/or forced sale.

 

Clearing and Settlement Risk. HKSCC and ChinaClear have established the clearing links and each will become a participant of each other to facilitate clearing and settlement of cross-boundary trades. For cross-boundary trades initiated in a market, the clearing house of that market will on one hand clear and settle with its own clearing participants and on the other hand undertake to fulfill the clearing and settlement obligations of its clearing participants with the counterparty clearing house.

 

In the event ChinaClear defaults, HKSCC’s liabilities under its market contracts with clearing participants may be limited to assisting clearing participants with claims. It is anticipated that HKSCC will act in good faith to seek recovery of the outstanding stocks and monies from ChinaClear through available legal channels or the liquidation of ChinaClear. Regardless, the process of recovery could be delayed and the Fund may not fully recover its losses or its Stock Connect securities.

 

Legal/Beneficial Ownership. Where securities are held in custody on a cross-border basis there are specific legal and beneficial ownership risks linked to the compulsory requirements of the local central securities depositaries, HKSCC and ChinaClear.

 

As in other emerging markets, the Chinese legislative framework is only beginning to develop the concept of legal/formal ownership and of beneficial ownership or interest in securities. In addition, HKSCC, as nominee holder, does not guarantee the title to Stock Connect securities held through it and is under no obligation to enforce title or other rights associated with ownership on behalf of beneficial owners. Consequently, the courts may consider that any nominee or custodian as registered holder of Stock Connect securities would have full ownership thereof, and that those Stock Connect securities would form part of the pool of assets of such entity available for distribution to creditors of such entities and/or that a beneficial owner may have no rights whatsoever in respect thereof. Consequently, neither the Fund nor its custodian can ensure that the Fund’s ownership of these securities or title thereto is assured.

 

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To the extent that HKSCC is deemed to be performing safekeeping functions with respect to assets held through it, it should be noted that the Fund and its custodian may have no legal relationship with HKSCC and may have no or limited legal recourse against HKSCC in the event that the Fund suffers losses resulting from the performance or insolvency of HKSCC. In the event that the Fund suffers losses due to the negligence, or willful default, or insolvency of HKSCC, the Fund may not be able to institute legal proceedings, file any proof of claim in any insolvency proceeding or take any similar action. In the event of the insolvency of HKSCC, the Fund may not have any proprietary interest in the China A Shares traded through the Stock Connect program and may be an unsecured general creditor in respect of any claim the Fund may have in respect of them. Consequently, the value of the Fund’s investment in China A Shares and the amount of its income and gains could be adversely affected.

 

Operational Risk. The HKSCC provides clearing, settlement, nominee functions and other related services in respect of trades executed by Hong Kong market participants. Chinese regulations which include certain restrictions on selling and buying will apply to all market participants. In the case of a sale, absent a special segregated account (SPSA) pre-delivery of shares to the broker is required, increasing counterparty risk. As a result, the Fund may not be able to purchase and/or dispose of holdings of China A Shares in a timely manner.

 

Day Trading Restrictions. Day (turnaround) trading is not permitted through Stock Connect. Investors buying A Shares on day T can only sell the shares on and after day T+1 subject to any Stock Connect rules.

 

Quota Limitations. The Stock Connect program is subject to daily quota limitations which may restrict the Fund’s ability to invest in China A Shares through the program on a timely basis.

 

Investor Compensation. The Fund will not benefit from the China Securities Investor Protection Fund in mainland China. The China Securities Investor Protection Fund is established to pay compensation to investors in the event that a securities company in mainland China is subject to compulsory regulatory measures (such as dissolution, closure, bankruptcy, and administrative takeover by the China Securities Regulatory Commission). Since the Fund is carrying out trading of China A Shares through securities brokers in Hong Kong, but not mainland China brokers, therefore, it is not protected by the China Securities Investor Protection Fund.

 

That said, if the Fund suffers losses due to default matters of its securities brokers in Hong Kong in relation to the investment of China A Shares through the Stock Connect program, it would be compensated by Hong Kong’s Investor Compensation Fund.

 

Tax within China. Uncertainties in Chinese tax rules governing taxation of income and gains from investments in A Shares via Stock Connect could result in unexpected tax liabilities for the Fund. The Fund’s investments in securities, including A Shares, issued by Chinese companies may cause the Fund to become subject to withholding and other taxes imposed by China.

 

If the Fund were considered to be a tax resident of China, it would be subject to Chinese corporate income tax at the rate of 25% on its worldwide taxable income. If the Fund were considered to be a non-resident enterprise with a “permanent establishment” in China, it would be subject to Chinese corporate income tax of 25% on the profits attributable to the permanent establishment. The Adviser intends to operate the Fund in a manner that will prevent it from being treated as a tax resident of China and from having a permanent establishment in China. It is possible, however, that China could disagree with that conclusion, or that changes in Chinese tax law could affect the Chinese corporate income tax status of the Fund.

 

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China generally imposes withholding income tax at a rate of 10% on dividends, premiums, interest and capital gains originating in China and paid to a company that is not a resident of China for tax purposes and that has no permanent establishment in China. The withholding is in general made by the relevant Chinese tax resident company making such payments. In the event the relevant Chinese tax resident company fails to withhold the relevant Chinese withholding income tax or otherwise fails to pay the relevant withholding income tax to Chinese tax authorities, the competent tax authorities may, at their sole discretion, impose tax obligations on the Fund.

 

The Ministry of Finance of China, the State Administration of Taxation of China and the China Securities Regulatory Commission issued Caishui No. 81 on October 31, 2014 (“Notice 81”) and Caishui [2016] No. 127 on November 5, 2016 (“Notice 127”), both of which state that the capital gain from disposal of China A Shares by foreign investors enterprises via Stock Connect will be temporarily exempt from withholding income tax. Notice 81 and Notice 127 also state that the dividends derived from A Shares by foreign investors enterprises is subject to a 10% withholding income tax.

 

There is no indication of how long the temporary exemption will remain in effect and the Fund may be subject to such withholding income tax in the future. If, in the future, China begins applying tax rules regarding the taxation of income from investments through Stock Connect and/or begins collecting capital gains taxes on such investments, the Fund could be subject to withholding income tax liability if the Fund determines that such liability cannot be reduced or eliminated by applicable tax treaties. The Chinese tax authorities may in the future issue further guidance in this regard and with potential retrospective effect. The negative impact of any such tax liability on the Fund’s return could be substantial.

 

In light of the uncertainty as to how gains or income that may be derived from the Fund’s investments in China will be taxed, the Fund reserves the right to provide for withholding tax on such gains or income and withhold tax for the account of the Fund. Withholding tax may already be withheld at a broker/custodian level.

 

Any tax provision, if made, will be reflected in the net asset value of the Fund at the time the provision is used to satisfy tax liabilities. If the actual applicable tax levied by the Chinese tax authorities is greater than that provided for by the Fund so that there is a shortfall in the tax provision amount, the net asset value of the Fund may suffer as the Fund will have to bear additional tax liabilities. In this case, then existing and new shareholders in the Fund will be disadvantaged. If the actual applicable tax levied by Chinese tax authorities is less than that provided for by the Fund so that there is an excess in the tax provision amount, shareholders who redeemed Fund shares before the Chinese tax authorities’ ruling, decision or guidance may have been disadvantaged as they would have borne any loss from the Fund’s overprovision. In this case, the then existing and new shareholders in the Fund may benefit if the difference between the tax provision and the actual taxation liability can be returned to the account of the Fund as assets thereof. Any excess in the tax provision amount shall be treated as property of the Fund, and shareholders who previously transferred or redeemed their Fund shares will not be entitled or have any right to claim any part of the amount representing the excess.

 

Stamp duty under the Chinese laws generally applies to the execution and receipt of taxable documents, which include contracts for the sale of A Shares traded on Chinese stock exchanges. In the case of such contracts, the stamp duty is currently imposed on the seller but not on the purchaser, at the rate of 0.1%. According to the announcement jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation of China, starting from August 28, 2023, the stamp duty on securities transactions is reduced by half. The sale or other transfer by the Adviser of A Shares will accordingly be subject to Chinese stamp duty, but the Fund will not be subject to Chinese stamp duty when it acquires A Shares.

 

The Fund may also potentially be subject to Chinese value added tax at the rate of 6% on capital gains derived from trading of A Shares and interest income (if any). Existing guidance provides a temporary value added tax exemption for Hong Kong and overseas investors in respect of their gains derived from the trading of Chinese securities through Stock Connect. Because there is no indication how long the temporary exemption will remain in effect, the Fund may be subject to such value added tax in the future. In addition, urban maintenance and construction tax (currently at rates ranging from 1% to 7%), educational surcharge (currently at the rate of 3%) and local educational surcharge (currently at the rate of 2%) (collectively, the “surtaxes”) are imposed based on value added tax liabilities, so if the Fund were liable for value added tax it would also be required to pay the applicable surtaxes.

 

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The Chinese rules for taxation of Stock Connect are evolving, and certain of the tax regulations to be issued by the State Administration of Taxation of China and/or Ministry of Finance of China to clarify the subject matter may apply retrospectively, even if such rules are adverse to the Fund and its shareholders. The imposition of taxes, particularly on a retrospective basis, could have a material adverse effect on the Fund’s returns. Before further guidance is issued and is well established in the administrative practice of the Chinese tax authorities, the practices of the Chinese tax authorities that collect Chinese taxes relevant to the Fund may differ from, or be applied in a manner inconsistent with, the practices with respect to the analogous investments described herein or any further guidance that may be issued. The value of the Fund’s investment in China and the amount of its income and gains could be adversely affected by an increase in tax rates or change in the taxation basis.

 

The above information is only a general summary of the potential Chinese tax consequences that may be imposed on the Fund and its shareholders either directly or indirectly and should not be taken as a definitive, authoritative or comprehensive statement of the relevant matter. Shareholders should seek their own tax advice on their tax position with regard to their investment in the Fund.

 

The Chinese government has implemented a number of tax reform policies in recent years. The current tax laws and regulations may be revised or amended in the future. Any revision or amendment in tax laws and regulations may affect the after-taxation profit of Chinese companies and foreign investors in such companies, such as the Fund.

 

Money Market Securities. Money market securities include short-term U.S. government securities; custodial receipts evidencing separately traded interest and principal components of securities issued by the U.S. Treasury; commercial paper rated in the highest short-term rating category by a nationally recognized statistical ratings organizations (“NRSRO”), such as S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”) or Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), or determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase; short-term bank obligations (certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances) of U.S. commercial banks with assets of at least $1 billion as of the end of their most recent fiscal year; and repurchase agreements involving such securities. Each of these money market securities are described below. For a description of ratings, see “Appendix A – Description of Ratings” to this SAI.

 

Debt Securities

 

U.S. Government Securities. The Fund may invest in U.S. government securities. Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities include U.S. Treasury securities, which are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury and which differ only in their interest rates, maturities, and times of issuance. U.S. Treasury bills have initial maturities of one-year or less; U.S. Treasury notes have initial maturities of one to ten years; and U.S. Treasury bonds generally have initial maturities of greater than ten years. U.S. Treasury notes and bonds typically pay coupon interest semi-annually and repay the principal at maturity. Certain U.S. government securities are issued or guaranteed by agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government including, but not limited to, obligations of U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities such as the Federal National Mortgage Association (“Fannie Mae”), the Government National Mortgage Association (“Ginnie Mae”), the Small Business Administration, the Federal Farm Credit Administration, the Federal Home Loan Banks, Banks for Cooperatives (including the Central Bank for Cooperatives), the Federal Land Banks, the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Commodity Credit Corporation, the Federal Financing Bank, the Student Loan Marketing Association, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac).

 

Some obligations issued or guaranteed by U.S. government agencies and instrumentalities, including, for example, Ginnie Mae pass-through certificates, are supported by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Treasury. Other obligations issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those securities issued by Fannie Mae, are supported by the discretionary authority of the U.S. government to purchase certain obligations of the federal agency. Additionally, some obligations are issued by or guaranteed by federal agencies, such as those of the Federal Home Loan Banks, which are supported by the right of the issuer to borrow from the U.S. Treasury. While the U.S. government provides financial support to such U.S. government-sponsored federal agencies, no assurance can be given that the U.S. government will always do so, since the U.S. government is not so obligated by law. Guarantees of principal by U.S. government agencies or instrumentalities may be a guarantee of payment at the maturity of the obligation so that in the event of a default prior to maturity there might not be a market and thus no means of realizing on the obligation prior to maturity. Guarantees as to the timely payment of principal and interest do not extend to the value or yield of these securities nor to the value of the Fund’s shares.

 

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On September 7, 2008, the U.S. Treasury announced a federal takeover of Fannie Mae and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (“Freddie Mac”), placing the two federal instrumentalities in conservatorship. Under the takeover, the U.S. Treasury agreed to acquire $1 billion of senior preferred stock of each instrumentality and obtained warrants for the purchase of common stock of each instrumentality (the “Senior Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement” or “Agreement”). Under the Agreement, the U.S. Treasury pledged to provide up to $200 billion per instrumentality as needed, including the contribution of cash capital to the instrumentalities in the event their liabilities exceed their assets. This was intended to ensure that the instrumentalities maintain a positive net worth and meet their financial obligations, preventing mandatory triggering of receivership. On December 24, 2009, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was amending the Agreement to allow the $200 billion cap on the U.S. Treasury’s funding commitment to increase as necessary to accommodate any cumulative reduction in net worth through the end of 2012. The unlimited support the U.S. Treasury extended to the two companies expired at the beginning of 2013 – Fannie Mae's support is now capped at $125 billion and Freddie Mac has a limit of $149 billion.

 

On August 17, 2012, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to terminate the requirement that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac each pay a 10 percent annual dividend. Instead, the companies will transfer to the U.S. Treasury on a quarterly basis all profits earned during a quarter that exceed a capital reserve amount. The capital reserve amount was $3 billion in 2013, and decreased by $600 million in each subsequent year through 2017. It is believed that this amendment put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a better position to service their debt because it eliminated the need for the companies to have to borrow from the U.S. Treasury to make fixed dividend payments. As part of the new terms, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac also will be required to reduce their investment portfolios over time. On December 21, 2017, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was again amending the Agreement to reinstate the $3 billion capital reserve amount. On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Treasury announced that it was further amending the Agreement, now permitting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to retain earnings beyond the $3 billion capital reserves previously allowed through the 2017 amendment. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now permitted to maintain capital reserves of $25 billion and $20 billion, respectively.

 

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the subject of several continuing class action lawsuits and investigations by federal regulators over certain accounting, disclosure or corporate governance matters, which (along with any resulting financial restatements) may adversely affect the guaranteeing entities. Importantly, the future of the entities is in serious question as the U.S. Government reportedly is considering multiple options, ranging from nationalization, privatization, consolidation, or abolishment of the entities.

 

U.S. Treasury Obligations. U.S. Treasury obligations consist of direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, including Treasury bills, notes and bonds, and separately traded interest and principal component parts of such obligations, including those transferable through the Federal book-entry system known as Separate Trading of Registered Interest and Principal of Securities (“STRIPS”). The STRIPS program lets investors hold and trade the individual interest and principal components of eligible Treasury notes and bonds as separate securities. Under the STRIPS program, the principal and interest components are separately issued by the U.S. Treasury at the request of depository financial institutions, which then trade the component parts separately.

 

Commercial Paper. Commercial paper is the term used to designate unsecured short-term promissory notes issued by corporations and other entities. Maturities on these issues vary from a few to 270 days.

 

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Bank Obligations. The Fund may invest in obligations issued by banks and other savings institutions. Investments in bank obligations include obligations of domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks. Such investments in domestic branches of foreign banks and foreign branches of domestic banks may involve risks that are different from investments in securities of domestic branches of U.S. banks. These risks may include future unfavorable political and economic developments, possible withholding taxes on interest income, seizure or nationalization of foreign deposits, currency controls, interest limitations, or other governmental restrictions which might affect the payment of principal or interest on the securities held by the Fund. Additionally, these institutions may be subject to less stringent reserve requirements and to different accounting, auditing, reporting and recordkeeping requirements than those applicable to domestic branches of U.S. banks. Bank obligations include the following:

 

Bankers’ Acceptances. Bankers’ acceptances are bills of exchange or time drafts drawn on and accepted by a commercial bank. Corporations use bankers’ acceptances to finance the shipment and storage of goods and to furnish dollar exchange. Maturities are generally six months or less.

 

Certificates of Deposit. Certificates of deposit are interest-bearing instruments with a specific maturity. They are issued by banks and savings and loan institutions in exchange for the deposit of funds and normally can be traded in the secondary market prior to maturity. Certificates of deposit with penalties for early withdrawal will be considered illiquid.

 

Time Deposits. Time deposits are non-negotiable receipts issued by a bank in exchange for the deposit of funds. Like a certificate of deposit, it earns a specified rate of interest over a definite period of time; however, it cannot be traded in the secondary market. Time deposits with a withdrawal penalty or that mature in more than seven days are considered to be illiquid investments.

 

Repurchase Agreements. The Fund may enter into repurchase agreements with financial institutions in order to increase its income. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which a fund acquires a fixed income security (generally a security issued by the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a banker’s acceptance, or a certificate of deposit) from a commercial bank, broker, or dealer, and simultaneously agrees to resell such security to the seller at an agreed upon price and date (normally, the next business day). Because the security purchased constitutes collateral for the repurchase obligation, a repurchase agreement may be considered a loan that is collateralized by the security purchased. The acquisition of a repurchase agreement may be deemed to be an acquisition of the underlying securities as long as the obligation of the seller to repurchase the securities is collateralized fully. The Fund follows certain procedures designed to minimize the risks inherent in such agreements. These procedures include effecting repurchase transactions only with creditworthy financial institutions whose condition will be continually monitored by the Adviser. The repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund will provide that the underlying collateral at all times shall have a value at least equal to 102% of the resale price stated in the agreement and consist only of securities permissible under Section 101(47)(A)(i) of the Bankruptcy Code (the Adviser monitors compliance with this requirement). Under all repurchase agreements entered into by the Fund, the custodian or its agent must take possession of the underlying collateral. In the event of a default or bankruptcy by a selling financial institution, the Fund will seek to liquidate such collateral. However, the exercising of the Fund’s right to liquidate such collateral could involve certain costs or delays and, to the extent that proceeds from any sale upon a default of the obligation to repurchase were less than the repurchase price, the Fund could suffer a loss. The Fund may enter into “tri-party” repurchase agreements. In “tri-party” repurchase agreements, an unaffiliated third party custodian maintains accounts to hold collateral for the Fund and its counterparties and, therefore, the Fund may be subject to the credit risk of those custodians. The investments of the Fund in repurchase agreements, at times, may be substantial when, in the view of the Adviser, liquidity or other considerations so warrant.

 

Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”). ETFs are investment companies whose shares are bought and sold on a securities exchange. An ETF holds a portfolio of securities designed to track a particular market segment or index. Some examples of ETFs are SPDRs®, DIAMONDSSM, NASDAQ 100 Index Tracking StockSM (“QQQsSM”), and iShares®. The Fund could purchase an ETF to temporarily gain exposure to a portion of the U.S. or foreign market while awaiting an opportunity to purchase securities directly. The risks of owning an ETF generally reflect the risks of owning the securities comprising the index which an index ETF is designed to track or the other holdings of an active or index ETF, although lack of liquidity in an ETF could result in it being more volatile than the tracked index or underlying holdings, and ETFs have management fees that increase their costs versus the costs of owning the underlying holdings directly. See also “Securities of Other Investment Companies” below.

 

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Securities of Other Investment Companies. The Fund may invest in shares of other investment companies, to the extent permitted by applicable law, subject to certain restrictions. These investment companies typically incur fees that are separate from those fees incurred directly by the Fund. The Fund’s purchase of such investment company securities results in the layering of expenses, such that shareholders would indirectly bear a proportionate share of the operating expenses of such investment companies, including advisory fees, in addition to paying the Fund’s expenses.

 

Generally, the federal securities laws limit the extent to which the Fund can invest in securities of other investment companies, subject to certain exceptions. For example, Section 12(d)(1)(A) of the 1940 Act prohibits a fund from (i) acquiring more than 3% of the voting shares of any one investment company, (ii) investing more than 5% of its total assets in any one investment company, and (iii) investing more than 10% of its total assets in all investment companies combined, including its ETF investments.

 

The Fund may rely on Section 12(d)(1)(F) of the 1940 Act, which provides an exemption from Section 12(d)(1) that allows the Fund to invest all of its assets in other registered funds, including ETFs, if, among other conditions, the Fund, together with its affiliates, acquires no more than 3% of the outstanding voting stock of any acquired fund. The Fund may also rely on Rule 12d1-4 under the 1940 Act. Rule 12d1-4, which became effective on January 19, 2021, permits the Fund to invest in other investment companies beyond the statutory limits, subject to certain conditions specified in the Rule including, among other conditions, that the Fund and its advisory group will not control (individually or in the aggregate) an acquired fund (e.g., hold more than 25% of the outstanding voting securities of an acquired fund that is a registered open-end management investment company). In addition, the Fund may be able to rely on certain other rules under the 1940 Act to invest in shares of money market funds or other investment companies beyond the statutory limits noted above, but subject to certain conditions.

 

For hedging or other purposes, the Fund may invest in investment companies that seek to track the composition and/or performance of specific indexes or portions of specific indexes. Certain of these investment companies, known as ETFs, are traded on a securities exchange. (See “Exchange-Traded Funds” above). The market prices of index-based investments will fluctuate in accordance with changes in the underlying portfolio securities of the investment company and also due to supply and demand of the investment company’s shares on the exchange upon which the shares are traded. Index-based investments may not replicate or otherwise match the composition or performance of their specified index due to transaction costs, among other things.

 

Illiquid Investments. Illiquid investments are investments that the Fund reasonably expects cannot be sold or disposed of in current market conditions in seven calendar days or less without the sale or disposition significantly changing the market value of the investment. Because of their illiquid nature, illiquid investments must be priced at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight. Despite such good faith efforts to determine fair value prices, the Fund’s illiquid investments are subject to the risk that the investment’s fair value price may differ from the actual price which the Fund may ultimately realize upon its sale or disposition. Difficulty in selling illiquid investments may result in a loss or may be costly to the Fund. Under the oversight of the Board, the Adviser determines the liquidity of the Fund’s investments. The Fund may not acquire an illiquid investment if, immediately after the acquisition, the Fund would have invested more than 15% of its net assets in illiquid investments that are assets.

 

Restricted Securities. Restricted securities are securities that may not be sold freely to the public absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”) or an exemption from registration. The Fund may invest in Section 4(a)(2) commercial paper, which is issued in reliance on an exemption from registration under Section 4(a)(2) of the 1933 Act and is generally sold to institutional investors who purchase for investment. Any resale of such commercial paper must be in an exempt transaction, usually to an institutional investor through the issuer or investment dealers who make a market in such commercial paper.

 

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Private Investments in Public Equity. The Fund may purchase private investments in public equity ("PIPEs"), which are equity securities in a private placement that are issued by issuers that have outstanding publicly-traded equity securities of the same class. Shares in PIPEs generally are not publicly registered until after a certain time period from the date the private sale is completed, which can last many months. Until the public registration process is completed, PIPEs are restricted as to resale and cannot be freely traded. Generally, such restrictions cause PIPEs to be illiquid during this restricted period. PIPEs may contain provisions that the issuer will pay specified financial penalties to the holder if the issuer does not publicly register the restricted equity securities within a specified period of time, but there is no assurance that the restricted equity securities will be publicly registered or that the registration will remain in effect.

 

Securities Lending. The Fund may lend portfolio securities to brokers, dealers and other financial organizations that meet capital and other credit requirements or other criteria established by the Board. These loans, if and when made, may not exceed 33 1/3% of the total asset value of the Fund (including the loan collateral). The Fund will not lend portfolio securities to the Adviser or its affiliates unless permissible under the 1940 Act and the rules and promulgations thereunder. Loans of portfolio securities will be fully collateralized by cash, letters of credit or U.S. government securities, and the collateral will be maintained in an amount equal to at least 100% of the current market value of the loaned securities by marking to market daily. Any gain or loss in the market price of the securities loaned that might occur during the term of the loan would be for the account of the Fund.

 

The Fund may pay a part of the interest earned from the investment of collateral, or other fee, to an unaffiliated third party for acting as the Fund's securities lending agent, but will bear all of any losses from the investment of collateral.

