485APOS 1 fp0090424-1_485apos.htm

 

AS FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 4, 2024

 

File No. 033-50718

File No. 811-07102

 

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. 307 /X/  

AND

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE

INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

  AMENDMENT NO. 311 /X/  

 

THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND II

(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:

 

David W. Freese
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
2222 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

 

THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

 

Preliminary Prospectus Dated October 4, 2024

The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II

 

Prospectus

 

[Date], 2024

Frontier Asset Absolute Return ETF

Ticker Symbol: [____]

 

Frontier Asset Core Bond ETF

Ticker Symbol: [____]

 

Frontier Asset Opportunistic Credit ETF

Ticker Symbol: [____]

 

Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF

Ticker Symbol: [____]

 

Frontier Asset Total International Equity ETF

Ticker Symbol: [____]

 

Frontier Asset U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF

Ticker Symbol: [____]

 

Principal Listing Exchange: NYSE Arca, Inc. (the “Exchange”)

INVESTMENT ADVISER:

FRONTIER ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC

SUB-ADVISER:

EXCHANGE TRADED CONCEPTS, 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
FRONTIER ASSET ABSOLUTE RETURN ETF XX
  INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE XX
  FEES AND EXPENSES XX
  PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES XX
  PRINCIPAL RISKS XX
  PERFORMANCE INFORMATION XX
  INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER XX
  PORTFOLIO MANAGERS XX
FRONTIER ASSET CORE BOND ETF XX
  INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE XX
  FEES AND EXPENSES XX
  PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES XX
  PRINCIPAL RISKS XX
  PERFORMANCE INFORMATION XX
  INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER XX
  PORTFOLIO MANAGERS XX
 FRONTIER ASSET OPPORTUNISTIC CREDIT ETF XX
  INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE XX
  FEES AND EXPENSES XX
  PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES XX
  PRINCIPAL RISKS XX
  PERFORMANCE INFORMATION XX
  INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER XX
  PORTFOLIO MANAGERS XX
FRONTIER ASSET GLOBAL SMALL CAP EQUITY ETF XX
  INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE XX
  FEES AND EXPENSES XX
  PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES XX
  PRINCIPAL RISKS XX
  PERFORMANCE INFORMATION XX
  INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER XX
  PORTFOLIO MANAGERS XX
 FRONTIER ASSET TOTAL INTERNATIONAL EQUITY ETF XX
  INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE XX
  FEES AND EXPENSES XX
  PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES XX
  PRINCIPAL RISKS XX
  PERFORMANCE INFORMATION XX
  INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER XX
  PORTFOLIO MANAGERS XX

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 FRONTIER ASSET U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ETF XX
  INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE XX
  FEES AND EXPENSES XX
  PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES XX
  PRINCIPAL RISKS XX
  PERFORMANCE INFORMATION XX
  INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER XX
  PORTFOLIO MANAGERS XX
SUMMARY INFORMATION ABOUT PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES, TAXES AND FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY COMPENSATION XX
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS’ INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES XX
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RISK XX
INFORMATION ABOUT PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS XX
INVESTMENT ADVISER XX
SUB-ADVISER XX
PORTFOLIO MANAGERS XX
PURCHASING AND SELLING FUND SHARES XX
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES XX
OTHER POLICIES XX
DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES XX
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION XX
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS XX
HOW TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS Back Cover

 

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FRONTIER ASSET ABSOLUTE RETURN ETF

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Frontier Asset Absolute Return ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term total return.

 

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)1

 

Management Fees 0.60%
Other Expenses2 0.00%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (AFFE)3 0.40%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 1.00%

 

1Frontier Asset Management, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”), will pay all of the Fund’s expenses, except for the following: advisory fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, AFFE, accrued deferred tax liability, non-routine expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), litigation expenses, and other non-routine or extraordinary expenses.
 2 Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
 3AFFE are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in shares of other mutual funds, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds, and are estimated for the current fiscal year.

 

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
$102 $318

 

3

 

 

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. Because the Fund has not commenced investment operations as of the date of this prospectus, it does not have portfolio turnover information to report.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”). In seeking to achieve its investment objective, the Fund utilizes an absolute return approach that is designed to provide exposure to a wide range of equity securities and fixed income securities of domestic and foreign issuers, with no prescribed asset allocation targets under normal circumstances. As such, exposures across asset classes may vary widely, and the Fund’s assets may exhibit an equity or fixed income bias at any given time.

 

The Fund’s equity investments may include common stock, preferred stock, securities convertible into other equity securities, and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The Fund may invest in the equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies of various market capitalizations, including in emerging and developed markets, and supranational entities.