 

By lending its securities, the Fund may increase its income by receiving payments from the borrower that reflect the amount of any interest or any dividends payable on the loaned securities as well as by either investing cash collateral received from the borrower in short-term instruments or obtaining a fee from the borrower when U.S. government securities or letters of credit are used as collateral. The Fund will adhere to the following conditions whenever its portfolio securities are loaned: (i) the Fund must receive at least 100% cash collateral or equivalent securities of the type discussed above from the borrower; (ii) the borrower must increase such collateral whenever the market value of the securities rises above the level of such collateral; (iii) the Fund must be able to terminate the loan on demand; (iv) the Fund must receive reasonable interest on the loan, as well as any dividends, interest or other distributions on the loaned securities and any increase in market value; (v) the Fund may pay only reasonable fees in connection with the loan (which fees may include fees payable to the lending agent, the borrower, the Fund's administrator and the custodian); and (vi) voting rights on the loaned securities may pass to the borrower, provided, however, that if a material event adversely affecting the investment occurs, the Fund must terminate the loan and regain the right to vote the securities. The Board has adopted procedures reasonably designed to ensure that the foregoing criteria will be met. Loan agreements involve certain risks in the event of default or insolvency of the borrower, including possible delays or restrictions upon the Fund's ability to recover the loaned securities or dispose of the collateral for the loan, which could give rise to loss because of adverse market action, expenses and/or delays in connection with the disposition of the underlying securities.

 

Legal, Tax, and Regulatory Risks. Legal, tax and regulatory changes and developments may adversely affect the Fund. New or modified laws, regulations, rules, legislation or similar guidance may be issued by U.S. or foreign regulators or other government authorities or self-regulatory organizations that oversee the financial markets. Such new or modified laws, regulations, rules or similar guidance may have an adverse effect on the investments and the performance of the Fund.

 

Special Risks of Cyber Attacks. As with any entity that conducts business through electronic means in the modern marketplace, the Fund, and its service providers, may be susceptible to operational and information security risks resulting from cyber attacks. Cyber attacks include, among other behaviors, stealing or corrupting data maintained online or digitally, denial of service attacks on websites, the unauthorized monitoring, release, misuse, loss, destruction or corruption of confidential information, unauthorized access to relevant systems, compromises to networks or devices that the Fund and its service providers use to service the Fund’s operations, ransomware, operational disruption or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support the Fund and its service providers, or various other forms of cyber security breaches. Cyber attacks affecting the Fund or the Adviser, the Fund’s distributor, custodian, or any other of the Fund’s intermediaries or service providers may adversely impact the Fund and its shareholders, potentially resulting in, among other things, financial losses or the inability of Fund shareholders to transact business. For instance, cyber attacks may interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the Fund’s ability to calculate its NAV, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject the Fund to regulatory fines or financial losses and/or cause reputational damage. The Fund may also incur additional costs for cyber security risk management purposes designed to mitigate or prevent the risk of cyber attacks. Such costs may be ongoing because threats of cyber attacks are constantly evolving as cyber attackers become more sophisticated and their techniques become more complex. Similar types of cyber security risks are also present for issuers of securities in which the Fund may invest, which could result in material adverse consequences for such issuers and may cause the Fund’s investments in such companies to lose value. There can be no assurance that the Fund, the Fund’s service providers, or the issuers of the securities in which the Fund invests will not suffer losses relating to cyber attacks or other information security breaches in the future.

 

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LIBOR Replacement Risk. The Fund may be exposed to financial instruments that recently transitioned from, or continue to be tied to, the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to determine payment obligations, financing terms, hedging strategies or investment value. Such instruments may include bank loans, derivatives, floating rate securities, and other assets or liabilities. The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, has ceased publishing all LIBOR settings on a representative basis. In April 2023, however, the FCA announced that some USD LIBOR settings will continue to be published under a synthetic methodology until September 30, 2024 for certain legacy contracts.

 

The Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), which is a broad measure of the cost of borrowing cash overnight collateralized by U.S. Treasury securities in the repurchase agreement market, has been used increasingly on a voluntary basis in new instruments and transactions. Under U.S. regulations that implement a statutory fallback mechanism to replace LIBOR, benchmark rates based on SOFR have replaced LIBOR in different categories of financial contracts.

 

Neither the effect of the LIBOR transition process nor its ultimate success can yet be known. While some existing LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies to replicate LIBOR. Not all existing LIBOR-based instruments may have alternative rate-setting provisions and there remains uncertainty regarding the willingness and ability of issuers to add alternative rate-setting provisions in certain existing instruments. Parties to contracts, securities, or other instruments using LIBOR may disagree on transition rates or the application of transition regulation, potentially resulting in uncertainty of performance and the possibility of litigation. The Fund may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.

 

General Market Risk. An outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus designated as COVID-19 was first detected in China in December 2019 and subsequently spread internationally. The transmission of COVID-19 and efforts to contain its spread have resulted in international, national and local border closings and other significant travel restrictions and disruptions, significant disruptions to business operations, supply chains and customer activity, event cancellations and restrictions, service cancellations, reductions and other changes, significant challenges in healthcare service preparation and delivery, and quarantines, as well as general concern and uncertainty that has negatively affected the economic environment. These impacts also have caused significant volatility and declines in global financial markets, which have caused losses for investors. Health crises caused by viral or bacterial outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, may exacerbate other pre-existing political, social, economic, market and financial risks. The impact of this outbreak, and other epidemics and pandemics that may arise in the future, could negatively affect the global economy, as well as the economies of individual countries, the financial performance of individual companies and sectors, and the markets in general in significant and unforeseen ways. Any such impact could adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the securities and other instruments in which the Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

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INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS

 

Fundamental Policies

 

The following are fundamental policies of the Fund. Fundamental policies cannot be changed without the consent of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s outstanding shares. The phrase “majority of the outstanding shares” means the vote of (i) 67% or more of the Fund’s shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund’s outstanding shares, whichever is less.

 

The Fund may not:

 

1.Purchase securities of an issuer that would cause the Fund to fail to satisfy the diversification requirement for a diversified management company under the 1940 Act, the rules or regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

2.Concentrate investments in a particular industry or group of industries, as concentration is defined under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

3.Borrow money or issue senior securities (as defined under the 1940 Act), except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

4.Make loans, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

5.Purchase or sell commodities or real estate, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

6.Underwrite securities issued by other persons, except to the extent permitted under the 1940 Act, the rules and regulations thereunder or any exemption therefrom, as such statute, rules or regulations may be amended or interpreted from time to time.

 

Non-Fundamental Policies

 

In addition to the investment objective of the Fund, the following investment limitations of the Fund are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval:

 

The Fund may not:

 

1.Make loans if, as a result, more than 33 1/3% of its total assets would be lent to other parties, except that the Fund may: (i) purchase or hold debt instruments in accordance with its investment objective and policies; (ii) enter into repurchase agreements; and (iii) engage in securities lending, as described in its SAI.

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2.Purchase or sell real estate, physical commodities, or commodities contracts, except that the Fund may purchase: (i) marketable securities issued by companies which own or invest in real estate (including real estate investment trusts (“REITs”)), commodities, or commodities contracts; and (ii) commodities contracts relating to financial instruments, such as financial futures contracts and options on such contracts.

 

Except with respect to Fund policies concerning borrowing, if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time of an investment, a later increase or decrease in percentage resulting from changes in values or assets will not constitute a violation of such restriction. With respect to the limitation on borrowing, in the event that a subsequent change in net assets or other circumstances cause the Fund to exceed its limitation, the Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitations within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays).

 

The following descriptions of the 1940 Act may assist investors in understanding the above policies and restrictions:

 

Diversification. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified investment management company, as to 75% of its total assets, may not purchase securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, its agents or instrumentalities or securities of other investment companies) if, as a result, more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in the securities of such issuer, or more than 10% of the issuer's outstanding voting securities would be held by the fund.

 

Concentration. The 1940 Act requires that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy regarding concentration. The SEC staff has defined concentration as investing 25% or more of an investment company’s total assets in an industry or group of industries, with certain exceptions. For purposes of the Fund’s concentration policy, the Fund may classify and re-classify companies in a particular industry and define and re-define industries in any reasonable manner, consistent with SEC and SEC staff guidance.

 

Borrowing. The 1940 Act presently allows a fund to borrow from any bank in an amount up to 33 1/3% of its total assets (including the amount borrowed) and to borrow for temporary purposes in an amount not exceeding 5% of the value of its total assets.

 

Senior Securities. Senior securities may include any obligation or instrument issued by a fund evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits funds from issuing senior securities, although the 1940 Act does provide allowances for certain borrowings. In addition, Rule 18f-4 under the 1940 Act permits a fund to enter into derivatives transactions, notwithstanding the prohibitions and restrictions on the issuance of senior securities under the 1940 Act, provided that the fund complies with the conditions of Rule 18f-4.

 

Lending. Under the 1940 Act, a fund may only make loans if expressly permitted by its investment policies.

 

Underwriting. Under the 1940 Act, underwriting securities involves a fund purchasing securities directly from an issuer for the purpose of selling (distributing) them or participating in any such activity either directly or indirectly. Under the 1940 Act, a diversified fund may not make any commitment as underwriter, if immediately thereafter the amount of its outstanding underwriting commitments, plus the value of its investments in securities of issuers (other than investment companies) of which it owns more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities, exceeds 25% of the value of its total assets.

 

Commodities and Real Estate. The 1940 Act does not directly restrict an investment company’s ability to invest in commodities or real estate, but does require that every investment company have a fundamental investment policy governing such investments.

 

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THE ADVISER

 

General. Sands Capital Management, LLC (“Sands Capital” or the “Adviser”) is an independent investment management firm, ultimately controlled by Frank M. Sands, Sands Capital’s Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer. Frank M. Sands controls Sands Capital by virtue of his position as, among other things, trustee, manager, or officer, respectively, of various intermediate holding entities and trusts through which voting or management rights with respect to Sands Capital are held and/or exercised. Sands Capital is registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. Sands Capital was initially formed as a Sub-Chapter S-Corporation in 1992 and converted to a Delaware limited liability company in 2005. Its principal place of business is located at 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 3000, Arlington, Virginia 22209. As of December 31, 2023, Sands had approximately $45.0 billion in discretionary assets under management in the firm's public equity strategies.

 

Advisory Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Adviser have entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Advisory Agreement”) with respect to the Fund. Under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser serves as the investment adviser and makes investment decisions for the Fund and continuously reviews, supervises and administers the investment program of the Fund, subject to the oversight of, and policies established by, the Board.

 

After the initial two-year term, the continuance of the Advisory Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually: (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund; and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not parties to the Advisory Agreement or “interested persons” of any party thereto, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Fund, or by the Adviser on not less than 30 days’ nor more than 60 days’ written notice to the Trust. As used in the Advisory Agreement, the terms “majority of the outstanding voting securities,” “interested persons” and “assignment” have the same meaning as such terms in the 1940 Act.

 

Advisory Fees Paid to the Adviser. For its services under the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is entitled to a fee, which is calculated daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate of 0.85% of the average daily net assets of the Fund. The Adviser has contractually agreed to waive or reduce fees and reimburse expenses in order to keep net operating expenses (excluding interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses, other expenditures which are capitalized in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and extraordinary expenses (collectively, “excluded expenses”)) from exceeding 1.10% and 1.35% of the Fund’s Institutional Class Shares’ and Investor Class Shares’ average daily net assets, respectively (the “expense caps”), until March 31, 2025. In addition, the Adviser may receive from the Fund the difference between the total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) and an expense cap to recoup all or a portion of its prior fee waivers or expense reimbursements made during the three-year period preceding the recoupment if at any point total annual Fund operating expenses (not including excluded expenses) are below the expense cap (i) at the time of the fee waiver and/or expense reimbursement and (ii) at the time of the recoupment.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund paid the Adviser the following advisory fees:

 

Contractual Advisory Fees Fees Waived by the Adviser Total Fees Paid to the Adviser (After Waivers)
2021 2022 2023 2021 2022 2023 2021 2022 2023
$20,794,409 $15,607,788 $10,992,503 $0 $0 $0 $20,794,409 $15,607,788 $10,992,503

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

This section includes information about the Fund’s portfolio managers, including information about other accounts managed, the dollar range of the Fund shares owned and how the portfolio managers are compensated.

 

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Compensation. The Adviser compensates the portfolio managers for their management of the Fund. The portfolio managers receive a salary competitive in the industry. Investment professionals are also eligible to receive an annual qualitative bonus based on subjective review of the employee’s overall contribution, an annual quantitative bonus based on investment results, and a percentage of profits through Sands’ profit sharing and 401(k) plan. Additional incentives may include equity participation. The annual investment results bonus is calculated from the pre-tax performance of the composite returns of Sands’ investment strategies relative to their respective benchmarks over one-, three- and five-year periods, weighted towards the three- and five-year results.

 

Fund Shares Owned by Portfolio Managers. The Fund is required to show the dollar amount range of each portfolio manager’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Fund as of the end of the most recently completed fiscal year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”).

 

Name Dollar Range of Fund Shares Owned1
David E. Levanson, CFA Over $1,000,000
T. Perry Williams, CFA $100,001 - $500,000
Brian A. Christiansen, CFA None

 

1Valuation date is October 31, 2023.

 

Other Accounts. In addition to the Fund, the portfolio managers may also be responsible for the day-to-day management of certain other accounts, as indicated by the following table. The information below is provided as of October 31, 2023.

 

Name

Registered

Investment Companies

(excluding the Fund)

Other Pooled

Investment Vehicles

Other Accounts
Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in Billions)

Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in Billions)

Number of Accounts

Total Assets

(in Billions)

David E. Levanson, CFA 2 $1.90 15 $6.78 301 $5.23
T. Perry Williams, CFA 1 $1.87 11 $6.45 231 $4.46
Brian A. Christiansen, CFA 3 $4.73 22 $9.82 342 $6.26

 

1Includes 4 accounts managed with a performance-based fee, representing approximately $1.33 billion in assets.
2Includes 5 accounts managed with a performance-based fee, representing approximately $1.44 billion in assets.

 

Conflicts of Interest. The portfolio managers’ management of “other accounts” may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the Fund’s investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the other accounts, on the other. The other accounts may have similar, different, or overlapping investment objectives and strategies as the Fund, and such accounts may be managed by one, or any combination of portfolio managers. Therefore, a potential conflict of interest may arise as a result of the similar, different, or overlapping investment objectives and strategies, whereby the portfolio managers could favor one account over another. Another potential conflict could include the portfolio managers’ knowledge about the size, timing and possible market impact of the Fund’s trades, whereby a portfolio manager could use this information to the advantage of other accounts and to the disadvantage of the Fund. However, the Adviser has established policies and procedures intended to result in the fair and equitable allocation of investment opportunities among the Adviser’s clients over time.

 

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THE ADMINISTRATOR

 

General. SEI Investments Global Funds Services (the “Administrator”), a Delaware statutory trust, has its principal business offices at One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. SEI Investments Management Corporation (“SIMC”), a wholly owned subsidiary of SEI Investments Company (“SEI Investments”), is the owner of all beneficial interest in the Administrator. SEI Investments and its subsidiaries and affiliates, including the Administrator, are leading providers of fund evaluation services, trust accounting systems, and brokerage and information services to financial institutions, institutional investors, and money managers. The Administrator and its affiliates also serve as administrator or sub-administrator to other mutual funds.

 

Administration Agreement with the Trust. The Trust and the Administrator have entered into an amended and restated administration agreement dated November 13, 2018, as amended (the “Administration Agreement”). Under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator provides the Trust with administrative services, including regulatory reporting and all necessary office space, equipment, personnel and facilities.

 

The Administration Agreement provides that the Administrator shall not be liable for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss suffered by the Trust in connection with the matters to which the Administration Agreement relates, except a loss resulting from willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence on the part of the Administrator in the performance of its duties or from reckless disregard by it of its duties and obligations thereunder.

 

Administration Fees Paid to the Administrator. For its services under the Administration Agreement, the Administrator is paid a fee, which varies based on the average daily net assets of the Fund, subject to certain minimums. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund paid the following amounts for these services:

 

Administration Fees Paid
2021 2022 2023
$1,931,496 $1,476,511 $1,105,284

 

THE DISTRIBUTOR

 

The Trust and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the “Distributor”), a wholly owned subsidiary of SEI Investments and an affiliate of the Administrator, are parties to a distribution agreement dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 14, 2005 and as amended August 30, 2010 and November 13, 2018 (the “Distribution Agreement”), whereby the Distributor acts as principal underwriter for the Trust’s shares. The principal business address of the Distributor is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

The continuance of the Distribution Agreement must be specifically approved at least annually (i) by the vote of the Trustees or by a vote of the majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust and (ii) by the vote of a majority of the Trustees who are not “interested parties” of the Trust and have no direct or indirect financial interest in the operation of the Distribution Agreement or any related agreement, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval. The Distribution Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board or by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Trust, or by the Distributor, upon not less than 60 days’ written notice to the other party.

 

PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES

 

Shareholder Servicing Plan. The Fund has adopted a shareholder servicing plan under which a shareholder servicing fee of up to 0.25% of average daily net assets of Investor Class Shares of the Fund will be paid to financial intermediaries. Under the plan, financial intermediaries may perform, or may compensate other financial intermediaries for performing, certain shareholder and/or administrative services or similar non-distribution services, including: (i) maintaining shareholder accounts; (ii) arranging for bank wires; (iii) responding to shareholder inquiries relating to the services performed by the financial intermediaries; (iv) responding to inquiries from shareholders concerning their investment in the Fund; (v) assisting shareholders in changing dividend options, account designations and addresses; (vi) providing information periodically to shareholders showing their position in the Fund; (vii) forwarding shareholder communications from the Fund such as proxies, shareholder reports, annual reports, and dividend and capital gain distribution and tax notices to shareholders; (viii) processing purchase, exchange and redemption requests from shareholders and placing orders with the Fund or its service providers; (ix) providing sub-accounting services; (x) processing dividend and capital gain payments from the Fund on behalf of shareholders; (xi) preparing tax reports; and (xii) providing such other similar non-distribution services as the Fund may reasonably request to the extent that the financial intermediary is permitted to do so under applicable laws or regulations.

 

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Payments by the Adviser. The Adviser and/or its affiliates, in their discretion, may make payments from their own resources and not from Fund assets to affiliated or unaffiliated brokers, dealers, banks (including bank trust departments), trust companies, registered investment advisers, financial planners, retirement plan administrators, insurance companies, and any other institution having a service, administration, or any similar arrangement with the Fund, its service providers or their respective affiliates, as incentives to help market and promote the Fund and/or in recognition of their distribution, marketing, administrative services, and/or processing support.

 

These additional payments may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Fund, the Distributor or shareholders of the Fund through the financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel and/or fund supermarkets. Payments may also be made through the financial intermediary’s retirement, qualified tuition, fee-based advisory, wrap fee bank trust, or insurance (e.g., individual or group annuity) programs. These payments may include, but are not limited to, placing the Fund in a financial intermediary’s retail distribution channel or on a preferred or recommended fund list; providing business or shareholder financial planning assistance; educating financial intermediary personnel about the Fund; providing access to sales and management representatives of the financial intermediary; promoting sales of Fund shares; providing marketing and educational support; maintaining share balances and/or for sub-accounting, administrative or shareholder transaction processing services. A financial intermediary may perform the services itself or may arrange with a third party to perform the services.

 

The Adviser and/or its affiliates may also make payments from their own resources to financial intermediaries for costs associated with the purchase of products or services used in connection with sales and marketing, participation in and/or presentation at conferences or seminars, sales or training programs, client and investor entertainment and other sponsored events. The costs and expenses associated with these efforts may include travel, lodging, sponsorship at educational seminars and conferences, entertainment and meals to the extent permitted by law.

 

Revenue sharing payments may be negotiated based on a variety of factors, including the level of sales, the amount of Fund assets attributable to investments in the Fund by financial intermediaries’ customers, a flat fee or other measures as determined from time to time by the Adviser and/or its affiliates. A significant purpose of these payments is to increase the sales of Fund shares, which in turn may benefit the Adviser through increased fees as Fund assets grow.

 

Investors should understand that some financial intermediaries may also charge their clients fees in connection with purchases of shares or the provision of shareholder services.

 

THE TRANSFER AGENT

 

SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc., 333 West 11th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64105 (the “Transfer Agent”), serves as the transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent for the Fund under a transfer agency agreement with the Trust.

 

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THE CUSTODIAN

 

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., 40 Water Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109-3661 (the “Custodian”), serves as the custodian of the Fund. The Custodian holds cash, securities and other assets of the Fund as required by the 1940 Act.

 

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

Ernst & Young LLP, One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 700, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103, serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Fund. The financial statements and notes thereto incorporated by reference have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are incorporated by reference in reliance on the authority of their report as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, 2222 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-3007, serves as legal counsel to the Trust.

 

SECURITIES LENDING

 

The Fund did not engage in securities lending activities during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023.

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TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST

 

Board Responsibilities. The management and affairs of the Trust and its series, including the Fund described in this SAI, are overseen by the Trustees. The Board has approved contracts, as described above, under which certain companies provide essential management services to the Trust.

 

Like most mutual funds, the day-to-day business of the Trust, including the management of risk, is performed by third party service providers, such as the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator. The Trustees are responsible for overseeing the Trust’s service providers and, thus, have oversight responsibility with respect to risk management performed by those service providers. Risk management seeks to identify and address risks, i.e., events or circumstances that could have material adverse effects on the business, operations, shareholder services, investment performance or reputation of the funds. The funds and their service providers employ a variety of processes, procedures and controls to identify various possible events or circumstances, to lessen the probability of their occurrence and/or to mitigate the effects of such events or circumstances if they do occur. Each service provider is responsible for one or more discrete aspects of the Trust’s business (e.g., the Adviser is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund’s portfolio investments) and, consequently, for managing the risks associated with that business. The Board has emphasized to the funds’ service providers the importance of maintaining vigorous risk management.

 

The Trustees’ role in risk oversight begins before the inception of a fund, at which time certain of the fund’s service providers present the Board with information concerning the investment objectives, strategies and risks of the fund as well as proposed investment limitations for the fund. Additionally, the fund’s adviser provides the Board with an overview of, among other things, its investment philosophy, brokerage practices and compliance infrastructure. Thereafter, the Board continues its oversight function as various personnel, including the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer, as well as personnel of the adviser and other service providers, such as the fund’s independent accountants, make periodic reports to the Audit Committee or to the Board with respect to various aspects of risk management. The Board and the Audit Committee oversee efforts by management and service providers to manage risks to which the funds may be exposed.

 

The Board is responsible for overseeing the nature, extent and quality of the services provided to the funds by the adviser and receives information about those services at its regular meetings. In addition, on an annual basis, in connection with its consideration of whether to renew the advisory agreement with the adviser, the Board meets with the adviser to review such services. Among other things, the Board regularly considers the adviser’s adherence to the funds’ investment restrictions and compliance with various fund policies and procedures and with applicable securities regulations. The Board also reviews information about the funds’ investments, including, for example, reports on the adviser’s use of derivatives in managing the funds, if any, as well as reports on the funds’ investments in other investment companies, if any.

 

The Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer reports regularly to the Board to review and discuss compliance issues and fund and adviser risk assessments. At least annually, the Trust’s Chief Compliance Officer provides the Board with a report reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the Trust’s policies and procedures and those of its service providers, including the adviser. The report addresses the operation of the policies and procedures of the Trust and each service provider since the date of the last report; any material changes to the policies and procedures since the date of the last report; any recommendations for material changes to the policies and procedures; and any material compliance matters since the date of the last report.

 

The Board receives reports from the funds’ service providers regarding operational risks and risks related to the valuation and liquidity of portfolio securities. The Adviser makes regular reports to the Board concerning investments for which market quotations are not readily available. Annually, the independent registered public accounting firm reviews with the Audit Committee its audit of the funds’ financial statements, focusing on major areas of risk encountered by the funds and noting any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the funds’ internal controls. Additionally, in connection with its oversight function, the Board oversees fund management’s implementation of disclosure controls and procedures, which are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in its periodic reports with the SEC are recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the required time periods. The Board also oversees the Trust's internal controls over financial reporting, which comprise policies and procedures designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Trust's financial reporting and the preparation of the Trust's financial statements.

 

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From their review of these reports and discussions with the adviser, the Chief Compliance Officer, the independent registered public accounting firm and other service providers, the Board and the Audit Committee learn in detail about the material risks of the funds, thereby facilitating a dialogue about how management and service providers identify and mitigate those risks.

 

The Board recognizes that not all risks that may affect the funds can be identified and/or quantified, that it may not be practical or cost-effective to eliminate or mitigate certain risks, that it may be necessary to bear certain risks (such as investment-related risks) to achieve the funds’ goals, and that the processes, procedures and controls employed to address certain risks may be limited in their effectiveness. Moreover, reports received by the Trustees as to risk management matters are typically summaries of the relevant information. Most of the funds’ investment management and business affairs are carried out by or through the funds’ adviser and other service providers, each of which has an independent interest in risk management but whose policies and the methods by which one or more risk management functions are carried out may differ from the funds’ and each other’s in the setting of priorities, the resources available or the effectiveness of relevant controls. As a result of the foregoing and other factors, the Board’s ability to monitor and manage risk, as a practical matter, is subject to limitations.

 

Members of the Board. There are seven members of the Board, five of whom are not interested persons of the Trust, as that term is defined in the 1940 Act (“independent Trustees”). Robert Nesher, an interested person of the Trust, serves as Chairman of the Board. Joseph T. Grause, Jr., an independent Trustee, serves as the lead independent Trustee. The Trust has determined its leadership structure is appropriate given the specific characteristics and circumstances of the Trust. The Trust made this determination in consideration of, among other things, the fact that the independent Trustees constitute more than two-thirds of the Board, the fact that the chairperson of each Committee of the Board is an independent Trustee, the amount of assets under management in the Trust, and the number of funds (and classes of shares) overseen by the Board. The Board also believes that its leadership structure facilitates the orderly and efficient flow of information to the independent Trustees from fund management.

 

The Board has two standing committees: the Audit Committee and the Governance Committee. The Audit Committee and the Governance Committee are chaired by an independent Trustee and composed of all of the independent Trustees. In addition, the Board has a lead independent Trustee.

 

In his role as lead independent Trustee, Mr. Grause, among other things: (i) presides over Board meetings in the absence of the Chairman of the Board; (ii) presides over executive sessions of the independent Trustees; (iii) along with the Chairman of the Board, oversees the development of agendas for Board meetings; (iv) facilitates communication between the independent Trustees and management, and among the independent Trustees; (v) serves as a key point person for dealings between the independent Trustees and management; and (vi) has such other responsibilities as the Board or independent Trustees determine from time to time.

 

Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and principal occupations and other directorships held during at least the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as a Trustee. There is no stated term of office for the Trustees. Nevertheless, an independent Trustee must retire from the Board as of the end of the calendar year in which such independent Trustee first attains the age of seventy-five years; provided, however, that, an independent Trustee may continue to serve for one or more additional one calendar year terms after attaining the age of seventy-five years (each calendar year a “Waiver Term”) if, and only if, prior to the beginning of such Waiver Term: (1) the Governance Committee (a) meets to review the performance of the independent Trustee; (b) finds that the continued service of such independent Trustee is in the best interests of the Trust; and (c) unanimously approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above; and (2) a majority of the Trustees approves excepting the independent Trustee from the general retirement policy set out above. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each Trustee is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456.

 

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Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served

Principal Occupations

in the Past 5 Years

Other Directorships Held in the Past 5 Years
Interested Trustees

Robert Nesher

(Born: 1946)

 

Chairman of the Board of Trustees1

(since 1991)

SEI employee 1974 to present; currently performs various services on behalf of SEI Investments for which Mr. Nesher is compensated. President, Chief Executive Officer and Trustee of SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. President and Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP. Vice Chairman of Winton Series Trust to 2017. Vice Chairman of Winton Diversified Opportunities Fund (closed-end investment company), The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Gallery Trust, Schroder Series Trust and Schroder Global Series Trust to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Catholic Responsible Investments Funds, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds and SEI Alternative Income Fund. Director of SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP, SEI Global Master Fund plc, SEI Global Assets Fund plc, SEI Global Investments Fund plc, SEI Investments—Global Funds Services, Limited, SEI Investments Global, Limited, SEI Investments (Europe) Ltd., SEI Investments—Unit Trust Management (UK) Limited, SEI Multi-Strategy Funds PLC and SEI Global Nominee Ltd.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

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N. Jeffrey Klauder

(Born: 1952)

 

Trustee1

(since 2018)

Senior Advisor of SEI Investments since 2018. Executive Vice President and General Counsel of SEI Investments, 2004 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds. Director of SEI Private Trust Company, SEI Global Fund Services Ltd., SEI Investments Global Limited, SEI Global Master Fund, SEI Global Investments Fund, SEI Global Assets Fund and SEI Investments - Guernsey Limited.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of SEI Investments Management Corporation, SEI Trust Company, SEI Investments (South Africa), Limited and SEI Investments (Canada) Company to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

Independent Trustees

Kathleen Gaffney

(Born: 1961)

Trustee

(since 2022)

 

Retired since 2019. Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Eaton Vance Management from 2012 to 2019. Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

Joseph T. Grause, Jr.

(Born: 1952)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Lead Independent Trustee

(since 2018)

Self-Employed Consultant since 2012. Director of Endowments and Foundations, Morningstar Investment Management, Morningstar, Inc., 2010 to 2011. Director of International Consulting and Chief Executive Officer of Morningstar Associates Europe Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2007 to 2010. Country Manager – Morningstar UK Limited, Morningstar, Inc., 2005 to 2007.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Director of The Korea Fund, Inc. to 2019. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

 

S-39 

 

Robert Mulhall

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2019)

Partner, Ernst & Young LLP, from 1998 to 2018.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of Villanova University Alumni Board of Directors to 2018. Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022.

Bruce Speca

(Born: 1956)

Trustee

(since 2011)

Global Head of Asset Allocation, Manulife Asset Management (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2010 to 2011. Executive Vice President – Investment Management Services, John Hancock Financial Services (subsidiary of Manulife Financial), 2003 to 2010.

Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

Former Directorships: Trustee of The KP Funds to 2022. Director of Stone Harbor Investments Funds (8 Portfolios), Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Income Fund (closed-end fund) and Stone Harbor Emerging Markets Total Income Fund (closed-end fund) to 2022.

Monica Walker

(Born: 1958)

Trustee

(since 2022)

Retired. Private Investor since 2017. Co-Founder (1991-2017), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (2009 to 2017) and Chief Investment Officer – Equity (2007 to 2017) of Holland Capital Management, LLC (Chicago). Current Directorships: Trustee of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II, Bishop Street Funds and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds.

 

1Denotes Trustees who may be deemed to be “interested” persons of the Fund as that term is defined in the 1940 Act by virtue of their affiliation with the Distributor and/or its affiliates.

 

Individual Trustee Qualifications

 

The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve on the Board because of their ability to review and understand information about the Fund provided to them by management, to identify and request other information they may deem relevant to the performance of their duties, to question management and other service providers regarding material factors bearing on the management and administration of the Fund, and to exercise their business judgment in a manner that serves the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders. The Trust has concluded that each of the Trustees should serve as a Trustee based on their own experience, qualifications, attributes and skills as described below.

 

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The Trust has concluded that Mr. Nesher should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 1974, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 1991.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Klauder should serve as Trustee because of the experience he has gained in his various roles with SEI Investments, which he joined in 2004, his knowledge of and experience in the financial services industry, and the experience he gained serving as a partner of a large law firm.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Gaffney should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained serving as a vice president and portfolio manager for a large asset management company, her experience in and knowledge of the asset management industry, and the experience she has gained serving in board and leadership positions in a variety of nonprofit and civic organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Grause should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with different financial institutions, his knowledge of the mutual fund and investment management industries, his past experience as an interested trustee and chair of the investment committee for a multi-managed investment company, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Mulhall should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained in a variety of leadership roles with an audit firm and various financial services firms, his experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and his experience serving in a variety of leadership capacities for non-profit organizations.

 

The Trust has concluded that Mr. Speca should serve as Trustee because of the knowledge and experience he gained serving as president of a mutual fund company and portfolio manager for a $95 billion complex of asset allocation funds, his over 25 years of experience working in a management capacity with mutual fund boards, and the experience he has gained serving as a trustee of the Trust since 2011.

 

The Trust has concluded that Ms. Walker should serve as Trustee because of the experience she gained in a variety of leadership roles with an asset management company that she co-founded, her experience in and knowledge of the financial services industry, and the experience she has gained in various other corporate accounting, finance and investment roles.

 

In its periodic assessment of the effectiveness of the Board, the Board considers the complementary individual skills and experience of the individual Trustees primarily in the broader context of the Board’s overall composition so that the Board, as a body, possesses the appropriate (and appropriately diverse) skills and experience to oversee the business of the funds.

 

Board Committees. The Board has established the following standing committees:

 

Audit Committee. The Board has a standing Audit Committee that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Audit Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Audit Committee include: (i) recommending which firm to engage as each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm and whether to terminate this relationship; (ii) reviewing the independent registered public accounting firm’s compensation, the proposed scope and terms of its engagement, and the firm’s independence; (iii) pre-approving audit and non-audit services provided by each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm to the Trust and certain other affiliated entities; (iv) serving as a channel of communication between the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trustees; (v) reviewing the results of each external audit, including any qualifications in the independent registered public accounting firm’s opinion, any related management letter, management’s responses to recommendations made by the independent registered public accounting firm in connection with the audit, reports submitted to the Committee by the internal auditing department of the Administrator that are material to the Trust as a whole, if any, and management’s responses to any such reports; (vi) reviewing each fund’s audited financial statements and considering any significant disputes between the Trust’s management and the independent registered public accounting firm that arose in connection with the preparation of those financial statements; (vii) considering, in consultation with the independent registered public accounting firm and the Trust’s senior internal accounting executive, if any, the independent registered public accounting firms’ reports on the adequacy of the Trust’s internal financial controls; (viii) reviewing, in consultation with each fund’s independent registered public accounting firm, major changes regarding auditing and accounting principles and practices to be followed when preparing each fund’s financial statements; and (ix) other audit related matters. Ms. Gaffney, Mr. Grause, Mr. Mulhall, Mr. Speca and Ms. Walker currently serve as members of the Audit Committee. Mr. Mulhall serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met two (2) times during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

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Governance Committee. The Board has a standing Governance Committee (formerly the Nominating Committee) that is composed of each of the independent Trustees. The Governance Committee operates under a written charter approved by the Board. The principal responsibilities of the Governance Committee include: (i) considering and reviewing Board governance and compensation issues; (ii) conducting a self-assessment of the Board’s operations; (iii) selecting and nominating all persons to serve as independent Trustees; and (iv) reviewing shareholder recommendations for nominations to fill vacancies on the Board if such recommendations are submitted in writing and addressed to the Committee at the Trust’s office. Ms. Gaffney, Mr. Grause, Mr. Mulhall, Mr. Speca and Ms. Walker currently serve as members of the Governance Committee. Mr. Speca serves as the Chairman of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee meets periodically, as necessary, and met one (1) time during the most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Fund Shares Owned by Board Members. The following table shows the dollar amount range of each Trustee’s “beneficial ownership” of shares of the Fund as of the end of the most recently completed calendar year. Dollar amount ranges disclosed are established by the SEC. “Beneficial ownership” is determined in accordance with Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the 1934 Act. The Trustees and officers of the Trust own less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Trust.

 

Name Dollar Range of Fund Shares
(Fund)1
Aggregate Dollar Range of Shares
(All Funds in the Family of Investment Companies)1,2
Interested Trustees
Nesher None None
Klauder None None
Independent Trustees
Gaffney None None
Grause None None
Mulhall None None
Speca None None
Walker None None

 

1Valuation date is December 31, 2023.
2The Fund is the only fund in the family of investment companies.

 

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Board Compensation. The Trust paid the following fees to the Trustees during the Fund’s most recently completed fiscal year.

 

Name

Aggregate Compensation

from the Trust

Pension or

Retirement

Benefits

Accrued as

Part of Fund

Expenses

Estimated

Annual

Benefits Upon

Retirement

Total Compensation from the

Trust and Fund Complex1

Interested Trustees
Nesher $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Klauder $0 N/A N/A $0 for service on one (1) board
Independent Trustees
Gaffney $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Grause $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Johnson2 $25,660 N/A N/A $25,660 for service on one (1) board
Krikorian3 $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board
Mulhall $114,666 N/A N/A $114,666 for service on one (1) board
Speca $111,868 N/A N/A $111,868 for service on one (1) board
Walker $100,679 N/A N/A $100,679 for service on one (1) board

 

1All funds in the Fund Complex are series of the Trust.
2In accordance with the Trust’s retirement policy, Mr. Johnson retired from the Board effective December 31, 2022, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.
3In accordance with the Trust’s retirement policy, Ms. Krikorian retired from the Board effective December 31, 2023, after having dutifully served on the Board since 2005.

 

Trust Officers. Set forth below are the names, years of birth, position with the Trust and length of time served, and principal occupations for the last five years of each of the persons currently serving as executive officers of the Trust. There is no stated term of office for officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each officer is SEI Investments Company, One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456. The Chief Compliance Officer is the only officer who receives compensation from the Trust for his services.

 

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Certain officers of the Trust also serve as officers of one or more mutual funds for which SEI Investments or its affiliates act as investment manager, administrator or distributor.

 

Name and Year of Birth Position with Trust and Length of Time Served Principal Occupations in Past 5 Years

Michael Beattie

(Born: 1965)

President

(since 2011)

Managing Director, SEI Investments, since 2021. Director of Client Service, SEI Investments, from 2004 to 2021.

James Bernstein

(Born: 1962)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2017)

Attorney, SEI Investments, since 2017.

 

Prior Positions: Self-employed consultant, 2017. Associate General Counsel & Vice President, Nationwide Funds Group and Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, from 2002 to 2016. Assistant General Counsel & Vice President, Market Street Funds and Provident Mutual Insurance Company, from 1999 to 2002.

John Bourgeois

(Born: 1973)

Assistant Treasurer

(since 2017)

Fund Accounting Manager, SEI Investments, since 2000.

Donald Duncan

(Born: 1964)

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer and Privacy Officer

(since 2023)

Chief Compliance Officer and Global Head of Anti-Money Laundering Strategy of SEI Investments Company since January 2023. Head of Global Anti-Money Laundering Program for Hamilton Lane Advisors, LLC from August 2021 until December 2022. Senior VP and Supervising Principal of Hamilton Lane Securities, LLC from June 2016 to August 2021. Senior Director at AXA-Equitable from June 2011 until May 2016. Senior Director at PRUCO Securities, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. from October 2005 until December 2009.

Eric C. Griffith

(Born: 1969)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2019)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2019. Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co., from 2012 to 2018.

Matthew M. Maher

(Born: 1975)

Vice President

(since 2018)

 

Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2018. Attorney, Blank Rome LLP, from 2015 to 2018. Assistant Counsel & Vice President, Bank of New York Mellon, from 2013 to 2014. Attorney, Dilworth Paxson LLP, from 2006 to 2013.

 

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Andrew Metzger

(Born: 1980)

Treasurer, Controller and Chief Financial Officer

(since 2021)

Director of Fund Accounting, SEI Investments, since 2020. Senior Director, Embark, from 2019 to 2020. Senior Manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, from 2002 to 2019.

Robert Morrow

(Born: 1968)

Vice President

(since 2017)

Account Manager, SEI Investments, since 2007.

Stephen F. Panner

(Born: 1970)

Chief Compliance Officer

(since 2022)

Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Asset Allocation Trust, SEI Daily Income Trust, SEI Institutional Investments Trust, SEI Institutional International Trust, SEI Institutional Managed Trust, SEI Tax Exempt Trust, Adviser Managed Trust, New Covenant Funds, SEI Catholic Values Trust, SEI Exchange Traded Funds, SEI Structured Credit Fund LP, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II, The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III, Bishop Street Funds, Frost Family of Funds, Gallery Trust, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Master Fund, Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Tender Fund and Catholic Responsible Investments Funds since September 2022. Chief Compliance Officer of SEI Alternative Income Fund since May 2023. Chief Compliance Officer of Symmetry Panoramic Trust since December 2023. Fund Compliance Officer of SEI Investments Company from February 2011 to September 2022. Fund Accounting Director and CFO and Controller for the SEI Funds from July 2005 to February 2011.

Alexander F. Smith

(Born: 1977)

Vice President and Assistant Secretary

(since 2020)

Counsel at SEI Investments since 2020. Associate Counsel & Manager, Vanguard, 2012 to 2020. Attorney, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP, 2008 to 2012.

 

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PURCHASING AND REDEEMING SHARES

 

Purchases and redemptions may be made through the Transfer Agent on any day the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) is open for business. Shares of the Fund are offered and redeemed on a continuous basis. Currently, the NYSE is closed for business when the following holidays are observed: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

 

It is currently the Trust’s policy to pay all redemptions in cash. The Trust retains the right, however, to alter this policy to provide for redemptions in whole or in part by a distribution in-kind of securities held by the Fund in lieu of cash. Shareholders may incur brokerage charges on the sale of any such securities so received in payment of redemptions. A shareholder will at all times be entitled to aggregate cash redemptions from all funds of the Trust up to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the Trust’s net assets during any 90-day period.

 

The Trust reserves the right to suspend the right of redemption and/or to postpone the date of payment upon redemption for more than seven days during times when the NYSE is closed, other than during customary weekends or holidays, for any period on which trading on the NYSE is restricted (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation), or during the existence of an emergency (as determined by the SEC by rule or regulation) as a result of which disposal or valuation of the Fund’s securities is not reasonably practicable, or for such other periods as the SEC has by order permitted. The Trust also reserves the right to suspend sales of shares of the Fund for any period during which the NYSE, the Adviser, the Administrator, the Transfer Agent and/or the Custodian are not open for business.

 

DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE

 

General Policy. The Fund adheres to Section 2(a)(41), and Rules 2a-4 and 2a-5 thereunder, of the 1940 Act with respect to the valuation of portfolio securities. In general, securities for which market quotations are readily available are valued at current market value, and all other securities are valued at fair value by the Adviser in good faith, and subject to the oversight of the Board. In complying with the 1940 Act, the Trust relies on guidance provided by the SEC and by the SEC staff in various interpretive letters and other guidance.

 

Equity Securities. Securities listed on a securities exchange, market or automated quotation system for which quotations are readily available (except for securities traded on NASDAQ), including securities traded over the counter, are valued at the last quoted sale price on an exchange or market (foreign or domestic) on which they are traded on the valuation date (or at approximately 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time if such exchange is normally open at that time), or, if there is no such reported sale on the valuation date, at the most recent quoted bid price. For securities traded on NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Official Closing Price will be used. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Money Market Securities and other Debt Securities. If available, money market securities and other debt securities are priced based upon valuations provided by recognized independent, third-party pricing agents. Such values generally reflect the last reported sales price if the security is actively traded. The third-party pricing agents may also value debt securities by employing methodologies that utilize actual market transactions, broker-supplied valuations, or other methodologies designed to identify the market value for such securities. Such methodologies generally consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities, call features, ratings and developments relating to specific securities in arriving at valuations. Money market securities and other debt securities with remaining maturities of sixty days or less may be valued at their amortized cost, which approximates market value. If such prices are not available or determined to not represent the fair value of the security as of the Fund’s pricing time, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

S-46 

 

Foreign Securities. The prices for foreign securities are reported in local currency and converted to U.S. dollars using currency exchange rates. Exchange rates are provided daily by recognized independent pricing agents.

 

Derivatives and Other Complex Securities. Exchange traded options on securities and indices purchased by the Fund generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last bid price. Exchange traded options on securities and indices written by the Fund generally are valued at their last trade price or, if there is no last trade price, the last asked price. In the case of options traded in the over-the-counter market, if the OTC option is also an exchange traded option, the Fund will follow the rules regarding the valuation of exchange traded options. If the OTC option is not also an exchange traded option, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Futures and swaps cleared through a central clearing house (“centrally cleared swaps”) are valued at the settlement price established each day by the board of the exchange on which they are traded. The daily settlement prices for financial futures are provided by an independent source. On days when there is excessive volume or market volatility, or the future or centrally cleared swap does not end trading by the time the Fund calculates NAV, the settlement price may not be available at the time at which the Fund calculates its NAV. On such days, the best available price (which is typically the last sales price) may be used to value the Fund’s futures or centrally cleared swaps position.

 

Foreign currency forward contracts are valued at the current day’s interpolated foreign exchange rate, as calculated using the current day’s spot rate, and the thirty, sixty, ninety and one-hundred eighty day forward rates provided by an independent source.

 

If available, non-centrally cleared swaps, collateralized debt obligations, collateralized loan obligations and bank loans are priced based on valuations provided by an independent third party pricing agent. If a price is not available from an independent third party pricing agent, the security will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Adviser, subject to Board oversight.

 

Use of Third-Party Independent Pricing Services. Pursuant to contracts with the Administrator, prices for most securities held by the Fund with readily available market quotations are provided by third-party independent pricing agents. The valuations for these securities are reviewed by the Administrator. In accordance with the Adviser’s Valuation Procedures, the Adviser may also use third-party independent pricing agents (reviewed and approved by the Adviser) to fair value certain securities without readily available market quotations (or where market quotations are unreliable).

 

Fair Value Procedures. Securities for which market prices are not “readily available” or which cannot be valued using the methodologies described above are valued in accordance with Fair Value Procedures established by the Adviser and implemented through the Adviser's Committee. In establishing a fair value for an investment, the Adviser will use valuation methodologies established by the Adviser and may consider inputs and methodologies provided by, among others, third-party independent pricing agents, independent broker dealers and/or the Adviser’s own personnel (including investment personnel).

 

Some of the more common reasons that may necessitate a security being valued using Fair Value Procedures include: the security’s trading has been halted or suspended; the security has been de-listed from a national exchange; the security’s primary trading market is temporarily closed at a time when under normal conditions it would be open; the security has not been traded for an extended period of time; the security’s primary pricing source is not able or willing to provide a price; trading of the security is subject to local government-imposed restrictions; or a significant event with respect to a security has occurred after the close of the market or exchange on which the security principally trades and before the time the Fund calculates NAV. When a security is valued in accordance with the Fair Value Procedures, the Adviser's Valuation Committee will determine the value after taking into consideration relevant information reasonably available to the Committee.

 

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Fair Valuation of Foreign Securities Based on U.S. Market Movements. A third party fair valuation vendor provides a fair value for foreign securities held by the Fund based on certain factors and methodologies (involving, generally, tracking valuation correlations between the U.S. market and each foreign security) applied by the fair valuation vendor in the event that there are movements in the U.S. market that exceed a specific threshold that has been established by the Fair Value Pricing Committee. The Fair Value Pricing Committee has also established a “confidence interval” that is used to determine the level of correlation between the value of a foreign security and movements in the U.S. market that is required for a particular security to be fair valued when the threshold is exceeded. In the event that the threshold established by the Fair Value Pricing Committee is exceeded on a specific day, the Fund values the foreign securities in its portfolio that exceed the applicable “confidence interval” based upon the fair values provided by the fair valuation vendor. In such event, it is not necessary to hold a Fair Value Pricing Committee meeting. In the event that the Adviser believes that the fair values provided by the fair valuation vendor are not reliable, the Adviser can contact the Administrator and request that a meeting of the Fair Value Pricing Committee be held.

 

TAXES

 

The following is only a summary of certain additional U.S. federal income tax considerations generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders that is intended to supplement the discussion contained in the Prospectuses. No attempt is made to present a detailed explanation of the tax treatment of the Fund or its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectuses is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. In particular, it does not address investors subject to special rules, such as investors who hold shares through an individual retirement account (“IRA”), 401(k) or other tax-advantaged accounts. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors with specific reference to their own tax situations, including their state, local, and foreign tax liabilities.

 

The following general discussion of certain federal income tax consequences is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the regulations issued thereunder as in effect on the date of this SAI. New legislation, as well as administrative changes or court decisions, may significantly change the conclusions expressed herein, and may have a retroactive effect with respect to the transactions contemplated herein.

 

Qualification as a Regulated Investment Company. The Fund has elected and intends to continue to qualify to be treated as a regulated investment company (“RIC”). By following such a policy, the Fund expects to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal taxes to which it may be subject. If the Fund qualifies as a RIC, it will generally not be subject to federal income taxes on the net investment income and net realized capital gains that the Fund timely distributes to its shareholders. The Board reserves the right not to maintain the qualification of the Fund as a RIC if it determines such course of action to be beneficial to shareholders.

 

In order to qualify as a RIC under the Code, the Fund must distribute annually to its shareholders at least 90% of its net investment income (which, includes dividends, taxable interest, and the excess of net short-term capital gains over net long-term capital losses, less operating expenses) and at least 90% of its net tax-exempt interest income, for each tax year, if any (the “Distribution Requirement”) and also must meet certain additional requirements. Among these requirements are the following: (i) at least 90% of the Fund’s gross income each taxable year must be derived from dividends, interest, payments with respect to certain securities loans, and gains from the sale or other disposition of stock, securities, or foreign currencies, or other income (including but not limited to gains from options, futures or forward contracts) derived with respect to its business of investing in such stock, securities, or currencies, and net income derived from an interest in a qualified publicly traded partnership (the “Qualifying Income Test”); and (ii) at the close of each quarter of the Fund’s taxable year: (A) at least 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets must be represented by cash and cash items, U.S. government securities, securities of other RICs and other securities, with such other securities limited, in respect to any one issuer, to an amount not greater than 5% of the value of the Fund’s total assets and that does not represent more than 10% of the outstanding voting securities of such issuer, including the equity securities of a qualified publicly traded partnership, and (B) not more than 25% of the value of the Fund’s total assets is invested, including through corporations in which the Fund owns a 20% or more voting stock interest, in the securities (other than U.S. government securities or securities of other RICs) of any one issuer or the securities (other than the securities of another RIC) of two or more issuers that the Fund controls and which are engaged in the same or similar trades or businesses or related trades or businesses, or the securities of one or more qualified publicly traded partnerships (the “Asset Test”).

 

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Although the Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its net investment income and may distribute its capital gains for any taxable year, the Fund will be subject to federal income taxation to the extent any such income or gains are not distributed.

 

If the Fund fails to satisfy the Qualifying Income or Asset Tests in any taxable year, the Fund may be eligible for relief provisions if the failures are due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect and if a penalty tax is paid with respect to each failure to satisfy the applicable requirements. Additionally, relief is provided for certain de minimis failures of the diversification requirements where the Fund corrects the failure within a specified period. If the Fund fails to maintain qualification as a RIC for a tax year, and the relief provisions are not available, the Fund will be subject to federal income tax at the regular corporate rate (currently 21%) without any deduction for distributions to shareholders. In such a case, its shareholders would be taxed as if they received ordinary dividends, to the extent of the Fund's current and accumulated earnings and profits, although corporate shareholders could be eligible for the dividends received deduction (subject to certain limitations) and individuals may be able to benefit from the lower tax rates available to qualified dividend income. In addition, the Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before requalifying as a RIC.

 

The Fund may elect to treat part or all of any “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in determining the Fund’s taxable income, net capital gain, net short-term capital gain, and earnings and profits. The effect of this election is to treat any such “qualified late year loss” as if it had been incurred in the succeeding taxable year in characterizing Fund distributions for any calendar year. A “qualified late year loss” generally includes net capital loss, net long-term capital loss, or net short-term capital loss incurred after October 31 of the current taxable year (commonly referred to as “post-October losses”) and certain other late-year losses.

 

The treatment of capital loss carryovers for the Fund is similar to the rules that apply to capital loss carryovers of individuals, which provide that such losses are carried over indefinitely. If the Fund has a “net capital loss” (that is, capital losses in excess of capital gains), the excess of the Fund’s net short-term capital losses over its net long-term capital gains is treated as a short-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of the Fund’s net long-term capital losses over its net short-term capital gains is treated as a long-term capital loss arising on the first day of the Fund’s next taxable year. The carryover of capital losses may be limited under the general loss limitation rules if the Fund experiences an ownership change as defined in the Code.

 

Federal Excise Tax. Notwithstanding the Distribution Requirement described above, which generally requires the Fund to distribute at least 90% of its annual investment company taxable income and the excess of its exempt interest income (but does not require any minimum distribution of net capital gain), the Fund will be subject to a nondeductible 4% federal excise tax to the extent it fails to distribute, by the end of the calendar year, at least 98% of its ordinary income and 98.2% of its capital gain net income (the excess of short- and long-term capital gains over short- and long-term capital losses) for the one-year period ending on October 31 of such year (including any retained amount from the prior calendar year on which the Fund paid no federal income tax). The Fund intends to make sufficient distributions to avoid liability for federal excise tax, but can make no assurances that such tax will be completely eliminated. For example, the Fund may receive delayed or corrected tax reporting statements from its investments that cause the Fund to accrue additional income and gains after the Fund has already made its excise tax distributions for the year. In such a situation, the Fund may incur an excise tax liability resulting from such delayed receipt of such tax information statements. In addition, the Fund may in certain circumstances be required to liquidate Fund investments in order to make sufficient distributions to avoid federal excise tax liability at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so, and liquidation of investments in such circumstances may affect the ability of the Fund to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.

 

Distributions to Shareholders. The Fund receives income generally in the form of dividends and interest on investments. This income, plus net short-term capital gains, if any, less expenses incurred in the operation of the Fund, constitutes the Fund’s net investment income from which dividends may be paid to you. Any distributions by the Fund from such income will be taxable to you as ordinary income or at the lower capital gains rates that apply to individuals receiving qualified dividend income, whether you take them in cash or in additional shares.

 

S-49 

 

Distributions by the Fund are currently eligible for the reduced maximum tax rate to individuals of 20% (lower rates apply to individuals in lower tax brackets) to the extent that the Fund receives qualified dividend income on the securities it holds and the Fund reports the distributions as qualified dividend income. Qualified dividend income is, in general, dividend income from taxable domestic corporations and certain foreign corporations (e.g., foreign corporations incorporated in a possession of the United States or in certain countries with a comprehensive tax treaty with the United States, or the stock of which is readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States). A dividend will not be treated as qualified dividend income to the extent that: (i) the shareholder has not held the shares on which the dividend was paid for more than 60 days during the 121-day period that begins on the date that is 60 days before the date on which the shares become “ex-dividend” (which is the day on which declared distributions (dividends or capital gains) are deducted from the Fund’s assets before it calculates the NAV) with respect to such dividend; (ii) the Fund has not satisfied similar holding period requirements with respect to the securities it holds that paid the dividends distributed to the shareholder; (iii) the shareholder is under an obligation (whether pursuant to a short sale or otherwise) to make related payments with respect to substantially similar or related property; or (iv) the shareholder elects to treat such dividend as investment income under section 163(d)(4)(B) of the Code. Therefore, if you lend your shares in the Fund, such as pursuant to a securities lending arrangement, you may lose the ability to treat dividends (paid while the shares are held by the borrower) as qualified dividend income. Distributions that the Fund receives from an underlying fund taxable as a RIC will be treated as qualified dividend income only to the extent so reported by such underlying Fund. The Fund’s investment strategy may limit its ability to make distributions eligible for the reduced tax rates applicable to qualified dividend income.

 

Distributions by the Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable as ordinary income. Capital gain distributions consisting of the Fund’s net capital gains will be taxable as long-term capital gains for individual shareholders currently set at a maximum rate of 20% regardless of how long you have held your shares in the Fund. Distributions from capital gains are generally made after applying any available capital loss carryforwards.

 

In the case of corporate shareholders, the Fund’s distributions (other than capital gain distributions) generally qualify for the dividends received deduction to the extent such distributions are so reported and do not exceed the gross amount of qualifying dividends received by the Fund for the year. Generally, and subject to certain limitations (including certain holding period limitations), a dividend will be treated as a qualifying dividend if it has been received from a domestic corporation. The Fund’s investment strategies may significantly limit its ability to distribute dividends eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

To the extent that the Fund makes a distribution of income received by the Fund in lieu of dividends (a “substitute payment”) with respect to securities on loan pursuant to a securities lending transaction, such income will not constitute qualified dividend income to individual shareholders and will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction for corporate shareholders.

 

If the Fund’s distributions exceed current and accumulated earnings and profits for the taxable year (as calculated for federal income tax purposes), all or a portion of the distributions made in the same taxable year may be recharacterized as a return of capital to shareholders. A return of capital distribution will generally not be taxable, but will reduce each shareholder’s cost basis in the Fund and result in a higher reported capital gain or lower reported capital loss when those shares on which the distribution was received are sold.

 

A dividend or distribution received shortly after the purchase of shares reduces the NAV of the shares by the amount of the dividend or distribution and, although in effect a return of capital, will be taxable to the shareholder. If the NAV of shares were reduced below the shareholder’s cost by dividends or distributions representing gains realized on sales of securities, such dividends or distributions would be a return of investment though taxable to the shareholder in the same manner as other dividends or distributions.

 

S-50 

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) will inform you of the amount of your ordinary income dividends, qualified dividend income and capital gain distributions, if any, and will advise you of their tax status for federal income tax purposes shortly after the close of each calendar year. If you have not held your shares for a full year, the Fund may report and distribute to you, as ordinary income, qualified dividend income or capital gain, a percentage of income that is not equal to the actual amount of such income earned during the period of your investment in the Fund.

 

Dividends declared to shareholders of record in October, November or December and actually paid in January of the following year will be treated as having been received by shareholders on December 31 of the calendar year in which declared. Under this rule, therefore, a shareholder may be taxed in one year on dividends or distributions actually received in January of the following year.

 

Sales, Exchanges or Redemptions. Sales, exchanges and redemptions of Fund shares may be taxable transactions for federal and state income tax purposes. Any gain or loss recognized on a sale, exchange or redemption of shares of the Fund by a shareholder who holds Fund shares as a capital asset will generally be treated as a long-term capital gain or loss if the shares have been held for more than twelve months and otherwise will be treated as a short-term capital gain or loss. However, if shares on which a shareholder has received a net capital gain distribution are subsequently sold, exchanged or redeemed and such shares have been held for six months or less, any loss recognized will be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of the net capital gain distribution. In addition, the loss realized on a sale or other disposition of shares will be disallowed to the extent a shareholder repurchases (or enters into a contract to or option to repurchase) shares within a period of 61 days (beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the disposition of the shares). This loss disallowance rule will apply to shares received through the reinvestment of dividends during the 61-day period. If disallowed, the loss will be reflected in an upward adjustment to the basis of the shares acquired. For tax purposes, an exchange of your Fund shares for shares of a different fund is the same as a sale.

 

The Fund (or its administrative agent) must report to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and furnish to Fund shareholders the cost basis information for the purchase of Fund shares. In addition to the requirement to report gross proceeds from the sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) is also required to report the cost basis information for such shares and indicate whether these shares had a short-term or long-term holding period. For each sale of Fund shares, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will permit shareholders to elect from among several IRS-accepted cost basis methods, including the average cost basis method. In the absence of an election, the Fund will use the average cost basis method as its default cost basis method. The cost basis method elected by a Fund shareholder (or the cost basis method applied by default) for each sale of Fund shares may not be changed after the settlement date of each such sale of Fund shares. If your shares are held in a brokerage account, your broker may use a different method and you should contact your broker to determine which method it will use. Fund shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the best IRS-accepted cost basis method for their tax situation and to obtain more information about cost basis reporting. Shareholders also should carefully review the cost basis information provided to them and make any additional basis, holding period or other adjustments that are required when reporting these amounts on their federal income tax returns.

 

Net Investment Income Tax. U.S. individuals with income exceeding $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly), are subject to a 3.8% tax on their “net investment income,” including interest, dividends, and capital gains (including any capital gains realized on the sale or exchange of shares of the Fund).

 

Foreign Taxes. Dividends and interest received by the Fund may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions that would reduce the yield on the Fund’s stocks or securities. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these taxes. Foreign countries generally do not impose taxes on capital gains with respect to investments by foreign investors.

 

S-51 

 

If more than 50% of the value of the Fund’s total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, the Fund will be eligible to and intends to file an election with the IRS that may enable shareholders, in effect, to receive either the benefit of a foreign tax credit, or a deduction from such taxes, with respect to any foreign and U.S. possessions income taxes paid by the Fund, subject to certain limitations. Pursuant to the election, the Fund will treat those taxes as dividends paid to its shareholders. Each such shareholder will be required to include a proportionate share of those taxes in gross income as income received from a foreign source and must treat the amount so included as if the shareholder had paid the foreign tax directly. The shareholder may then either deduct the taxes deemed paid by him or her in computing his or her taxable income or, alternatively, use the foregoing information in calculating any foreign tax credit they may be entitled to use against the shareholder’s federal income tax liability. If the Fund makes the election, the Fund (or its administrative agent) will report annually to its shareholders the respective amounts per share of the Fund’s income from sources within, and taxes paid to, foreign countries and U.S. possessions. If the Fund does not hold sufficient foreign securities to meet the above threshold, then shareholders will not be entitled to claim a credit or further deduction with respect to foreign taxes paid by the Fund.

 

A shareholder’s ability to claim a foreign tax credit or deduction in respect of foreign taxes paid by the Fund may be subject to certain limitations imposed by the Code, which may result in a shareholder not receiving a full credit or deduction (if any) for the amount of such taxes. In particular, shareholders must hold their Fund shares (without protection from risk of loss) on the ex-dividend date and for at least 15 additional days during the 30-day period surrounding the ex-dividend date to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit with respect to a given dividend. Shareholders who do not itemize on their federal income tax returns may claim a credit (but no deduction) for such foreign taxes. Even if the Fund were eligible to make such an election for a given year, it may determine not to do so. Shareholders that are not subject to U.S. federal income tax, and those who invest in the Fund through tax-advantaged accounts (including those who invest through IRAs or other tax-advantaged retirement plans), generally will receive no benefit from any tax credit or deduction passed through by the Fund.

 

Under certain circumstances, if the Fund receives a refund of foreign taxes paid in respect of a prior year, the value of Fund shares could be affected or any foreign tax credits or deductions passed through to shareholders in respect of the Fund’s foreign taxes for the current year could be reduced.

 

Tax Treatment of Complex Securities. The Fund may invest in complex securities and these investments may be subject to numerous special and complex tax rules. These rules could affect the Fund’s ability to qualify as a RIC, affect whether gains and losses recognized by the Fund are treated as ordinary income or capital gain, accelerate the recognition of income to the Fund and/or defer the Fund’s ability to recognize losses, and, in limited cases, subject the Fund to U.S. federal income tax on income from certain of its foreign securities. In turn, these rules may affect the amount, timing or character of the income distributed to you by the Fund and may require the Fund to sell securities to mitigate the effect of these rules and prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

Certain derivative investments by the Fund, such as exchange-traded products and over-the-counter derivatives, may not produce qualifying income for purposes of the “Qualifying Income Test” described above, which must be met in order for the Fund to maintain its status as a RIC under the Code. In addition, the determination of the value and the identity of the issuer of such derivative investments are often unclear for purposes of the “Asset Test” described above. The Fund intends to carefully monitor such investments to ensure that any non-qualifying income does not exceed permissible limits and to ensure that it is adequately diversified under the Asset Test. The Fund, however, may not be able to accurately predict the non-qualifying income from these investments and there are no assurances that the IRS will agree with the Fund’s determination of the “Asset Test” with respect to such derivatives.

 

The Fund is required for federal income tax purposes to mark-to-market and recognize as income for each taxable year its net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures and options contracts subject to section 1256 of the Code (“Section 1256 Contracts”) as of the end of the year as well as those actually realized during the year. Gain or loss from Section 1256 Contracts on broad-based indexes required to be marked to market will be 60% long-term and 40% short-term capital gain or loss. Application of this rule may alter the timing and character of distributions to shareholders. The Fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on Section 1256 Contracts to the extent of any unrecognized gains on offsetting positions held by the Fund. These provisions may also require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out), which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirement and for avoiding the excise tax discussed above. Accordingly, in order to avoid certain income and excise taxes, the Fund may be required to liquidate its investments at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

S-52 

 

If the Fund owns shares in certain foreign investment entities, referred to as “passive foreign investment companies” or “PFICs,” the Fund will generally be subject to one of the following special tax regimes: (i) the Fund may be liable for U.S. federal income tax, and an additional interest charge, on a portion of any “excess distribution” from such foreign entity or any gain from the disposition of such shares, even if the entire distribution or gain is paid out by the Fund as a dividend to its shareholders; (ii) if the Fund were able and elected to treat a PFIC as a “qualified electing fund” or “QEF”, the Fund would be required each year to include in income, and distribute to shareholders in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above, the Fund’s pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and net capital gains of the PFIC, whether or not such earnings or gains are distributed to the Fund; or (iii) the Fund may be entitled to mark-to-market annually shares of the PFIC, and in such event would be required to distribute to shareholders any such mark-to-market gains in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above. The Fund intends to make the appropriate tax elections, if possible, and take any additional steps that are necessary to mitigate the effect of these rules. Amounts included in income each year by the Fund arising from a QEF election will be “qualifying income” under the Qualifying Income Test (as described above) even if not distributed to the Fund, if the Fund derives such income from its business of investing in stock, securities or currencies.

 

Certain Foreign Currency Tax Issues. The Fund’s transactions in foreign currencies and forward foreign currency contracts will generally be subject to special provisions of the Code that, among other things, may affect the character of gains and losses realized by the Fund (i.e., may affect whether gains or losses are ordinary or capital), accelerate recognition of income to the Fund and defer losses. These rules could therefore affect the character, amount and timing of distributions to shareholders. These provisions also may require the Fund to mark-to-market certain types of positions in its portfolio (i.e., treat them as if they were closed out) which may cause the Fund to recognize income without receiving cash with which to make distributions in amounts necessary to satisfy the Distribution Requirements and for avoiding the excise tax described above. The Fund intends to monitor its transactions, intends to make the appropriate tax elections, and intends to make the appropriate entries in its books and records when it acquires any foreign currency or forward foreign currency contract in order to mitigate the effect of these rules so as to prevent disqualification of the Fund as a RIC and minimize the imposition of income and excise taxes.

 

The U.S. Treasury Department has authority to issue regulations that would exclude foreign currency gains from the Qualifying Income Test described above if such gains are not directly related to the Fund’s business of investing in stock or securities (or options and futures with respect to stock or securities). Accordingly, regulations may be issued in the future that could treat some or all of the Fund’s non-U.S. currency gains as non-qualifying income, thereby potentially jeopardizing the Fund’s status as a RIC for all years to which the regulations are applicable.

 

Backup Withholding. The Fund will be required in certain cases to withhold at a 24% withholding rate and remit to the U.S. Treasury the amount withheld on amounts payable to any shareholder who: (i) has provided the Fund either an incorrect tax identification number or no number at all; (ii) is subject to backup withholding by the IRS for failure to properly report payments of interest or dividends; (iii) has failed to certify to the Fund that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding; or (iv) has failed to certify to the Fund that the shareholder is a U.S. person (including a resident alien). Any amounts withheld may be credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided the appropriate information is furnished to the IRS.

 

S-53 

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Any non-U.S. investors in the Fund may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in the Fund. Foreign shareholders (i.e., nonresident alien individuals and foreign corporations, partnerships, trusts and estates) are generally subject to U.S. withholding tax at the rate of 30% (or a lower tax treaty rate) on distributions derived from taxable ordinary income. The Fund may, under certain circumstances, report all or a portion of a dividend as an “interest-related dividend” or a “short-term capital gain dividend,” which would generally be exempt from this 30% U.S. withholding tax, provided certain other requirements are met. Short-term capital gain dividends received by a nonresident alien individual who is present in the U.S. for a period or periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year are not exempt from this 30% withholding tax. Gains realized by foreign shareholders from the sale or other disposition of shares of the Fund generally are not subject to U.S. taxation, unless the recipient is an individual who is physically present in the U.S. for 183 days or more per year. Foreign shareholders who fail to provide an applicable IRS form may be subject to backup withholding on certain payments from the Fund. Backup withholding will not be applied to payments that are subject to the 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) withholding tax described in this paragraph. Different tax consequences may result if the foreign shareholder is engaged in a trade or business within the United States. In addition, the tax consequences to a foreign shareholder entitled to claim the benefits of a tax treaty may be different than those described above.

 

Under legislation generally known as “FATCA” (the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act), the Fund is required to withhold 30% of certain ordinary dividends it pays to shareholders that fail to meet prescribed information reporting or certification requirements. In general, no such withholding will be required with respect to a U.S. person or non-U.S. person that timely provides the certifications required by the Fund or its agent on a valid IRS Form W-9 or applicable series of IRS Form W-8, respectively. Shareholders potentially subject to withholding include foreign financial institutions (“FFIs”), such as non-U.S. investment funds, and non-financial foreign entities (“NFFEs”). To avoid withholding under FATCA, an FFI generally must enter into an information sharing agreement with the IRS in which it agrees to report certain identifying information (including name, address, and taxpayer identification number) with respect to its U.S. account holders (which, in the case of an entity shareholder, may include its direct and indirect U.S. owners), and an NFFE generally must identify and provide other required information to the Fund or other withholding agent regarding its U.S. owners, if any. Such non-U.S. shareholders also may fall into certain exempt, excepted or deemed compliant categories as established by regulations and other guidance. A non-U.S. shareholder resident or doing business in a country that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the U.S. to implement FATCA will be exempt from FATCA withholding provided that the shareholder and the applicable foreign government comply with the terms of the agreement.

 

A non-U.S. entity that invests in the Fund will need to provide the Fund with documentation properly certifying the entity’s status under FATCA in order to avoid FATCA withholding. Non-U.S. investors in the Fund should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

 

Tax-Exempt Shareholders. Certain tax-exempt shareholders, including qualified pension plans, IRAs, salary deferral arrangements, 401(k)s, and other tax-exempt entities, generally are exempt from federal income taxation except with respect to their unrelated business taxable income (“UBTI”). Tax-exempt entities are not permitted to offset losses from one trade or business against the income or gain of another trade or business. Certain net losses incurred prior to January 1, 2018 are permitted to offset gain and income created by an unrelated trade or business, if otherwise available. Under current law, the Fund generally serves to block UBTI from being realized by its tax-exempt shareholders. However, notwithstanding the foregoing, the tax-exempt shareholder could realize UBTI by virtue of an investment in the Fund where, for example: (i) the Fund invests in residual interests of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits (“REMICs”), (ii) the Fund invests in a REIT that is a taxable mortgage pool (“TMP”) or that has a subsidiary that is a TMP or that invests in the residual interest of a REMIC, or (iii) shares in the Fund constitute debt-financed property in the hands of the tax-exempt shareholder within the meaning of section 514(b) of the Code. Charitable remainder trusts are subject to special rules and should consult their tax advisor. The IRS has issued guidance with respect to these issues and prospective shareholders, especially charitable remainder trusts, are strongly encouraged to consult their tax advisors regarding these issues.

 

S-54 

 

The Fund’s shares held in a tax-qualified retirement account will generally not be subject to federal taxation on income and capital gains distributions from the Fund until a shareholder begins receiving payments from their retirement account. Because each shareholder’s tax situation is different, shareholders should consult their tax advisor about the tax implications of an investment in the Fund.

 

Tax Shelter Reporting Regulations. Under U.S. Treasury regulations, generally, if a shareholder recognizes a loss of $2 million or more for an individual shareholder or $10 million or more for a corporate shareholder, the shareholder must file with the IRS a disclosure statement on Form 8886. Direct shareholders of portfolio securities are in many cases excepted from this reporting requirement, but under current guidance, shareholders of a RIC such as the Fund are not excepted. Future guidance may extend the current exception from this reporting requirement to shareholders of most or all RICs. The fact that a loss is reportable under these regulations does not affect the legal determination of whether the taxpayer's treatment of the loss is proper. Shareholders should consult their tax advisors to determine the applicability of these regulations in light of their individual circumstances.

 

State Taxes. Depending upon state and local law, distributions by the Fund to its shareholders and the ownership of such shares may be subject to state and local taxes. Rules of state and local taxation of dividend and capital gains distributions from RICs often differ from the rules for federal income taxation described above. It is expected that the Fund will not be liable for any corporate excise, income or franchise tax in Massachusetts if it qualifies as a RIC for federal income tax purposes.

 

Many states grant tax-free status to dividends paid to you from interest earned on direct obligations of the U.S. government, subject in some states to minimum investment requirements that must be met by the Fund. Investment in Ginnie Mae or Fannie Mae securities, banker’s acceptances, commercial paper, and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities do not generally qualify for such tax-free treatment. The rules on exclusion of this income are different for corporate shareholders. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding state and local taxes applicable to an investment in the Fund.

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

Brokerage Transactions. Generally, equity securities are bought and sold through brokerage transactions for which commissions are payable. Purchases from underwriters will include the underwriting commission or concession, and purchases from dealers serving as market makers will include a dealer’s mark-up or reflect a dealer’s mark-down. Money market securities and other debt securities are usually bought and sold directly from the issuer or an underwriter or market maker for the securities. Generally, the Fund will not pay brokerage commissions for such purchases. When a debt security is bought from an underwriter, the purchase price will usually include an underwriting commission or concession. The purchase price for securities bought from dealers serving as market makers will similarly include the dealer’s mark up or reflect a dealer’s mark down. When the Fund executes transactions in the over-the-counter market, it will generally deal with primary market makers unless prices that are more favorable are otherwise obtainable.

 

In addition, the Adviser may place a combined order for two or more accounts it manages, including the Fund, engaged in the purchase or sale of the same security if, in its judgment, joint execution is in the best interest of each participant and will result in best price and execution. Transactions involving commingled orders are allocated in a manner deemed equitable to each account or fund. Although it is recognized that, in some cases, the joint execution of orders could adversely affect the price or volume of the security that a particular account or the Fund may obtain, it is the opinion of the Adviser that the advantages of combined orders outweigh the possible disadvantages of combined orders.

 

S-55 

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021, 2022 and 2023, the Fund paid the following aggregate brokerage commissions on portfolio transactions:

 

Aggregate Dollar Amount of Brokerage Commissions Paid
2021 2022 2023
$301,065 $303,649 $171,336

 

Brokerage Selection. The Adviser does not expect to use one particular broker or dealer and makes selections of brokers and dealers based on the chosen broker’s or dealer’s ability to provide best execution of securities transactions. While not defined by statute or regulation, “best execution” generally means seeking the best qualitative execution of transactions considering all relevant factors. While it is the Adviser’s policy to seek best execution for securities transactions, the Adviser is not obligated to obtain the lowest possible commission cost.

 

Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits the Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause the Fund to pay a broker or dealer a commission for effecting a transaction in excess of the amount of commission another broker or dealer would have charged for effecting the transaction in recognition of the value of brokerage and research services provided by the broker or dealer. In addition to agency transactions, the Adviser may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, in accordance with applicable SEC guidance. Brokerage and research services include: (1) furnishing advice as to the value of securities, the advisability of investing in, purchasing or selling securities, and the availability of securities or purchasers or sellers of securities; (2) furnishing analyses and reports concerning issuers, industries, securities, economic factors and trends, portfolio strategy, and the performance of accounts; and (3) effecting securities transactions and performing functions incidental thereto (such as clearance, settlement, and custody). In the case of research services, the Adviser believes that access to independent investment research is beneficial to their investment decision-making processes and, therefore, to the Fund.

 

To the extent that research services may be a factor in selecting brokers, such services may be in written form or through direct contact with individuals and may include information as to particular companies and securities as well as market, economic, or institutional areas and information which assists in the valuation and pricing of investments. Examples of research-oriented services for which the Adviser might utilize Fund commissions include research reports and other information on the economy, industries, sectors, groups of securities, individual companies, statistical information, political developments, technical market action, pricing and appraisal services, credit analysis, risk measurement analysis, performance and other analysis. The Adviser may use research services furnished by brokers in servicing all client accounts and not all services may necessarily be used in connection with the account that paid commissions to the broker providing such services. Information so received by the Adviser will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Adviser under the Advisory Agreement. Any advisory or other fees paid to the Adviser are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services.

 

In some cases the Adviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a “research” and a “non-research” use. When this occurs, the Adviser makes a good faith allocation, under all the circumstances, between the research and non-research uses of the service. The percentage of the service that is used for research purposes may be paid for with client commissions, while the Adviser will use its own funds to pay for the percentage of the service that is used for non-research purposes. In making this good faith allocation, the Adviser faces a potential conflict of interest, but the Adviser believes that its allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that it appropriately allocates the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.

 

From time to time, the Adviser may purchase new issues of securities for clients, including the Fund, in a fixed price offering. In these situations, the seller may be a member of the selling group that will, in addition to selling securities, provide the Adviser with research services. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) has adopted rules expressly permitting these types of arrangements under certain circumstances. Generally, the seller will provide research “credits” in these situations at a rate that is higher than that which is available for typical secondary market transactions. These arrangements may not fall within the safe harbor of Section 28(e).

 

S-56 

 

The Adviser has entered into client commission sharing arrangements (“CSAs”) that it believes are consistent with the requirements of Section 28(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Under the CSAs, the Adviser obtains soft dollar benefits by arranging with executing brokers to allocate a portion of total commissions paid to a pool of “credits” maintained by the broker that can be used to obtain soft dollar benefits made available by third-party service providers. After accumulating a number of credits within the pool, the Adviser may direct the broker to use those credits to pay appropriate third-party service providers for eligible soft dollar benefits made available to the Adviser by the broker.

 

For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Adviser used its own resources to pay for all research services, either directly or through reimbursements to the Fund.

 

Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. The Fund may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Fund or the Adviser for a commission in conformity with the 1940 Act and rules promulgated by the SEC. The 1940 Act requires that commissions paid to the affiliate by the Fund for exchange transactions not exceed “usual and customary” brokerage commissions. The rules define “usual and customary” commissions to include amounts which are “reasonable and fair compared to the commission, fee or other remuneration received or to be received by other brokers in connection with comparable transactions involving similar securities being purchased or sold on a securities exchange during a comparable period of time.” The Trustees, including those who are not “interested persons” of the Fund, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.

 

For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2021 , 2022 and 2023, the Fund did not pay any aggregate brokerage commissions on Fund transactions effected by affiliated brokers.

 

Securities of “Regular Broker-Dealers.” The Fund is required to identify any securities of its “regular brokers and dealers” (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that the Fund held during its most recent fiscal year. During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2023, the Fund did not hold any securities of its regular brokers or dealers.

 

Portfolio Turnover Rates. Portfolio turnover is calculated by dividing the lesser of total purchases or sales of portfolio securities for the fiscal year by the monthly average value of portfolio securities owned during the fiscal year. Excluded from both the numerator and denominator are amounts relating to securities whose maturities at the time of acquisition were one year or less. Instruments excluded from the calculation of portfolio turnover generally would include the futures contracts in which the Fund may invest since such contracts generally have remaining maturities of less than one year. The Fund may at times hold investments in other short-term instruments, such as repurchase agreements, which are excluded for purposes of computing portfolio turnover. For the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rates were as follows:

 

Portfolio Turnover Rates
2022 2023
21% 15%

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

The Board has approved a policy and procedures that govern the timing and circumstances regarding the disclosure of Fund portfolio holdings information to shareholders and third parties. These policies and procedures are designed to ensure that disclosure of information regarding the Fund’s portfolio securities is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders, and include procedures to address conflicts between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the Fund’s Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Fund, the Adviser, or the principal underwriter, on the other. Pursuant to such procedures, the Board has authorized the Adviser’s Chief Compliance Officer (“Adviser CCO”) to authorize the release of the Fund’s portfolio holdings, as necessary, in conformity with the foregoing principles. The Adviser CCO, either directly or through reports by the Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer, reports quarterly to the Board regarding the operation and administration of such policies and procedures.

 

S-57 

 

Pursuant to applicable law, the Fund is required to disclose its complete portfolio holdings quarterly, within 60 days of the end of each fiscal quarter (currently, each January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31). The Fund will disclose a complete or summary schedule of investments (which includes the Fund’s 50 largest holdings in unaffiliated issuers and each investment in unaffiliated issuers that exceeds one percent of the Fund’s NAV (“Summary Schedule”)) in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports which are distributed to the Fund’s shareholders. The Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the first and third fiscal quarters is available in quarterly holdings reports filed with the SEC as exhibits to Form N-PORT, and the Fund’s complete schedule of investments following the second and fourth fiscal quarters is available in Shareholder Reports filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR.

 

Complete schedules of investments filed with the SEC on Form N-CSR and as exhibits to Form N-PORT are not distributed to the Fund’s shareholders but are available, free of charge, on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Should the Fund include only a Summary Schedule rather than a complete schedule of investments in its Semi-Annual and Annual Reports, its complete schedule of investments will be available without charge, upon request, by calling 1-888-826-5646.

 

In addition, the Fund provides information about its top ten holdings, updated as of the most recent calendar quarter on the internet at https://www.sandscapital.com. This information is generally provided within 30 days after each calendar quarter and is available on the Fund’s fact sheets. The Adviser may exclude any portion of the Fund’s portfolio holdings from such publication when deemed to be in the best interest of the Fund.

 

In addition to information provided to shareholders and the general public, portfolio holdings information may be disclosed as frequently as daily to the Fund’s Adviser, Administrator, Custodian, Transfer Agent, financial printer, pricing vendors, liquidity analytics vendors, class action reclaim vendors and foreign tax reclaim vendors and other vendors that provide the Adviser with various middle office, back office, client reporting and portfolio analytics services in connection with their services to the Fund. From time to time rating and ranking organizations, such as S&P, Lipper and Morningstar, Inc., may request non-public portfolio holdings information in connection with rating the Fund. Similarly, institutional investors, financial planners, pension plan sponsors and/or their consultants or other third-parties may request portfolio holdings information in order to assess the risks of the Fund’s portfolio along with related performance attribution statistics. The lag time for such disclosures will vary. The Fund believes that these third parties have legitimate objectives in requesting such portfolio holdings information.

 

The Fund’s policies and procedures provide that the Adviser’s CCO may authorize disclosure of non-public portfolio holdings information to such parties at differing times and/or with different lag times. Prior to making any disclosure to a third party, the Adviser’s CCO must determine that such disclosure serves a reasonable business purpose, is in the best interests of the Fund’s shareholders and that to the extent conflicts between the interests of the Fund’s shareholders and those of the Fund’s Adviser, principal underwriter, or any affiliated person of the Fund exist, such conflicts are addressed. Portfolio holdings information may be disclosed no more frequently than monthly to ratings agencies, consultants and other qualified financial professionals or individuals. The disclosures will not be made sooner than three days after the date of the information. The Fund’s Chief Compliance Officer will regularly review these arrangements and will make periodic reports to the Board regarding disclosure pursuant to such arrangements.

 

With the exception of disclosures to rating and ranking organizations as described above, the Fund requires any third party receiving non-public holdings information to enter into a confidentiality agreement with the Adviser. The confidentiality agreement provides, among other things, that non-public portfolio holdings information will be kept confidential and that the recipient has a duty not to trade on the non-public information and will use such information solely to analyze and rank the Fund, or to perform due diligence and asset allocation, depending on the recipient of the information.

 

S-58 

 

The Fund’s policies and procedures prohibit any compensation or other consideration from being paid to or received by any party in connection with the disclosure of portfolio holdings information, including the Fund, Adviser and its affiliates or recipients of the Fund’s portfolio holdings information.

 

The Adviser may manage other accounts that are not subject to these policies and procedures with investment objectives and strategies that are substantially similar to those of the Fund. Because the portfolio holdings of such accounts may be substantially similar, and in some cases nearly identical, to those of the Fund, an investor in such an account may be able to infer the portfolio holdings of the Fund from the portfolio holdings of the account.

 

DESCRIPTION OF SHARES

 

The Declaration of Trust authorizes the issuance of an unlimited number of funds and shares of the fund, each of which represents an equal proportionate interest in that fund with each other share. Shares are entitled upon liquidation to a pro rata share in the net assets of the fund. Shareholders have no preemptive rights. The Declaration of Trust provides that the Board may create additional series or classes of shares. All consideration received by the Trust for shares of any funds and all assets in which such consideration is invested would belong to that fund and would be subject to the liabilities related thereto. Share certificates representing shares will not be issued. The Fund’s shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.

 

SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY

 

The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a “Massachusetts business trust.” Under Massachusetts law, shareholders of such a trust could, under certain circumstances, be held personally liable as partners for the obligations of the trust. Even if, however, the Trust were held to be a partnership, the possibility of the shareholders incurring financial loss for that reason appears remote because the Declaration of Trust contains an express disclaimer of shareholder liability for obligations of the Trust and requires that notice of such disclaimer be given in each agreement, obligation or instrument entered into or executed by or on behalf of the Trust or the Trustees, and because the Declaration of Trust provides for indemnification out of the Trust property for any shareholder held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust.

 

LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES’ LIABILITY

 

The Declaration of Trust provides that a Trustee shall be liable only for his or her own willful defaults and, if reasonable care has been exercised in the selection of officers, agents, employees or investment advisers, shall not be liable for any neglect or wrongdoing of any such person. The Declaration of Trust also provides that the Trust will indemnify its Trustees and officers against liabilities and expenses incurred in connection with actual or threatened litigation in which they may be involved because of their offices with the Trust unless it is determined in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust that they have not acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that their actions were in the best interests of the Trust. However, nothing in the Declaration of Trust shall protect or indemnify a Trustee against any liability for his or her willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. Nothing contained in this section attempts to disclaim a Trustee’s individual liability in any manner inconsistent with the federal securities laws.

 

PROXY VOTING

 

The Board has delegated responsibility for decisions regarding proxy voting for securities held by the Fund to the Adviser. The Adviser will vote such proxies in accordance with its proxy policies and procedures, which are included in Appendix B to this SAI.

 

S-59 

 

The Trust is required to disclose annually the Fund’s complete proxy voting record during the most recent 12-month period ended June 30 on Form N-PX. This voting record is available: (i) without charge, upon request, by calling 1-888-826-5646; and (ii) on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.

 

CODES OF ETHICS

 

The Board, on behalf of the Trust, has adopted a Code of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 under the 1940 Act. In addition, the Adviser, the Distributor and the Administrator have adopted Codes of Ethics pursuant to Rule 17j-1 (each a “Code of Ethics” and together the “Codes of Ethics”). These Codes of Ethics apply to the personal investing activities of trustees, officers and certain employees (“access persons”). Rule 17j-1 and the Codes of Ethics are designed to prevent unlawful practices in connection with the purchase or sale of securities by access persons. Under each Code of Ethics, access persons are permitted to invest in securities, including securities that may be purchased or held by the Fund, but are required to report their personal securities transactions for monitoring purposes. In addition, certain access persons are required to obtain approval before investing in initial public offerings or private placements or are prohibited from making such investments. Copies of these Codes of Ethics are on file with the SEC, and are available to the public.

 

PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS

 

As of February 6, 2024, the following persons were record owners (or to the knowledge of the Trust, beneficial owners) of 5% or more of any class of the shares of the Fund. The Trust believes that most of the shares referred to below were held by the below persons in accounts for their fiduciary, agency or custodial customers. Persons beneficially owning more than 25% of the Fund’s outstanding shares may be deemed to “control” the Fund within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Shareholders controlling the Fund may have a significant impact on any shareholder vote of the Fund.

 

S-60 

 

Name and Address Class of Shares % of Class

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

101 MONTGOMERY ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151

Investor 52.73%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 5TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 5

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

Investor 30.37%

JP MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

OMNIBUS ACCOUNT FOR THE EXCLUSIVE

BENEFIT OF OUR CUSTOMERS

4 CHASE METROTECH CTR FL 3

MUTUAL FUND DEPARTMENT

BROOKLYN NY 11245-0003

Investor 7.60%

NATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES LLC

FOR EXCLUSIVE BENEFIT OF CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS DEPT 5TH FL

499 WASHINGTON BLVD FL 5

JERSEY CITY NJ 07310-2010

Institutional 31.93%

JOHN TEMPLETON FOUNDATION

300 CONSHOHOCKEN STATE RD STE 500

CONSHOHOCKEN PA 19428-3815

Institutional 10.30%

CHARLES SCHWAB & CO INC

SPECIAL CUSTODY A/C FBO CUSTOMERS

ATTN MUTUAL FUNDS

101 MONTGOMERY ST

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94104-4151

Institutional 10.16%

TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

FOUNDATION

1919 S BRAESWOOD BLVD STE 4268

HOUSTON TX 77030-4465

Institutional 6.67%

ALASKA ELECTRICAL PENSION FUND

701 E TUDOR RD STE 200

ANCHORAGE AK 99503-7458

Institutional 5.08%

CAPINCO C/O US BANK NA

1555 N RIVERCENTER DR STE 302

MILWAUKEE WI 53212-3958

Institutional 5.03%

 

S-61 

 

APPENDIX A

 

DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS

 

Description of Ratings

 

The following descriptions of securities ratings have been published by Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”), S&P Global Ratings (“S&P”), and Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”), respectively.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Ratings

 

Ratings assigned on Moody’s global long-term and short-term rating scales are forward-looking opinions of the relative credit risks of financial obligations issued by non-financial corporates, financial institutions, structured finance vehicles, project finance vehicles, and public sector entities. Long-term ratings are assigned to issuers or obligations with an original maturity of eleven months or more and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment. Short-term ratings are assigned to obligations with an original maturity of thirteen months or less and reflect both on the likelihood of a default or impairment on contractual financial obligations and the expected financial loss suffered in the event of default or impairment.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Long-Term Ratings

 

Aaa Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, subject to the lowest level of credit risk.

 

Aa Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

 

A Obligations rated A are judged to be upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

 

Baa Obligations rated Baa are judged to be medium-grade and subject to moderate credit risk and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

 

Ba Obligations rated Ba are judged to be speculative and are subject to substantial credit risk.

 

B Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

 

Caa Obligations rated Caa are judged to be speculative of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

 

Ca Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

 

C Obligations rated C are the lowest rated and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

 

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2, and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

 

A-1

 

Hybrid Indicator (hyb)

 

The hybrid indicator (hyb) is appended to all ratings of hybrid securities issued by banks, insurers, finance companies, and securities firms. By their terms, hybrid securities allow for the omission of scheduled dividends, interest, or principal payments, which can potentially result in impairment if such an omission occurs. Hybrid securities may also be subject to contractually allowable write-downs of principal that could result in impairment. Together with the hybrid indicator, the long-term obligation rating assigned to a hybrid security is an expression of the relative credit risk associated with that security.

 

Description of Moody’s Global Short-Term Ratings

 

P-1 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-1 have a superior ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-2 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-2 have a strong ability to repay short-term debt obligations.

 

P-3 Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Prime-3 have an acceptable ability to repay short-term obligations.

 

NP Issuers (or supporting institutions) rated Not Prime do not fall within any of the Prime rating categories.

 

Description of Moody’s U.S. Municipal Short-Term Obligation Ratings

 

The Municipal Investment Grade (“MIG”) scale is used to rate U.S. municipal cash flow notes, bond anticipation notes and certain other short-term obligations, which typically mature in three years or less. Under certain circumstances, the MIG scale is used to rate bond anticipation notes with maturities of up to five years.

 

Moody’s U.S. municipal short-term obligation ratings are as follows:

 

MIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by established cash flows, highly reliable liquidity support, or demonstrated broad-based access to the market for refinancing.

 

MIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Margins of protection are ample, although not as large as in the preceding group.

 

MIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Liquidity and cash-flow protection may be narrow, and market access for refinancing is likely to be less well-established.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Debt instruments in this category may lack sufficient margins of protection.

 

Description of Moody’s Demand Obligation Ratings

 

In the case of variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”), Moody’s assigns both a long-term rating and a short-term payment obligation rating. The long-term rating addresses the issuer’s ability to meet scheduled principal and interest payments. The short-term payment obligation rating addresses the ability of the issuer or the liquidity provider to meet any purchase price payment obligation resulting from optional tenders (“on demand”) and/or mandatory tenders of the VRDO. The short-term payment obligation rating uses the Variable Municipal Investment Grade (“VMIG”) scale. VMIG ratings with liquidity support use as an input the short-term counterparty risk assessment of the support provider, or the long-term rating of the underlying obligor in the absence of third party liquidity support. Transitions of VMIG ratings with conditional liquidity support differ from transitions of Prime ratings reflecting the risk that external liquidity support will terminate if the issuer’s long-term rating drops below investment grade. For VRDOs, Moody’s typically assigns a VMIG rating if the frequency of the payment obligation is less than every three years. If the frequency of the payment obligation is less than three years, but the obligation is payable only with remarketing proceeds, the VMIG short-term rating is not assigned and it is denoted as “NR”.

 

A-2

 

Moody’s demand obligation ratings are as follows:

 

VMIG 1 This designation denotes superior credit quality. Excellent protection is afforded by the superior short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 2 This designation denotes strong credit quality. Good protection is afforded by the strong short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

VMIG 3 This designation denotes acceptable credit quality. Adequate protection is afforded by the satisfactory short-term credit strength of the liquidity provider and structural and legal protections.

 

SG This designation denotes speculative-grade credit quality. Demand features rated in this category may be supported by a liquidity provider that does not have a sufficiently strong short-term rating or may lack the structural or legal protections.

 

Description of S&P’s Issue Credit Ratings

 

An S&P issue credit rating is a forward-looking opinion about the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to a specific financial obligation, a specific class of financial obligations, or a specific financial program (including ratings on medium-term note programs and commercial paper programs). It takes into consideration the creditworthiness of guarantors, insurers, or other forms of credit enhancement on the obligation and takes into account the currency in which the obligation is denominated. The opinion reflects S&P’s view of the obligor’s capacity and willingness to meet its financial commitments as they come due, and this opinion may assess terms, such as collateral security and subordination, which could affect ultimate payment in the event of default.

 

Issue credit ratings can be either long-term or short-term. Short-term issue credit ratings are generally assigned to those obligations considered short-term in the relevant market, typically with an original maturity of no more than 365 days. Short-term issue credit ratings are also used to indicate the creditworthiness of an obligor with respect to put features on long-term obligations. S&P would typically assign a long-term issue credit rating to an obligation with an original maturity of greater than 365 days. However, the ratings S&P assigns to certain instruments may diverge from these guidelines based on market practices. Medium-term notes are assigned long-term ratings.

 

Issue credit ratings are based, in varying degrees, on S&P’s analysis of the following considerations:

 

• The likelihood of payment—the capacity and willingness of the obligor to meet its financial commitments on an obligation in accordance with the terms of the obligation;

 

A-3

 

• The nature and provisions of the financial obligation, and the promise S&P imputes; and

 

• The protection afforded by, and relative position of, the financial obligation in the event of a bankruptcy, reorganization, or other arrangement under the laws of bankruptcy and other laws affecting creditors’ rights.

 

An issue rating is an assessment of default risk but may incorporate an assessment of relative seniority or ultimate recovery in the event of default. Junior obligations are typically rated lower than senior obligations, to reflect lower priority in bankruptcy, as noted above. (Such differentiation may apply when an entity has both senior and subordinated obligations, secured and unsecured obligations, or operating company and holding company obligations.)

 

NR indicates that a rating has not been assigned or is no longer assigned.

 

Description of S&P’s Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings*

 

AAA An obligation rated ‘AAA’ has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is extremely strong.

 

AA An obligation rated ‘AA’ differs from the highest-rated obligations only to a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is very strong.

 

A An obligation rated ‘A’ is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher-rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation is still strong.

 

BBB An obligation rated ‘BBB’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

BB; B; CCC; CC; and C Obligations rated ‘BB’, ‘B’, ‘CCC’, ‘CC’, and ‘C’ are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. ‘BB’ indicates the least degree of speculation and ‘C’ the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposure to adverse conditions.

 

BB An obligation rated ‘BB’ is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial, or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B An obligation rated ‘B’ is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated ‘BB’, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. Adverse business, financial, or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

CCC An obligation rated ‘CCC’ is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial, and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitments on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial, or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

A-4

 

CC An obligation rated ‘CC’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment. The ‘CC’ rating is used when a default has not yet occurred but S&P expects default to be a virtual certainty, regardless of the anticipated time to default.

 

C An obligation rated ‘C’ is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, and the obligation is expected to have lower relative seniority or lower ultimate recovery compared with obligations that are rated higher.

 

D An obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within the next five business days in the absence of a stated grace period or within the earlier of the stated grace period or the next 30 calendar days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

* Ratings from ‘AA’ to ‘CCC’ may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (-) sign to show relative standing within the rating categories.

 

Description of S&P’s Short-Term Issue Credit Ratings

 

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

 

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

 

A-3 A short-term obligation rated ‘A-3’ exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to weaken an obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitments on the obligation.

 

B A short-term obligation rated ‘B’ is regarded as vulnerable and has significant speculative characteristics. The obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitments; however, it faces major ongoing uncertainties that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitments.

 

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

 

D A short-term obligation rated ‘D’ is in default or in breach of an imputed promise. For non-hybrid capital instruments, the ‘D’ rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made within any stated grace period. However, any stated grace period longer than five business days will be treated as five business days. The ‘D’ rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions. A rating on an obligation is lowered to ‘D’ if it is subject to a distressed debt restructuring.

 

A-5

 

Description of S&P’s Municipal Short-Term Note Ratings

 

An S&P U.S. municipal note rating reflects S&P’s opinion about the liquidity factors and market access risks unique to the notes. Notes due in three years or less will likely receive a note rating. Notes with an original maturity of more than three years will most likely receive a long-term debt rating. In determining which type of rating, if any, to assign, S&P’s analysis will review the following considerations:

 

• Amortization schedule—the larger the final maturity relative to other maturities, the more likely it will be treated as a note; and

 

• Source of payment—the more dependent the issue is on the market for its refinancing, the more likely it will be treated as a note.

 

S&P’s municipal short-term note ratings are as follows:

 

SP-1 Strong capacity to pay principal and interest. An issue determined to possess a very strong capacity to pay debt service is given a plus (+) designation.

 

SP-2 Satisfactory capacity to pay principal and interest, with some vulnerability to adverse financial and economic changes over the term of the notes.

 

SP-3 Speculative capacity to pay principal and interest.

 

D ‘D’ is assigned upon failure to pay the note when due, completion of a distressed debt restructuring, or the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of similar action and where default on an obligation is a virtual certainty, for example due to automatic stay provisions.

 

Description of Fitch’s Credit Ratings

 

Fitch’s credit ratings relating to issuers are forward looking opinions on the relative ability of an entity or obligation to meet financial commitments. Credit ratings relating to securities and obligations of an issuer can include a recovery expectation. Credit ratings are used are indications of the likelihood of repayment in accordance with the terms of the issuance.

 

Fitch’s credit rating scale for issuers and issues is expressed using the categories ‘AAA’ to ‘BBB’ (investment grade) and ‘BB’ to ‘D’ (speculative grade) with an additional +/- for AA through CCC levels indicating relative differences of probability of default or recovery for issues. The terms “investment grade” and “speculative grade” are market conventions and do not imply any recommendation or endorsement of a specific security for investment purposes. Investment grade categories indicate relatively low to moderate credit risk, while ratings in the speculative grade categories signal either a higher level of credit risk or that a default has already occurred.

 

Fitch may also disclose issues relating to a rated issuer that are not and have not been rated. Such issues are also denoted as ‘NR’ on its web page.

 

Fitch’s credit ratings do not directly address any risk other than credit risk. Credit ratings do not deal with the risk of market value loss due to changes in interest rates, liquidity and/or other market considerations. However, market risk may be considered to the extent that it influences the ability of an issuer to pay or refinance a financial commitment. Ratings nonetheless do not reflect market risk to the extent that they influence the size or other conditionality of the obligation to pay upon a commitment (for example, in the case of payments linked to performance of an index).

 

A-6

 

Credit ratings are indications of the likelihood of repayment in accordance with the terms of the issuance. In limited cases, Fitch may include additional considerations (i.e. rate to a higher or lower standard than that implied in the obligation’s documentation).

 

Description of Fitch’s Long-Term Corporate Finance Obligations Ratings

 

AAA Highest credit quality. ‘AAA’ ratings denote the lowest expectation of credit risk. They are assigned only in cases of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

 

AA Very high credit quality. ‘AA’ ratings denote expectations of very low credit risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

 

A High credit quality. ‘A’ ratings denote expectations of low credit risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

 

BBB Good credit quality. ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of credit risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

 

BB Speculative. ‘BB’ ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to credit risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial alternatives may be available to allow financial commitments to be met.

 

B Highly speculative. ‘B’ ratings indicate that material credit risk is present.

 

CCC Substantial credit risk. ‘CCC’ ratings indicate that substantial credit risk is present.

 

CC Very high levels of credit risk. ‘CC’ ratings indicate very high levels of credit risk.

 

C Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. ‘C’ ratings indicate exceptionally high levels of credit risk.

 

Ratings in the categories of ‘CCC’, ‘CC’ and ‘C’ can also relate to obligations or issuers that are in default. In this case, the rating does not opine on default risk but reflects the recovery expectation only.

 

Defaulted obligations typically are not assigned ‘RD’ or ‘D’ ratings, but are instead rated in the ‘CCC’ to ‘C’ rating categories, depending on their recovery prospects and other relevant characteristics. This approach better aligns obligations that have comparable overall expected loss but varying vulnerability to default and loss.

 

Description of Fitch’s Short-Term Ratings

 

A short-term issuer or obligation rating is based in all cases on the short-term vulnerability to default of the rated entity and relates to the capacity to meet financial obligations in accordance with the documentation governing the relevant obligation. Short-term deposit ratings may be adjusted for loss severity. Short-Term Ratings are assigned to obligations whose initial maturity is viewed as “short term” based on market convention (a long-term rating can also be used to rate an issue with short maturity). Typically, this means up to 13 months for corporate, sovereign, and structured obligations and up to 36 months for obligations in U.S. public finance markets.

 

A-7

 

Fitch’s short-term ratings are as follows:

 

F1 Highest short-term credit quality. Indicates the strongest intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments; may have an added “+” to denote any exceptionally strong credit feature.

 

F2 Good short-term credit quality. Good intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments.

 

F3 Fair short-term credit quality. The intrinsic capacity for timely payment of financial commitments is adequate.

 

B Speculative short-term credit quality. Minimal capacity for timely payment of financial commitments, plus heightened vulnerability to near term adverse changes in financial and economic conditions.

 

C High short-term default risk. Default is a real possibility.

 

RD Restricted default. Indicates an entity that has defaulted on one or more of its financial commitments, although it continues to meet other financial obligations. Typically applicable to entity ratings only.

 

D Default. Indicates a broad-based default event for an entity, or the default of a short-term obligation.

 

A-8

 

APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

Sands Capital Management, LLC

 

Proxy Voting Policy and Procedures

 

Most Recent Amendment: January 2024

Implementation Date: November 2006

 

 

 

PURPOSE

 

Sands Capital Management, LLC (“SCM”) and Sands Capital Ventures, LLC (“SCV” and collectively with SCM, “Sands Capital”) have adopted this policy (the “Policy”) to implement written policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure compliance with applicable law regarding the voting of client proxies, including, without limitation, Rule 206(4)-6 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”).

 

POLICY

 

The scope of Sands Capital’s authority to vote proxies on behalf of clients should be clearly set forth in the advisory or related contracts between Sands Capital and its clients. Where Sands Capital has unrestricted authority to vote proxies on behalf of clients, Sands Capital will vote in the best interests of its clients and in a manner that is consistent with its fiduciary duties. Where clients have imposed restrictions or guidelines on or issued instructions to Sands Capital with respect to voting proxies, Sands Capital will adhere to such restrictions, guidelines, and/or instructions. Clients with their own general or specific proxy voting and governance policies may wish to have their proxies voted by an independent third party or other named fiduciary or agent at the client’s expense.

 

Before voting a particular proxy, Sands Capital’s policy is to conduct a reasonable investigation of the associated matter(s), including, where appropriate, by considering the Guidelines (as defined below), to ensure that its voting determination is in the best interests of the relevant clients and is not based on materially inaccurate or incomplete information.

 

Sands Capital does not automatically support management; however, Sands Capital believes that the recommendation of management on any issue should be given substantial weight in determining how proxy issues are resolved.

 

For routine matters (e.g., those matters that are not expected to measurably change the structure, management, control or operation of the company and are consistent with customary industry standards and practices, and the laws of the state of incorporation of the applicable company), Sands Capital will vote in accordance with the recommendation of management, unless, in Sands Capital’s opinion, such recommendation is not conducive to long term value creation or otherwise in the best interest of its clients. Non-routine matters (e.g., those matters relating to directors’ liability and indemnity proposals; executive compensation plans; mergers, acquisitions, and other restructurings submitted to a shareholder vote; anti-takeover and related provisions; and shareholder proposals) require company-specific and a case-by-case review and analysis.

 

B-1

 

Sands Capital will vote client proxies in all instances unless it determines that doing so is not in the best interest of the relevant clients, as described under “Voting Abstention” below.

 

PROXY COMMITTEE

 

Sands Capital has established a Proxy Committee consisting of

 

the Chief Administrative Officer;

the Chief Compliance Officer (“CCO”);

a Director of Client Relations;

the Director of Stewardship; and

the Director of Research.

 

The Proxy Committee is responsible for:

 

overseeing and administering proxy voting, including developing, authorizing, implementing, and updating this Policy;
overseeing the proxy voting process, including reviewing reports on proxy voting activity at least annually and more frequently as necessary to fulfill its responsibilities; and
engaging and overseeing third-party service providers, as necessary or appropriate, to ensure Sands Capital receives the applicable proxy statements and/or to provide information, research, or other services to facilitate Sands Capital’s proxy voting.

 

The Proxy Committee meets at least annually and more frequently as necessary to fulfill its responsibilities. A majority of the members of the Proxy Committee constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The Director of Stewardship or designee acts as secretary of the Proxy Committee and maintains a record of meetings and actions.

 

The Proxy Committee has developed criteria (the “Guidelines”), to be considered by SCM when evaluating certain proxy issues. While SCV will likely incorporate similar considerations in its proxy voting determinations, the Guidelines apply to proxies voted on behalf of clients advised by SCM but do not apply to proxies voted on behalf of clients advised by SCV. The Proxy Committee will evaluate and may amend or supplement the Guidelines from time to time. All Guidelines are to be applied generally and not absolutely, such that the evaluation of each proxy incorporates considerations specific to the company whose proxy is being voted and the vote is made in the best interests of the relevant clients.

 

B-2

 

RETENTION AND OVERSIGHT OF PROXY ADVISORY FIRMS

 

Sands Capital uses proxy research providers (“Providers”) to help it analyze proxy issues. Sands Capital may consider vote recommendations made by Providers but ultimately votes proxies based on its own determination of what is in the best interests of its clients. In addition to research, Providers may provide vote execution, reporting, and recordkeeping services.

 

In selecting a Provider, Sands Capital will consider a variety of factors in its evaluation, including, as applicable: (1) the Provider’s capacity and competency to analyze the voting matters for which it is retained; (2) whether the Provider has an effective process for seeking timely input on its voting policies and other relevant matters; (3) whether the Provider has adequately disclosed its methodologies for making voting recommendations; (4) the sources of any third-party information that the Provider uses; and (5) how the Provider will engage with issuers and third parties.

 

Additionally, Sands Capital will review the Provider’s policies and procedures pertaining to conflicts of interest, including with respect to the:

 

identification, disclosure and mitigation of conflicts arising out of:

o the provision of proxy voting recommendations and services;

o activities other than proxy voting recommendations and services; and

o positions taken by affiliates of the Provider;

adequacy of disclosure regarding identified conflicts; and

use of technology to disseminate information about conflicts.

 

Sands Capital conducts periodic reviews on an ongoing basis of its Providers based on the factors discussed above, and evaluates periodically whether any factual errors, incompleteness or methodological weaknesses in the Provider’s analysis materially affected its research or recommendations. Sands Capital may also consider any material relevant changes to the Provider’s business.

 

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 

Sands Capital’s staff members are responsible for notifying the Director of Stewardship or the CCO of any potential conflict of interest that may impair Sands Capital’s ability to vote proxies in an objective manner. The Director of Stewardship and the CCO will review each potential conflict and notify the Proxy Committee if they determine there is a conflict of interest with respect to the proxy vote. The Proxy Committee will determine whether the conflict is material to that proposal. If the Proxy Committee determines that a conflict is not material, then Sands Capital may vote the proxy. If the Proxy Committee determines that it is material, Sands Capital will vote or abstain from voting per the determination of the Proxy Committee. Prior to voting, Sands Capital may, in accordance with applicable law and/or client instruction: (i) contact an independent third party for its recommendation on how to vote and vote in accordance with that recommendation; or (ii) fully disclose the nature of the conflict to clients and obtain their consent as to how Sands Capital will vote.

 

B-3

 

Conflicts of interest may arise in many situations. The following examples are designed to help staff members identify potential conflicts:

 

Sands Capital provides investment advice to an issuer (or a plan sponsored by such issuer) and receives a proxy solicitation from that issuer or from a competitor of that issuer.
Sands Capital provides investment advice to an officer or director of an issuer and receives a proxy solicitation from that issuer or from a competitor of that issuer.
Sands Capital has a financial interest in the outcome of a proxy vote, such as when Sands Capital is asked to vote on a change in Rule 12b-1 fees paid by a mutual fund to Sands Capital.
An issuer or another third party offers Sands Capital or a staff member compensation in exchange for voting a proxy in a particular way.
A staff member, or a household family member thereof, has a personal or business relationship with an issuer and Sands Capital receives a proxy solicitation from that issuer.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATIONS

 

Sands Capital may consider certain environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) factors when evaluating proxy matters so that all risks and opportunities that may materially impact the return profile of an investment over the appropriate time horizon for the relevant strategy are appropriately considered.

 

PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFICATION AND VOTING OF PROXIES

 

The following procedures are designed to provide Sands Capital with necessary information to vote proxies and to mitigate potential conflicts of interest before voting.

 

The Investment Operations Teams maintain a list of clients for which Sands Capital votes proxies. The Investment Operations Teams update the list from time to time to reflect the onboarding of new clients and changes in Sands Capital’s authority to vote proxies.
Where Sands Capital has the authority to vote proxies, the Investment Operations and Proxy Administrator will work with the client to ensure that Sands Capital is designated to receive proxy voting materials from companies or intermediaries when applicable.

 

B-4

 

 

The Proxy Administrator receives all proxy voting materials and has overall responsibility for ensuring that proxies are voted (or abstained) and submitted in a timely manner.
Sands Capital’s Investment Research Team (the “Research Team”) is responsible for reviewing proxy proposals for portfolio companies. Prior to a proxy voting deadline, the appropriate Research Team member will conduct a reasonable investigation into the proposal matters and decide how to vote each proxy proposal based on an analysis of the proposal and the best interests of the relevant clients. In evaluating a proxy proposal, a Research Team member may consider the Guidelines (if applicable) as well as information from various sources, including management of the company, shareholder groups, and independent Providers.
If the Research Team or Proxy Administrator becomes aware of potential material factual errors, incompleteness, or methodological weaknesses in a Provider’s analysis, they must escalate this issue to the Director of Stewardship or the CCO.
Sands Capital believes that engagement with portfolio companies is important for good corporate governance and to assist in making proxy voting decisions. Sands Capital may engage with portfolio companies to discuss specific ballot items to obtain further information or clarification on the proposals, or to seek a specific change at the company.
Staff members involved in the proxy voting process are responsible for assessing potential conflicts of interest and considering situations identified in this Policy's Conflicts of Interest section.
If no potential conflicts of interest have been identified, Sands Capital will vote proxies according to this Policy.
Any detection of a potential conflict of interest must be brought to the attention of the Director of Stewardship or the CCO. See the Policy’s Conflicts of Interest section for additional information.
Sands Capital is not required to vote every proxy if abstaining is consistent with Sands Capital’s fiduciary obligations. There may be times when refraining from voting is in the best interest of the client, such as when an analysis of a particular client proxy reveals that the cost of voting the proxy may exceed the expected benefit to the client.
Sands Capital may process certain proxies without voting them or may systematically vote with management. Examples include proxies issued by companies Sands Capital has exited the position at the strategy level but not yet sold a minimal number of shares due to specific client directed account restrictions, proxies issued for securities that Sands Capital did not select for a client portfolio, and proxies issued by unsupervised or non-managed securities held in a client’s account (such as ETFs), money market securities, or other securities selected by clients or their representatives other than Sands Capital.
In the event that Sands Capital votes the same proxy in two directions, it shall maintain documentation to support its votes.

 

B-5

 

 

In instances where Sands Capital is in the process of exiting a client’s ownership position in a security but has the ability to vote a proxy, Sands Capital will vote the proxy provided it is not against the best interests of the client.
The Director of Stewardship and the applicable Research Team member must report any attempts by Sands Capital’s personnel to influence the voting of client proxies in a manner that is inconsistent with this Policy, as well as any attempts by persons or entities outside Sands Capital seeking to influence the voting of client proxies. Reporting shall be made to the CCO or the General Counsel.
All proxy votes will be recorded with the following information:

a. The name of the portfolio company;

b. The security identifier of the portfolio holding.

c. The Council on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures (“CUSIP”) or similar number, in each case, if any, for the security;

d. The shareholder meeting date;

e. The number of shares Sands Capital is voting firm-wide;

f. A brief identification of the matter voted on;

g. Whether the matter was proposed by the portfolio company or by a security holder;

h. Whether or not Sands Capital voted on the matter;

i. The rationale for Sands Capital’s vote or abstention; and

j. Whether any client requested an alternative vote of its proxy.

 

SECURITIES LENDING

 

If a client participates in a securities lending program, Sands Capital will not be able to vote the proxy for shares out on loan. Sands Capital will generally not seek to recall for voting the client shares on loan. However, under rare circumstances, for voting issues that may have a particularly significant impact on the investment (a “Significant Event”), Sands Capital may request a client to recall securities that are on loan if Sands Capital determines that the benefit of voting outweighs the costs and lost revenue to the client and the administrative burden of retrieving the securities. The Research Team member responsible for voting the proxy will notify the Proxy Committee in the event they believe a recall of loaned securities is necessary.

 

In determining whether a recall of a security is warranted, Sands Capital will consider whether the benefit of the vote would be operationally possible, and if so, in the client’s best interest despite the costs and the lost revenue to the client and the administrative burden of retrieving the securities. Sands Capital may use third-party service providers to assist it in identifying and evaluating whether an event constitutes a Significant Event.

 

VOTING ABSTENTION

 

Voting proxies of issuers may give rise to a number of administrative or operational issues that may cause Sands Capital to determine that voting such proxies are not in the best interest of its clients or that it is not reasonably possible to determine whether voting such proxies will be in the best interests of its clients. While not exhaustive, the following list of considerations highlights some potential instances in which a proxy vote might not be entered.

 

B-6

 

 

Sands Capital may receive meeting notices without enough time to fully consider the proxy or after the cut-off date for voting.
Sands Capital may be unable to enter an informed vote in certain circumstances due to the lack of information provided in the proxy statement or by the issuer or other resolution sponsor.
A market may require Sands Capital to provide local agents with a power of attorney or consularization prior to implementing Sands Capital’s voting instructions.
Proxy materials may not be available in English and require a translator or may require traveling to a foreign country to vote the security in person.
Proxy voting in certain countries may require “share blocking.” In such cases, shareholders wishing to vote their proxies must deposit their shares shortly before the date of the meeting with a designated depositary. During this blocking period, shares that will be voted at the meeting cannot be sold until the meeting has taken place and the shares are returned to the client’s custodian banks. Absent compelling reasons to the contrary, Sands Capital believes that the benefit to the client of exercising the vote is outweighed by the cost of voting (i.e., not being able to sell the shares during this period). Accordingly, if share blocking is required, Sands Capital generally elects not to vote those shares. The applicable Research Team member, in conjunction with the Proxy Committee, retains the final authority to determine whether to block the shares in the client’s portfolio.
Sands Capital may not vote proxies for shares held in non-client accounts, such as proprietary accounts.

 

DISCLOSURE OF VOTES

 

Generally, until a vote has been cast and the relevant shareholder meeting has transpired, Sands Capital treats such voting information as confidential. Sands Capital staff may not disclose a vote prior to the meeting or commit to any third party to vote a certain way without the prior consent of the CCO or the General Counsel. However, staff members are permitted to: (1) share with a client how we intend to vote their proxy, as requested by such client; (2) discuss our thoughts, opinions and voting intention with the relevant issuers as part of Sands Capital’s company engagement and stewardship objectives; and (3) prudently express Sands Capital’s thoughts or opinions on relevant topics in discussions with other third parties, including advisors (third-party research providers), and other shareholders prior to voting as a part of ongoing education and engagement.

 

B-7

 

Once the vote has been cast and the relevant shareholder meeting has transpired, analysts can choose to share how Sands Capital voted with the relevant company or other shareholders, if necessary, as part of Sands Capital’s ongoing engagement with management and the company’s shareholders. All disclosures of votes in response to requests for vote information not originating from the company or a client shareholder must be approved by the Director of Stewardship prior to the disclosure of the vote. The Director of Stewardship or designee will record the identity of the outside third party, the date of the request, and the response. As is consistent with Sands Capital’s Advertising and Marketing Policy, all staff members must refer inquiries from the press to the Head of Marketing and Communications.

 

PRIVATELY-HELD COMPANIES

 

There is a heighted risk that conflicts of interest will arise when voting on matter relating to portfolio companies that are privately held. To address this risk, all votes or requests for shareholder consents will be identified to the Compliance Team prior to any decision. The Compliance Team determines whether a conflict of interest exists and, if so, how to mitigate or manage the conflict(s) of interest.

 

CLASS ACTIONS

 

In the event a class action is brought to the attention of Sands Capital, and such action may have a material impact on the financial position of a fund sponsored and advised by Sands Capital, Sands Capital will use reasonable efforts to timely complete administrative class-action processes necessary to allow participation. For all other clients, Sands Capital will gather and provide any requisite information it has regarding class action matters at the client’s request, to enable the client to file the class action. Sands Capital does not take proactive measures to monitor for class actions in which its clients may be able to participate. All attorneys’ fees, third-party fees, and expenses related to the class action will be borne by the respective client, including any fund advised by Sands Capital if applicable.

 

DISCLOSURES TO CLIENTS

 

Sands Capital is required to disclose to its clients how they can obtain information about how Sands Capital voted their securities. This information is included in Sands Capital’s written brochure under Rule 204-3 of the Advisers Act.

 

Further, Sands Capital is required to provide clients with a description, and upon request, a copy, of its proxy voting policies and procedures. This information is included in Sands Capital’s written brochure under Rule 204-3 of the Advisers Act.

 

B-8

 

RECORDKEEPING

 

Sands Capital must maintain the documentation described in the following section for a period of not less than five years in an easily accessible place, the first two years at its principal place of business. The Proxy Administrator will be responsible for the following procedures and for ensuring that the required documentation is retained.

 

Copies of all policies and procedures required by § 275.206(4)-6.
A copy of each proxy statement that Sands Capital receives regarding client securities. Sands Capital may satisfy this requirement by relying on a third party to make and retain, on Sands Capital’s behalf, a copy of a proxy statement (if Sands Capital has obtained an undertaking from the third party to provide a copy of the proxy statement promptly upon request) or may rely on obtaining a copy of a proxy statement from the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) system.
A record of each vote cast by Sands Capital on behalf of a client. Sands Capital may satisfy this requirement by relying on a third party to make and retain a record of the vote cast (provided that Sands Capital has obtained an undertaking from the third party to provide a copy of the record promptly upon request).
A copy of any document created by Sands Capital that was material to deciding how to vote proxies on behalf of a client or that memorializes the basis for that decision.
A copy of each written client request for information on how Sands Capital voted proxies on behalf of the client and a copy of any written response by Sands Capital to any (written or oral) client request for information on how Sands Capital voted proxies on behalf of the requesting client.

 

Sands Capital may rely on proxy statements filed on the EDGAR system instead of keeping its own copies.

 

RESPONSIBILITY

 

The Director of Stewardship is responsible for overseeing and implementing this Policy.

 

B-9

 

PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 28. EXHIBITS:

 

(a)(1) Agreement and Declaration of Trust of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund (the “Registrant”) dated July 18, 1991, as amended and restated February 18, 1997 (the “Agreement and Declaration of Trust”), is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (a)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 362 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-025119 on December 29, 2022.

 

(a)(2) Amendment No. 1, dated May 15, 2012, to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (a)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 190 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000262 on May 23, 2012.

 

(a)(3) Amendment No. 2, dated August 18, 2020, to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (a)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 335 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-21-010106 on May 10, 2021.

 

(b)(1) Registrant's Second Amended and Restated By-Laws (the “By-Laws”) are incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 179 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000087 on February 28, 2012.

 

(b)(2) Amendment No. 1, dated May 20, 2020, to the By-Laws, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (b)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 329 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42494), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-20-011801 on June 1, 2020.

 

(c) See Article III and Article V of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, which has been incorporated by reference in Exhibit (a)(1) to this Registration Statement.

 

(d)(1)(i) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated March 15, 1999, between the Registrant and LSV Asset Management is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 46 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-01-500070 on June 22, 2001.

 

(d)(1)(ii) Amended Schedule A, dated August 24, 2018, to the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated March 15, 1999, between the Registrant and LSV Asset Management, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 297 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-18-012526 on August 27, 2018.

 

(d)(1)(iii) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated June 24, 2002, between the Registrant and Acadian Asset Management LLC (formerly, Acadian Asset Management, Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(17) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000263 on August 30, 2002.

 

 

 

(d)(1)(iv) Amended Schedule A, dated July 1, 2022, to the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated June 24, 2002, between the Registrant and Acadian Asset Management LLC (formerly, Acadian Asset Management, Inc.), is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 363 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000263 on January 27, 2023.

 

(d)(1)(v) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated June 24, 2002, between the Registrant and Cambiar Investors, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(19) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 55 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-02-000263 on August 30, 2002.

 

(d)(1)(vi) Amended Schedule A, dated March 1, 2019, to the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated June 24, 2002, between the Registrant and Cambiar Investors, LLC, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(vi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 305 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-19-003603 on February 28, 2019.

 

(d)(1)(vii) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated December 1, 2022, between the Registrant and Cambiar Investors, LLC, related to the Cambiar Aggressive Value ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(vii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 363 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-001234 on January 27, 2023.

 

(d)(1)(viii) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated October 10, 2016, between the Registrant and Rice Hall James & Associates LLC is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 277 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-17-000154 on February 28, 2017.

 

(d)(1)(ix) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated May 28, 2004, between the Registrant and Haverford Investment Management, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(30) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 79 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-05-000093 on February 25, 2005.

 

(d)(1)(x) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated February 27, 2006, between the Registrant and Edgewood Management LLC is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(33) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000007 on January 12, 2007.

 

(d)(1)(xi) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated March 10, 2010, between the Registrant and Sands Capital Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(30) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 123 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-10-000173 on April 30, 2010.

 

(d)(1)(xii) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated June 20, 2011, between the Registrant and Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(37) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.

 

(d)(1)(xiii) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated February 20, 2012, between the Registrant and Hamlin Capital Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(45) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 183 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000195 on March 29, 2012.

 

 

 

(d)(1)(xiv) Amended Schedule A, dated January 1, 2019, to the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated February 20, 2012, between the Registrant and Hamlin Capital Management, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xxi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 308 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-19-007375 on April 30, 2019.

 

(d)(1)(xv) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated September 3, 2013, between the Registrant and CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. (formerly, AT Investment Advisers, Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xxx) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 236 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000442 on June 24, 2014.

 

(d)(1)(xvi) Amended Schedule A, dated March 13, 2019, to the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated September 13, 2013, between the Registrant and CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc., is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xxviii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 312 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-19-009920 on May 31, 2019.

 

(d)(1)(xvii) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated September 23, 2022, between the Registrant and Fayez Sarofim & Co., is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(1)(xvii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 363 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-001234 on January 27, 2023.

 

(d)(2)(i) Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated February 13, 2013, between the Registrant and LSV Asset Management, relating to the LSV Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.

 

(d)(2)(ii) Amended Schedule A, dated December 1, 2023, to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated February 13, 2013, between the Registrant and LSV Asset Management, relating to the LSV Funds, is filed herewith.

 

(d)(2)(iii) Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated September 1, 2016, between the Registrant and Cambiar Investors, LLC, relating to the Cambiar Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 268 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001670 on September 1, 2016.

 

(d)(2)(iv) Amended Schedule A, dated March 1, 2019, to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated September 1, 2016, between the Registrant and Cambiar Investors, LLC, relating to the Cambiar Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 305 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-19-003603 on February 28, 2019.

 

(d)(2)(v) Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated February 23, 2016, between the Registrant and Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC, relating to the Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(vi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 263 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001304 on April 29, 2016.

 

 

 

(d)(2)(vi) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated March 1, 2008, between the Registrant and Haverford Investment Management, Inc., relating to the Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(25) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.

 

(d)(2)(vii) Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated December 31, 2019, between the Registrant and Edgewood Management LLC, relating to the Edgewood Growth Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(xiv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 333 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-21-005168 on February 26, 2021.

 

(d)(2)(viii) Amended Schedule A, dated January 25, 2022, to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated December 31, 2019, between the Registrant and Edgewood Management LLC, relating to the Edgewood Growth Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(viii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 349 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-001310 on January 28, 2022.

 

(d)(2)(ix) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated March 31, 2010, between the Registrant and Sands Capital Management, LLC, relating to the Sands Capital Global Growth Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(34) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.

 

(d)(2)(x) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated December 15, 2011, between the Registrant and Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P., relating to the Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Institutional Securitized Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(38) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 206 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000118 on March 1, 2013.

 

(d)(2)(xi) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated February 20, 2012, between the Registrant and Hamlin Capital Management, LLC, relating to the Hamlin High Dividend Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(46) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 183 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000195 on March 29, 2012.

 

(d)(2)(xii) Amended Schedule A, dated January 1, 2019, to the Expense Limitation Agreement, dated February 20, 2012, between the Registrant and Hamlin Capital Management, LLC, relating to the Hamlin High Dividend Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(xv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 308 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-19-007375 on April 30, 2019.

 

(d)(2)(xiii) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated February 23, 2016, between the Registrant and CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc., relating to the CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund, CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund and CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(2)(xix) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.

 

 

 

(d)(2)(xiv) Amended Schedule A, dated March 13, 2019, to the Expense Limitation Agreement, dated February 23, 2016, between the Registrant and CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc., relating to the CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(xx) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 312 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-19-009920 on May 31, 2019.

 

(d)(2)(xv) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated December 13, 2017, between the Registrant and CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc., relating to the CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund and CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(3)(xviii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 288 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-17-001113 on December 13, 2017.

 

(d)(2)(xvi) Expense Limitation Agreement, effective as of July 3, 2013, between the Registrant and Fayez Sarofim & Co., relating to the Sarofim Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (d)(75) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 219 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000386 on July 26, 2013.

 

(e)(1)(i) Distribution Agreement, dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 14, 2005, between the Registrant and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (formerly, SEI Financial Services Company) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (e)(1)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 252 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000094 on February 27, 2015.

 

(e)(1)(ii) Amendment No. 1, effective as of August 30, 2010, to the Distribution Agreement, dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 14, 2005, between the Registrant and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (formerly, SEI Financial Services Company), is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (e)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 158 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-11-000517 on September 16, 2011.

 

(e)(1)(iii) Amendment No. 2, dated November 13, 2018, to the Distribution Agreement, dated November 14, 1991, as amended and restated November 14, 2005 and as amended August 30, 2010, between the Registrant and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (formerly, SEI Financial Services Company), is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (e)(1)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 308 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-19-007375 on April 30, 2019.

 

(e)(1)(iv) Distribution Services Agreement, dated December 1, 2022, between Cambiar Investors, LLC and SEI Investments Distribution Co. (formerly, SEI Financial Services Company), is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (e)(1)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 364 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-005210 on February 28, 2023.

 

(e)(2) Form of Authorized Participant Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (e)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 362 to the Registration Statement of The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-025119 on December 29, 2022.

 

(e)(3) Revised Form of Amended Sub-Distribution and Servicing Agreement for SEI Investments Distribution Co., dated October 2007, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (e)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registration Statement of The Advisors' Inner Circle Fund II (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-08-000222 on May 30, 2008.

 

 

 

(f) Not applicable.

 

(g)(1)(i) Amended and Restated Custody Agreement, dated February 12, 2013, between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, National Association, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(1)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 233 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000296 on April 30, 2014.

 

(g)(1)(ii) Amendment, dated November 6, 2013, to the Amended and Restated Custody Agreement dated February 12, 2013 between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, National Association, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(1)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 233 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000296 on April 30, 2014.

 

(g)(2)(i) Custodian Agreement, dated November 25, 2014, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(3)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.

 

(g)(2)(ii) Amendment, dated May 12, 2015, to the Custodian Agreement, dated November 25, 2014, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(3)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.

 

(g)(2)(iii) Amendment, dated November 6, 2015, to the Custodian Agreement, dated November 25, 2014, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(3)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.

 

(g)(2)(iv) Amendment, dated August 25, 2016, to the Custodian Agreement, dated November 25, 2014, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(3)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 272 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001815 on October 31, 2016.

 

(g)(3) Custodian and Transfer Agent Agreement, dated January 24, 2023, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (g)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 363 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-001234 on January 27, 2023.

 

(h)(1) Amended and Restated Administration Agreement, dated November 13, 2018, between the Registrant and SEI Investments Global Funds Services, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 305 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-19-003603 on February 28, 2019.

 

(h)(1)(i) Amendment, dated May 24, 2023, to the Amended and Restated Administration Agreement, dated November 13, 2018, between the Registrant and SEI Investments Global Funds Services, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(1)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 366 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-001171 on January 26, 2024.

 

 

 

(h)(2)(i) Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated January 15, 2003, between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(62) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 67 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-03-000495 on August 28, 2003.

 

(h)(2)(ii) AML Delegation Amendment, dated June 18, 2003, to the Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated January 15, 2003, between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(65) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 68 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-03-000630 on December 29, 2003.

 

(h)(2)(iii) Amendment to and Assignment of Transfer Agency and Service Agreement, dated March 8, 2018, between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 294 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-18-006346 on April 30, 2018.

 

(h)(2)(iv) Agency Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, between the Registrant and SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. (formerly, DST Systems, Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 190 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000262 on May 23, 2012.

 

(h)(2)(v) Amendment, dated April 1, 2009, to the Agency Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, between the Registrant and SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. (formerly, DST Systems, Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(vi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.

 

(h)(2)(vi) Amended Fee Schedule, dated August 30, 2012, to the Agency Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, between the Registrant and SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. (formerly, DST Systems, Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 193 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000370 on August 22, 2012.

 

(h)(2)(vii) Amendment, dated November 13, 2013, to the Agency Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, between the Registrant and SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. (formerly, DST Systems, Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(viii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001507 on August 24, 2016.

 

(h)(2)(viii) Amendment No. 3, dated April 30, 2018, to the Agency Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, between the Registrant and SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. (formerly, DST Systems, Inc.) is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(viii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 297 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-18-012526 on August 27, 2018.

 

 

 

(h)(2)(ix) Amendment, dated October 2023, to the Agency Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, between the Registrant and SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. (formerly, DST Systems, Inc.), is filed herewith.

 

(h)(2)(x) Transfer Agency Services Agreement, dated November 14, 2012, between the Registrant and Atlantic Shareholder Services, LLC, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(viii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 292 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-18-003073 on February 28, 2018.

 

(h)(2)(xi) Amendment, dated November 19, 2013, to the Transfer Agency Services Agreement, dated November 14, 2012, between the Registrant and Atlantic Shareholder Services, LLC, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(2)(ix) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 292 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-18-003073 on February 28, 2018.

 

(h)(3)(i) Shareholder Services Plan is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 261 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001069 on February 26, 2016.

 

(h)(3)(ii) Amended Exhibit A to the Shareholder Services Plan, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(3)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 333 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-21-005168 on February 26, 2021.

 

(h)(4)(i) Securities Lending Agreement, dated October 26, 2020, by and between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(4)(v) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 333 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-21-005168 on February 26, 2021.

 

(h)(4)(ii) First Amendment, dated August 20, 2021, to the Securities Lending Agreement dated October 26, 2020, by and between the Registrant and U.S. Bank National Association, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (h)(4)(v) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 349 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-001310 on January 28, 2022.

 

(i) Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, is filed herewith.

 

(j)(1) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Ernst & Young LLP, relating to the Cambiar Funds, CIBC Atlas Funds, Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund, LSV Funds and Sands Capital Global Growth Fund, is filed herewith.

 

(j)(2) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, relating to the Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Institutional Securitized Fund, is filed herewith.

 

(j)(3) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Cohen & Co., relating to the Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio and Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio, is filed herewith.

 

(j)(4) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, BBD LLP, relating to the Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio and Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio, is filed herewith.

 

(k) Not Applicable.

 

 

 

(l) Not Applicable.

 

(m)(1)(i) Distribution Plan, dated August 8, 1994, as amended August 14, 2000, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (m) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 41 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0000950109-00-004829 on December 13, 2000.

 

(m)(1)(ii) Schedule A, as last amended March 31, 2020, to the Distribution Plan, dated August 8, 1994, as amended August 14, 2000, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (m)(1)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 325 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-20-007265 on March 31, 2020.

 

(m)(2) ETF Distribution Plan, dated August 17, 2021, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (m)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 363 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-001234 on January 27, 2023.

 

(m)(3) Amended Schedule A, dated August 16, 2022, to the ETF Distribution Plan, dated August 17, 2021, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (m)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 363 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-001234 on January 27, 2023.

 

(n)(1) Registrant's Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan, dated February 21, 2007, including Schedules and Certificates of Class Designation thereto, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (n) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 229 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000099 on February 28, 2014.

 

(n)(2) Amended and Restated Schedule M and Certificates of Class Designation to the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan, dated February 21, 2007, relating to the LSV Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (n)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 297 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-18-012526 on August 27, 2018.

 

(n)(3) Amended and Restated Schedule B and Certificates of Class Designation to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan, dated February 21, 2007, relating to the Cambiar Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (n)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 258 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000632 on August 28, 2015.

 

(n)(4) Schedule N and Certificates of Class Designation to the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan, dated February 21, 2007, relating to the Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (n)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 268 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001670 on September 1, 2016.

 

(n)(5) Amended and Restated Schedule C and Certificates of Class Designation to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan, dated February 21, 2007, relating to the Edgewood Growth Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (n)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 274 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001948 on December 30, 2016.

 

 

 

(n)(6) Amended and Restated Schedule L and Certificates of Class Designation to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Plan, dated February 21, 2007, relating to the CIBC Atlas Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (n)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 312 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-19-009920 on May 31, 2019.

 

(o) Not Applicable.

 

(p)(1) Registrant's Code of Ethics, dated November 2007, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 100 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-07-000518 on November 15, 2007.

 

(p)(2) LSV Asset Management Revised Code of Ethics, dated November 29, 2017, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 292 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-18-003073 on February 28, 2018.

 

(p)(3) Cambiar Investors, LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated January 2023, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 366 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-001171 on January 26, 2024.

 

(p)(4) Haverford Investment Management, Inc. Revised Code of Ethics, dated April 2017, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 284 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-17-000729 on August 28, 2017.

 

(p)(5) Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated December 2022, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 365 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-008255 on April 28, 2023.

 

(p)(6) Acadian Asset Management LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated January 2016, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 272 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001815 on October 31, 2016.

 

(p)(7) Edgewood Management LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated May 28, 2020, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 333 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-21-005168 on February 26, 2021.

 

(p)(8) Sands Capital Management, LLC Revised Code of Ethics, dated October 2023, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 366 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-001171 on January 26, 2024.

 

(p)(9) Loomis, Sayles & Company L.P. Revised Code of Ethics, dated May 25, 2022, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(9) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 363 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-001234 on January 27, 2023.

 

 

 

(p)(10) Hamlin Capital Management, LLC Revised Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(19) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 233 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000296 on April 30, 2014.

 

(p)(11) SEI Investments Distribution Co. (“SIDCO”) Code of Ethics, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 366 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-001171 on January 26, 2024.

 

(p)(12) CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. Code of Ethics, dated March 31, 2010, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(46) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 221 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000503 on September 4, 2013.

 

(p)(13) Fayez Sarofim & Co. Code of Ethics, dated October 27, 2014, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(38) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 255 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000328 on April 30, 2015.

 

(p)(14) SEI Investments Global Funds Services (“SEIGFS”) Code of Ethics, is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (p)(14) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 366 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-001171 on January 26, 2024.

 

(q)(1) Powers of Attorney, dated August 18, 2020, for Messrs. Robert A. Nesher, N. Jeffrey Klauder, Bruce R. Speca, Joseph T. Grause, Jr., Robert Mulhall and Michael Beattie are incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (q)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 332 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-20-025274 on December 30, 2020.

 

(q)(2) Power of Attorney, dated March 24, 2021, for Mr. Andrew Metzger is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (q)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 334 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-21-009258 on April 30, 2021.

 

(q)(3) Powers of Attorney for Mses. Kathleen Gaffney and Monica Walker are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (q)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 354 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-008409 on April 29, 2022.

 

(q)(4) Resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Registrant on August 18, 2020 is incorporated herein by reference to exhibit (q)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 332 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-42484), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-20-025274 on December 30, 2020.

 

 

 

ITEM 29. PERSONS CONTROLLED BY OR UNDER COMMON CONTROL WITH REGISTRANT:

 

Not Applicable.

 

ITEM 30. INDEMNIFICATION:

 

Article VIII of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust filed as Exhibit (a) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement is incorporated herein by reference. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “1933 Act”) may be permitted to trustees, directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant by the Registrant pursuant to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust or otherwise, the Registrant is aware that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and, therefore, is unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by trustees, directors, officers or controlling persons of the Registrant in connection with the successful defense of any act, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such trustees, directors, officers or controlling persons in connection with the shares being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issues.

 

ITEM 31. BUSINESS AND OTHER CONNECTIONS OF INVESTMENT ADVISERS:

 

The following lists any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each investment adviser, and each director, officer or partner of that investment adviser, is or has been engaged within the last two fiscal years for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner, or trustee. Unless noted below, none of the investment advisers, and/or director, officer or partner of each investment adviser, is or has been engaged within the last two fiscal years in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Acadian Asset Management LLC

Acadian Asset Management LLC (“Acadian”) serves as the investment adviser to the Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio. The principal address of Acadian is 260 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110. Acadian is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023.

 

Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name and Principal Business
Address of Other Company

Connection with Other

Company

Ross Dowd, Executive Vice President, CEO

Acadian Asset Management (Australia) Ltd

20 Martin Place

Level 9, Suite 3

Sydney, NSW 2000

Australia

 

Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd

24 King William Street, 6th Floor

London

EC4R 9AT

United Kingdom

 

Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd

8 Marina View, #40-01

Asia Square Tower 1

Singapore, 018960

Affiliated Directorships

 

 

 

Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name and Principal Business
Address of Other Company

Connection with Other

Company

Brendan Bradley,

Executive Vice President, CIO

Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd

24 King William Street, 6th Floor London

EC4R 9AT

United Kingdom

 

Acadian Asset Management (Australia) Ltd

20 Martin Place

Level 9, Suite 3

Sydney, NSW 2000

Australia

 

Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd

8 Marina View, #40-01

Asia Square Tower 1

Singapore 018960

Affiliated Directorships

 

Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name and Principal Business
Address of Other Company

Connection with Other

Company

Kelly Young,

Executive Vice President

Chief Marketing Officer

Acadian Asset Management (UK) Ltd

24 King William Street, 6th Floor

London

EC4R 9AT

United Kingdom

 

Acadian Asset Management (Australia) Ltd

20 Martin Place

Level 9, Suite 3

Sydney, NSW 2000

Australia

 

Acadian Asset Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd

8 Marina View, #40-01

Asia Square Tower 1

Singapore 018960

Affiliated Directorships

 

 

 

Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name and Principal Business
Address of Other Company

Connection with Other

Company

Suren Rana, Member of Board of Managers

BrightSphere Investment Group, Inc (“BSIG”-a public company traded on the NYSE);

200 Clarendon Street, 53rd Floor Boston, MA 02116

 

Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment advisor)

260 Franklin Street

Boston, MA 02110

Director, Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Affiliated Directorships

 

Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name and Principal Business
Address of Other Company

Connection with Other

Company

Elie Sugarman

BrightSphere Investment Group, Inc (“BSIG”-a public company traded on the NYSE)

200 Clarendon Street, 53rd Floor Boston, MA 02116

 

Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment advisor)

260 Franklin Street

Boston, MA 02110

Corporate Development Officer

 

 

Affiliated Directorships

Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name and Principal Business
Address of Other Company

Connection with Other

Company

Richard Hart, Member of Board of Managers

BrightSphere Investment Group, Inc (“BSIG”-a public company traded on the NYSE)

200 Clarendon Street, 53rd Floor Boston, MA 02116

 

Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment advisor)

260 Franklin Street

Boston, MA 02110

Chief Legal Officer

 

 

Affiliated Directorships

Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name and Principal Business
Address of Other Company

Connection with Other

Company

Melody Huang, Member of Board of Managers

BrightSphere Investment Group, Inc (“BSIG”-a public company traded on the NYSE)

200 Clarendon Street, 53rd Floor Boston, MA 02116

 

Acadian Asset Management LLC (an investment advisor)

260 Franklin Street

Boston, MA 02110

Director of Finance and Investor Relations

 

 

Affiliated Directorships

 

 

 

Cambiar Investors, LLC

Cambiar Investors, LLC (“Cambiar”) serves as the investment adviser to the Cambiar Opportunity Fund, the Cambiar International Equity Fund, the Cambiar Small Cap Fund, the Cambiar Aggressive Value Fund, the Cambiar SMID Fund, the Cambiar International Small Cap Fund and the Cambiar Aggressive Value ETF. The principal address of Cambiar is 200 Columbine Street, Suite 800, Denver, Colorado 80206. Cambiar is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023, no director, officer or partner of Cambiar engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc.

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc. (“CIBC”) serves as the investment adviser for the CIBC Atlas Disciplined Equity Fund, CIBC Atlas Income Opportunities Fund, CIBC Atlas Mid Cap Equity Fund, CIBC Atlas All Cap Growth Fund, CIBC Atlas Equity Income Fund and CIBC Atlas International Growth Fund. The principal address of CIBC is 181 West Madison Street, 36th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60602. CIBC is an investment adviser registered with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023.

 

Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name and Principal Business
Address of Other Company

Connection with

Other Company

Paul Carey, SVP

CIBC Bancorp USA

120 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60603

Chief Financial Officer
Zachary Christensen, VP

CIBC Bancorp USA

120 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60603

Corporate Controller and Chief Accountant
Kevin Burns, VP

CIBC Bancorp USA

120 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60603

Deputy Chief Risk Officer
Kimberly Ekwemoha, VP

CIBC Bancorp USA

120 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60603

US Chief Anti-Money Laundering Officer and Global Sanctions
David Griffin

CIBC Bancorp USA

120 South LaSalle Street

Chicago, IL 60603

Chief Information Security Officer

 

 

 

Edgewood Management LLC

Edgewood Management LLC (“Edgewood”) serves as the investment adviser to the Edgewood Growth Fund. The principal address of Edgewood is 600 Steamboat Road, Suite 103, Greenwich, Connecticut 06830. Edgewood is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and 2023, no director, officer or partner of Edgewood engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Fayez Sarofim & Co.

Fayez Sarofim & Co. (“Fayez Sarofim”) serves as the investment adviser for the Sarofim Equity Fund. The principal address of Fayez Sarofim is 2907 Two Houston Center, 909 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas 77010. Fayez Sarofim is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022.

 

Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name and Principal Business
Address of Other Company

Connection with Other

Company

Christopher B. Sarofim

Chairman

Kemper Corporation

One East Wacker Drive

Chicago, IL 60601

Director
 

Sarofim Trust Co.

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Chairman
 

Sarofim Realty Advisors LLC.

2525 McKinnon St.

Suite 530

Dallas, TX 75201

Director
 

Sarofim International Management Company

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Chairman and President
 

The Sarofim Group, LLC.

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Chairman and Director
 

Flame Acquisition Corp.

700 Milam St.

Suite 3300

Houston, TX 77002

Director
 

Sima Capital LLC

2001 Kirby Dr.

Suite 808

Houston, TX 77019

Managing Member

Raye G. White

Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Compliance Officer and Director

Sarofim Trust Co.

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

President, Chief Executive Officer, Treasurer and Director
 

Sarofim International Management Company

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Director
 

Sarofim Realty Advisors LLC.

2525 McKinnon St.
Suite 530
Dallas, TX 75201

Secretary, Treasurer and Chief Compliance Officer
 

The Sarofim Group, LLC

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Executive Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Director

 

 

 

William Gentry Lee, Jr., CFA

Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer, and Director

Sarofim Trust Co.

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
 

Sarofim International Management Company

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Chief Executive Officer, Chief Investment Officer and Director
 

Sarofim Realty Advisors LLC.

2525 McKinnon St.
Suite 530
Dallas, TX 75201

Director
 

The Sarofim Group, LLC

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Charles E. Sheedy, CFA

Senior Vice President

Sarofim Trust Co.

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Senior Vice President and Director
 

Sarofim International Management Company

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Senior Vice President
 

The Sarofim Group, LLC

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

Reynaldo Reza

Senior Vice President

Sarofim Trust Co.

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Senior Vice President and Director
 

Sarofim International Management Company

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Senior Vice President
 

The Sarofim Group, LLC

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Senior Vice President

 

Michele Gibbons
General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer
Sarofim Trust Co.
Two Houston Center
Suite 2907
Houston, TX 77010
General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer
  Sarofim International Management Company
Two Houston Center
Suite 2907
Houston, TX 77010
General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer
  The Sarofim Group, LLC
Two Houston Center
Suite 2907 Houston, TX
77010
General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer
 

Sarofim Realty Advisors LLC.

2525 McKinnon St.
Suite 530
Dallas, TX 75201

General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer

John Colucci IV

Operating Officer

Sarofim Trust Co.

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Chief Operating Officer
 

Sarofim International Management Company

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Chief Operating Officer
 

The Sarofim Group, LLC

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Chief Operating Officer

 

 

 

Alan R. Christensen, CFA

President and Head of Investment Risk

Sarofim Trust Co.

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Head of Investment Risk and Director
 

Sarofim International Management Company

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Head of Investment Risk
 

The Sarofim Group, LLC

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

President and Head of Investment Risk

Clinton T. Laechelin

Vice President – Finance

Sarofim Trust Co.

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Vice President – Finance
 

Sarofim Realty Advisors LLC.

2525 McKinnon St.

Suite 530

Dallas, TX 75201

Vice President – Finance
 

Sarofim International Management Company

Two Houston Center

Suite 2907

Houston, TX 77010

Vice President – Finance
 

Sarofim Realty Advisors LLC.

2525 McKinnon St.
Suite 530
Dallas, TX 75201

Vice President – Finance

 

Hamlin Capital Management, LLC

Hamlin Capital Management, LLC (“Hamlin”) serves as the investment adviser for the Hamlin High Dividend Equity Fund. The principal address of Hamlin is 640 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10019. Hamlin is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2021 and 2022.

 

 

 

Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name and Principal Business
Address of Other Company

Connection with Other

Company

Mark Stitzer – Managing Partner

Hamlin Capital Advisors, LLC

5550 West Executive Drive, Suite 540

Tampa, FL 33609

Owner
 

Branchville Persistence, LLC

640 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Owner
 

Hamlin-Crest GP, LLC

640 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Owner
Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name and Principal Business
Address of Other Company

Connection with Other

Company

Joseph Bridy – Partner & Fixed Income Portfolio Manager

Hamlin Capital Advisors, LLC

5550 West Executive Drive, Suite 540

Tampa, FL 33609

Owner
 

Branchville Persistence, LLC

640 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Owner
 

Hamlin-Crest GP, LLC

640 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Owner
Chris D’Agnes – Partner & Equity Portfolio Manager

Hamlin Capital Advisors, LLC

5550 West Executive Drive, Suite 540

Tampa, FL 33609

Owner
 

Hamlin-Crest GP, LLC

640 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Owner
Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name and Principal Business
Address of Other Company

Connection with Other

Company

Charlie Garland – Partner and Equity Portfolio Manager

Hamlin Capital Advisors, LLC

5550 West Executive Drive, Suite 540

Tampa, FL 33609

Owner
 

Hamlin-Crest GP, LLC

640 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Owner

 

 

 

Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name and Principal Business
Address of Other Company
Connection with Other Company
Deborah Finegan – Partner & Chief Operating Officer

Hamlin Capital Advisors, LLC

5550 West Executive Drive, Suite 540

Tampa, FL 33609

Owner
 

Branchville Persistence, LLC

640 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Owner
 

Hamlin-Crest GP, LLC

640 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Owner
Benjamin Kaufman – Partner & Bond Analyst

Hamlin-Crest GP, LLC

640 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Owner
Parker Stitzer – Partner & Bond Analyst

Hamlin-Crest GP, LLC

640 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Owner
Michael Tang – Partner & Equity Portfolio Manager

Hamlin-Crest GP, LLC

640 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10019

Owner

 

 

 

Haverford Financial Services, Inc.

Haverford Financial Services, Inc. (“Haverford”) serves as the investment adviser for the Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund. The principal address of Haverford is Three Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450, Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087-4546. Haverford is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023.

 

Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name and Principal Business
Address of Other Company
Connection with Other Company

George W. Connell

Vice Chairman & Owner

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice Chairman & Indirect Owner
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice Chairman & Indirect Owner
 

Drexel Morgan & Co.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

CEO, President & Owner
 

Red Wing Management II, LLC

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 305

Radnor, PA 19087

Indirect Owner

 

 

 

Joseph J. McLaughlin

Chairman, CEO & President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Chairman & CEO

 

 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Registered Representative

Binney H. C. Wietlisbach

Executive Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

President*, Director & Secretary*
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

CEO & President*

Henry B. Smith

Head of Investment Strategy

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Head of Investment Strategy
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Registered Representative
 

Drexel Morgan & Co.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Advisory Board Member

David Brune

Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Registered Representative

John H. Donaldson

Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President

Timothy E. Gillespie

Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Registered Representative

Timothy A. Hoyle

Vice President & Chief Investment Officer

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President & Chief Investment Officer
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Registered Representative

 

 

 

Jeffrey M. Bagley

Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President

MarieElena V. Ness

Chief Compliance Officer

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

President, VP & Chief Compliance Officer*
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

VP & Chief Compliance Officer
 

Drexel Morgan & Co.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

VP & Chief Compliance Officer
Paul S. Rovner
Director, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer
The Haverford Trust Company
3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450
Radnor, PA 19087
VP, CFO, & Assistant Secretary
  Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.
3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450
Radnor, PA 19087
VP & CFO
  Drexel Morgan & Co.
3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450
Radnor, PA 19087
VP & Secretary

 

 

 

John M. Derderian

Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Secretary, Treasurer, Registered Principal

T. Keith Eby

Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Registered Representative

Diane E. Goldstein

Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President

Lydia C. Holiat

Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Registered Representative

Seth D. Horwitz

Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Registered Representative

David C. Peppard

Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Registered Representative

Patrice M. Shute

Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Registered Representative

Robert F. Stiles

Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Registered Representative

John S. Supplee

Director, Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Registered Principal

 

 

 

Christine E. Walker Nerney

Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President
 

Haverford Trust Securities, Inc.

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Registered Representative

Veronica McKee

Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer
Maxine A. Cuffe

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President & Director of Global Strategies
Halie W. O’Shea

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President & Director of Research
Robert J. Gormley
Senior Operations Officer & Team Lead
Haverford Financial Services, Inc. 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 Senior Operations Officer & Team Lead
  The Haverford Trust Company 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 Senior Operations Officer & Team Lead
  Haverford Trust Securities, Inc. 3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450 Radnor, PA 19087 Registered Principal

James Kane

Vice President

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

Vice President

Keith Aleardi

President & Director

Effective 2/6/2023

The Haverford Trust Company

3 Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, PA 19087

President & Director

 

  * Denotes post held ended in 2023.

 

 

 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. (“Loomis Sayles”)

Loomis Sayles acts as investment adviser to Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Institutional Securitized Fund. The address of Loomis Sayles is One Financial Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111. Loomis Sayles is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the last two fiscal years October 31, 2022 and 2023.

 

Name and Position with Investment Adviser Name and Principal Business Address of Other Company Connection with Other Company

Kevin P. Charleston

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

 

 

Loomis Sayles Funds I

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer

Loomis Sayles Funds II

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA

02199

Trustee

Natixis Funds Trust I

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Trustee

Natixis Funds Trust II

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Trustee

Natixis Funds Trust IV

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Trustee

Natixis ETF Trust

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Trustee

Natixis ETF Trust II

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Trustee

Gateway Trust

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Trustee

Loomis Sayles Distributors, Inc.

One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111

Director

Loomis Sayles Investments Limited

77 Coleman Street, 6th Floor, London, England EC2R 5BJ

Representative of Loomis Sayles as a corporate Director

Loomis Sayles Trust Company, LLC

One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111

Manager and President

Loomis Sayles Investments Asia Pte. Ltd.

10 Collyer Quay #05-01/03, Ocean Financial Centre, Singapore 049315

Director
Loomis Sayles Operating Services, LLC, One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 (dissolved 12/20/22) Director, Chairman and President (2020 - 2022)

Loomis Sayles (Netherlands) B.V.

Stadsplateau 7, Utrecht, Netherlands 3521 AZ

Managing Director

Loomis Sayles Capital Re, SAS

43 avenue Pierre Mendès -France 75013 Paris

Chairman of the Supervisory Board
NIM-os, LLC One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 Manager

 

 

 

Matthew J. Eagan

Co-Head and Portfolio Manager, Full Discretion, and Director

None. None.

Daniel J. Fuss

Vice Chairman and Director

Loomis Sayles Funds I

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Executive Vice President (2003 - 2021)

Loomis Sayles Funds II

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

 Executive Vice President (2003 - 2021)

John R. Gidman

Chief Operating Officer and Director

Loomis Sayles Operating Services, LLC, One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 (dissolved 12/20/22) Director and Chief Executive Officer (2020 - 2022)

NIM-os Technologies, Inc.

One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111

 

Director
NIM-os, LLC One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 Manager

David L. Giunta

Director



Natixis Investment Managers, LLC

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA

02199

President and Chief Executive Officer, US; Manager

Natixis Advisors, LLC

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

President and Chief Executive Officer; Manager

Natixis Distribution, LLC

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

President and Chief Executive Officer; Manager

AEW Capital Management, Inc.

Two Seaport Lane, Boston, MA 02210

Director

Gateway Investment Advisers, LLC

312 Walnut Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Manager

Harris Associates, Inc.

111 South Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago IL 60606

Director

Vaughan Nelson Investment Management, Inc.

600 Travis Street, Suite 3800

Houston, TX 77002

Director

Loomis Sayles Funds I

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Trustee and Executive Vice President

Loomis Sayles Funds II

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer

Natixis Funds Trust I

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer

Natixis Funds Trust II

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer

Natixis Funds Trust IV

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer

Natixis ETF Trust

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer

Natixis ETF Trust II

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer

Gateway Trust

888 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199

Trustee, President and Chief Executive Officer
NIM-os, LLC One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 Manager

 

 

 

Aziz V. Hamzaogullari

Chief Investment Officer, Growth Equity Strategies, Portfolio Manager and Director

None. None.

Kinji Kato

Director

Natixis Investment Managers Japan

Ark Hills South Tower 8F

4-5, Roppongi 1-chome, Minato-ku

Tokyo 106-0032

Japan

Honorary Chairman

Maurice Leger

Head of Global Distribution and Director

Loomis Sayles Trust Company, LLC

One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111

Manager
 

Loomis Sayles Distributors, L.P.

One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111

President
 

Loomis Sayles Capital Re, SAS

43 avenue Pierre Mendès -France 75013 Paris

Supervisory Board Member

Richard G. Raczkowski

Co-Head and Portfolio Manager, Relative Return, and Director

None. None.

Rebecca O’Brien Radford

General Counsel, Secretary and Director (1/1/23 to present); Deputy General Counsel (2021 to 2023)

Loomis Sayles Distributors, Inc.

One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111

Director

Loomis Sayles Investments Limited

77 Coleman Street, 6th Floor, London, England EC2R 5BJ

General Counsel and Secretary

Loomis Sayles Trust Company, LLC

One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111

Manager and Secretary
Loomis Sayles Operating Services, LLC,
One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111 (dissolved 12/20/22)
Director and Secretary (2020 - 2022)

Loomis Sayles Capital Re, SAS

43 avenue Pierre Mendès -France 75013 Paris

Supervisory Board Member

NIM-os Technologies, Inc.

One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111

Director
NIM-os, LLC
One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111
Manager and General Counsel

 

 

 

Philippe Setbon

Director

Natixis Investment Managers

59 avenue Pierre Mendès-France, 75013 Paris, France

Chief Executive Officer (Dec. 2023 – present)

Natixis

7 Promenade Germaine Sablon, 75013 Paris, France

Member of Senior Management Committee (Dec. 2023 – present)

Ostrum Asset management

42 avenue Pierre Mendès-France, 75013 Paris, France

Chief Executive Officer (2019 – Dec. 2023)

Natixis TradEx Solutions

59 avenue Pierre Mendès-France, 75013 Paris, France

Director (2020 – present)

Harris Associates L.P.

111 South Wacker Drive, Suite 4600

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Director (Jan. 2024 – present)

AEW Capital Management, L.P.

Two Seaport Lane, Boston

Massachusetts 02210

Director (Jan. 2024 – present)

Susan L. Sieker

Chief Financial Officer and Director

Loomis Sayles Investments Limited

77 Coleman Street, 6th Floor, London, England EC2R 5BJ

Chief Financial Officer

Loomis Sayles Trust Company, LLC

One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111

Manager and Chief Financial Officer

Loomis Sayles Capital Re, SAS

43 avenue Pierre Mendès -France 75013 Paris

Supervisory Board Member

Loomis Sayles Investments Asia Pte. Ltd.

10 Collyer Quay #05-01/03, Ocean Financial Centre, Singapore 049315

Director

NIM-os Technologies, Inc.

One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111

Director

NIM-os, LLC

One Financial Center, Boston, MA 02111

Manager and Chief Financial Officer

Elaine M. Stokes

Co-Head and Portfolio Manager, Full Discretion, and Director

None. None.

David L. Waldman

Deputy Chief Investment Officer (2013 to 2021), Chief Investment Officer (2021 to present) and Director

Loomis Sayles Capital Re, SAS

43 avenue Pierre Mendès -France 75013 Paris

Supervisory Board Member

 

LSV Asset Management

LSV Asset Management (“LSV”) serves as the investment adviser to the LSV Value Equity Fund, LSV Conservative Value Equity Fund, LSV Small Cap Value Fund, LSV Global Value Fund, LSV U.S. Managed Volatility Fund, LSV Global Managed Volatility Fund and LSV Emerging Markets Equity Fund. The address of LSV is 155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600, Chicago, Illinois 60606. LSV is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023, no director, officer or partner of LSV engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

 

 

Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC

Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC (“Rice Hall James”) serves as the investment adviser to the Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio. The principal address of Rice Hall James is 600 West Broadway, Suite 1000, San Diego, California 92101. Rice Hall James is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940.

 

During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023, no director, officer or partner of Rice Hall James engaged in any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature for his or her own account or in the capacity of director, officer, employee, partner or trustee.

 

Sands Capital Management, LLC

Sands Capital Management, LLC (“Sands Capital”) serves as the investment adviser to the Sands Capital Global Growth Fund. The principal address of Sands Capital is 1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 3000, Arlington, Virginia 22209. Sands Capital is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The information listed below is for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023.

 

Name and Position with
Investment Adviser
Name and Principal Business
Address of Other Company

Connection with Other

Company

Frank M. Sands, CFA

Chief Investment Officer,

Chief Executive Officer

Sands Capital Ventures, LLC

1000 Wilson Boulevard

Suite 3000

Arlington, VA 22209

Investment Board Member,

Executive Management Team

Jonathan Goodman

General Counsel and Secretary

Sands Capital Ventures, LLC

1000 Wilson Boulevard

Suite 3000

Arlington, VA 22209

General Counsel

Dana McNamara

Executive Managing Director, Chief Administrative Officer

Sands Capital Ventures, LLC

1000 Wilson Boulevard

Suite 3000

Arlington, VA 22209

Executive Management Team

Stephen Nimmo

Executive Managing Director

Sands Capital Ventures, LLC

1000 Wilson Boulevard

Suite 3000

Arlington, VA 22209

Provides client relations service

Luke Iglehart

Executive Managing Director

Sands Capital Ventures, LLC

1000 Wilson Boulevard

Suite 3000

Arlington, VA 22209

Provides client relations service

Thomas Perry Williams

President

Sands Capital Ventures, LLC

1000 Wilson Boulevard

Suite 3000

Arlington, VA 22209

Executive Management Team

Brian Christiansen

Executive Managing Director, Sr. Portfolio Manager, Research Analyst

Sands Capital Ventures, LLC

1000 Wilson Boulevard

Suite 3000

Arlington, VA 22209

Executive Management Team

David Levanson

Executive Managing Director, Sr. Portfolio Manager, Research Analyst

Sands Capital Ventures, LLC

1000 Wilson Boulevard

Suite 3000

Arlington, VA 22209

Executive Management Team

Ian Ratcliffe

Managing Partner

Sands Capital Ventures, LLC

1000 Wilson Boulevard

Suite 3000

Arlington, VA 22209

Fund Manager

Alexandra Fulk

Chief Compliance Officer, Sr. Legal Counsel

Sands Capital Ventures, LLC

1000 Wilson Boulevard

Suite 3000

Arlington, VA 22209

Chief Compliance Officer

 

 

 

Item 32. Principal Underwriters

 

  (a) Furnish the name of each investment company (other than the Registrant) for which each principal underwriter currently distributing the securities of the Registrant also acts as a principal underwriter, distributor or investment adviser.

 

The Registrant’s distributor, SEI Investments Distribution Co. (the “Distributor”), acts as distributor for:

 

SEI Daily Income Trust July 15, 1982
SEI Tax Exempt Trust December 3, 1982
SEI Institutional Managed Trust January 22, 1987
SEI Institutional International Trust August 30, 1988
The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II January 28, 1993
Bishop Street Funds January 27, 1995
SEI Asset Allocation Trust April 1, 1996
SEI Institutional Investments Trust June 14, 1996
City National Rochdale Funds (f/k/a CNI Charter Funds) April 1, 1999
   
Causeway Capital Management Trust September 20, 2001
SEI Offshore Opportunity Fund II, Ltd. September 1, 2005
ProShares Trust November 14, 2005
Community Capital Trust (f/k/a Community Reinvestment Act Qualified Investment Fund) January 8, 2007
SEI Offshore Advanced Strategy Series SPC July 31, 2007
SEI Structured Credit Fund, LP July 31, 2007
Global X Funds October 24, 2008
ProShares Trust II November 17, 2008

 

 

 

SEI Special Situations Fund, Ltd. July 1, 2009
Exchange Traded Concepts Trust (f/k/a FaithShares Trust) August 7, 2009
Schwab Strategic Trust October 12, 2009
RiverPark Funds Trust September 8, 2010
Adviser Managed Trust December 10, 2010
SEI Core Property Fund, LP January 1, 2011
New Covenant Funds March 23, 2012
KraneShares Trust December 18, 2012
The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III February 12, 2014
SEI Catholic Values Trust March 24, 2015
SEI Hedge Fund SPC June 26, 2015
SEI Energy Debt Fund, LP June 30, 2015
Gallery Trust January 8, 2016
City National Rochdale Select Strategies Fund March 1, 2017
Impact Shares Trust March 1, 2018
City National Rochdale Strategic Credit Fund May 16, 2018
Symmetry Panoramic Trust July 23, 2018
Frost Family of Funds May 31, 2019
SEI Vista Fund, Ltd. January 20, 2021
Delaware Wilshire Private Markets Fund March 22, 2021
Catholic Responsible Investments Funds November 17, 2021
SEI Exchange Traded Funds May 18, 2022
SEI Global Private Assets VI, L.P. July 29, 2022
Quaker Investment Trust June 8, 2023
SEI Alternative Income Fund September 1, 2023

 

The Distributor provides numerous financial services to investment managers, pension plan sponsors, and bank trust departments. These services include portfolio evaluation, performance measurement and consulting services (“Funds Evaluation”) and automated execution, clearing and settlement of securities transactions (“MarketLink”).

 

(b) Furnish the Information required by the following table with respect to each director, officer or partner of each principal underwriter named in the answer to Item 25 of Part B. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each director or officer is One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, PA 19456.

 

 

 

Name Position and Office
with Underwriter
Positions and Offices
with Registrant
William M. Doran Director --
Paul F. Klauder Director --
Wayne M. Withrow Director, President & Chief Executive Officer --
Jason McGhin Vice President & Chief Operations Officer --
John P. Coary Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer --
Jennifer H. Campisi Chief Compliance Officer & Assistant Secretary --
Donald Duncan Anti-Money Laundering Officer --
John C. Munch General Counsel & Secretary --
William M. Martin Vice President --
Christopher Rowan Vice President --
Judith A. Rager Vice President --
Gary Michael Reese Vice President --
Robert M. Silvestri Vice President --

 

Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records:

 

Books or other documents required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, and the rules promulgated thereunder, are maintained as follows:

 

(a) With respect to Rules 31a-1(a); 31a-1(b)(1); (2)(a) and (b); (3); (6); (8); (12); and 31a-1 (d), the required books and records are maintained at the offices of Registrant’s custodians:

 

U.S. Bank, National Association

800 Nicollett Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-4302

 

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co.

50 Post Office Square

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

 

(b) With respect to Rules 31a-1(a); 31a-1 (b)(1),(4); (2)(C) and (D); (4); (5); (6); (8); (9); (10); (11); and 31a-1(f), the required books and records are maintained at the offices of Registrant’s administrator:

 

SEI Investments Global Funds Services

One Freedom Valley Drive

Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

 

(c) With respect to Rules 31a-1 (b)(5), (6), (9) and (10) and 31a-1 (f), the required books and records are maintained at the offices of the Registrant’s investment advisers:

 

 

 

Acadian Asset Management LLC

260 Franklin Street

Boston, Massachusetts 02110

 

Cambiar Investors, LLC

200 Columbine Street, Suite 800

Denver, Colorado 80206

 

CIBC Private Wealth Advisors, Inc.

One South Wacker Drive, Suite 3500

Chicago, Illinois 60606

 

Edgewood Management LLC

600 Steamboat Road, Suite 103

Greenwich, Connecticut 06830

 

Fayez Sarofim & Co.

2907 Two Houston Center

909 Fannin Street

Houston, Texas 77010

 

Hamlin Capital Management, LLC

640 Fifth Avenue, 11th Floor

New York, New York 10019

 

Haverford Financial Services, Inc.

Three Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 450

Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087-4546

 

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P.

One Financial Center

Boston, Massachusetts 02111

 

LSV Asset Management

155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4600,

Chicago, Illinois 60606

 

Rice Hall James & Associates, LLC

600 West Broadway, Suite 1000

San Diego, California 92101

 

Sands Capital Management, LLC

1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 3000

Arlington, Virginia 22209

 

Item 34. Management Services: None.

 

Item 35. Undertakings: None.

 

NOTICE

 

A copy of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust for The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund (the “Trust”) is on file with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and notice is hereby given that this registration statement has been executed on behalf of the Trust by an officer of the Trust as an officer and by its trustees as trustees and not individually and the obligations of or arising out of this registration statement are not binding upon any of the trustees, officers, or shareholders individually but are binding only upon the assets and property of the Trust.

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 367 to Registration Statement No. 033-42484 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Oaks, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 28th day of February, 2024.

 

  THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND  
       
  By: *  
    Michael Beattie, President  

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date(s) indicated.

 

 

*   Trustee February 28, 2024
Kathleen Gaffney      
       
*   Trustee February 28, 2024
Joseph T. Grause, Jr.      
       
*   Trustee February 28, 2024
N. Jeffrey Klauder      
       
*   Trustee February 28, 2024
Robert Mulhall      
       
*   Trustee February 28, 2024
Robert A. Nesher      
       
*   Trustee February 28, 2024
Bruce Speca      
       
*   Trustee February 28, 2024
Monica Walker      
       
*   President February 28, 2024
Michael Beattie      
       
*   Treasurer, Controller & February 28, 2024
Andrew Metzger   Chief Financial Officer  

 

*By: /s/ Matthew Maher  
  Matthew Maher  
  Attorney-in-Fact  

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

(d)(2)(ii) Amended Schedule A, dated December 1, 2023, to the Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, dated February 13, 2013, between the Registrant and LSV Asset Management, relating to the LSV Funds
(h)(2)(ix) Amendment, dated October 2023, to the Agency Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, between the Registrant and SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. (formerly, DST Systems, Inc.)
(i) Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
(j)(1) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Ernst & Young LLP, relating to the Cambiar Funds, CIBC Atlas Funds, Haverford Quality Growth Stock Fund, LSV Funds and Sands Capital Global Growth Fund
(j)(2) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, relating to the Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Institutional Securitized Fund
(j)(3) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Cohen & Co., relating to the Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio and Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio
(j)(4) Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, BBD LLP, relating to the Acadian Emerging Markets Portfolio and Rice Hall James Micro Cap Portfolio