 

The Fund’s fixed income securities may include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities, municipal securities, corporate debt securities, commercial paper, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities (including collateralized loan obligations and collateralized mortgage obligations), inflation-linked securities (e.g., Treasury inflation-protected securities (“TIPS”)), convertible securities, and bank loans. The Fund’s fixed income holdings are diversified across a wide range of short- to long-term income-producing securities issued by U.S. and international developed and emerging markets issuers. With respect to credit quality, the Fund may invest in both investment-grade and high-yield (also known as “junk bonds”) fixed income instruments. Fixed income securities are considered investment grade if they are rated in one of the four highest rating categories 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.

 

The Fund operates in a manner that is commonly referred to as a “fund of funds” and obtains investment exposure to the asset classes described above primarily by investing in other ETFs. The Adviser makes investment decisions by seeking to identity and assemble a portfolio of ETFs that will achieve its desired asset allocation mix while also optimizing for positive risk-adjusted returns (i.e., alpha) and downside protection in turbulent markets. To accomplish this, the Adviser’s investment team conducts ongoing research into the ever-growing universe of ETFs and their investment managers, populating a list of ETFs from which the Fund’s portfolio is constructed. The Adviser’s analysis and due diligence process for selecting prospective ETFs includes the following:

 

·Quantitative Analysis: The Adviser conducts single and multi-factor benchmark analysis to develop a return and risk profile for each ETF, selecting funds based on the apparent ability to generate absolute and relative returns, with an emphasis on funds that the Adviser believes demonstrate (i) strong risk-adjusted performance with some degree of consistency and (ii) relatively stable performance during turbulent markets.

 

4

 

 

·     Qualitative Analysis: The Adviser conducts an evaluation of each ETF’s underlying investment manager, seeking to understand the firm’s leadership structure, philosophy and investment decision making process. Weight is given to the depth and quality of the strategy underlying the manager’s investment thesis along with organizational factors including the manager’s compensation structure, board makeup, conflicts of interest and whether the portfolio managers of the ETF in question invest alongside clients.

 

·Manager Edge: The Adviser believes that ETF managers with a clear thesis for generating positive risk-adjusted returns are more likely to outperform overtime. Accordingly, the Adviser seeks to understand the inefficiencies each manager believes exist in the market, the likelihood that such inefficiencies will persist and whether the manager has a reasonable edge in exploiting them.

 

Following this process, the Adviser will select ETFs on the basis of their ability to provide low-cost asset class exposure and/or to add value on either an absolute or risk-adjusted basis, taking into account market conditions, valuation metrics, risk profiles, and expected growth potential. The Adviser will sell ETFs for a variety of reasons, including the need to alter asset allocation exposures, to add ETFs that the Adviser believes are better positioned to add value as compared to existing holdings, and to remove ETFs that no longer meet the investment criteria for the Fund.

 

While the Fund primarily invests in other ETFs, as described above, it may also invest directly in securities and other instruments, rather than investing indirectly in securities and other instruments through ETFs, when the Adviser determines that doing so is the more appropriate means to access the desired exposure to an asset class.

 

The Adviser has engaged Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC to serve as trading sub-adviser (“Sub-Adviser”) for the Fund. The Sub-Adviser is responsible for trading portfolio securities for the Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of the portfolio, pre- and post-trade compliance, and monitoring of Fund trading activity, subject to the oversight of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

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, either directly or indirectly through investments in underlying ETFs, 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 market has moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s securities may fluctuate 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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

REITs 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 table and example in this prospectus.

 

Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk - Because the Fund invests in other investment companies, such as ETFs, 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. The Fund does not intend to invest in other investment companies unless the Adviser believes that the potential benefits of the investment justify the payment of any additional fees or expenses. Federal securities laws impose limitations on the Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies.

 

6

 

 

ETF Risks - The Fund is an 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 or below their NAV. The NAV of shares of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s 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 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.

 

Cash Transactions Risk - Like other ETFs, the Fund sells and redeems its shares only in large blocks called Creation Units and only to “Authorized Participants.” Unlike many other ETFs, however, the Fund expects to effect its creations and redemptions at least partially for cash, rather than in-kind securities. Thus, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in other ETFs as the Fund may recognize a capital gain that it could have avoided by making redemptions in-kind. As a result, the Fund may pay out higher capital gains distributions than ETFs that redeem in-kind. Further, paying redemption proceeds at least partially in cash rather than through in-kind delivery of portfolio securities may require the Fund to dispose of or sell portfolio investments to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds at an inopportune time.

 

Limited Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Risk - Because 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. 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 net asset value (“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.

 

Fixed-Income Securities 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. Generally, the Fund’s fixed-income securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise and vice versa. In a low interest rate environment, risks associated with rising rates are heightened. Declines in dealer market-making capacity as a result of structural or regulatory changes could decrease liquidity and/or increase volatility in the fixed-income markets.

 

Interest Rate Risk - The risk that a change in interest rates will cause a fall in the value of fixed-income securities, including U.S. Government securities, in which the Fund invests. Generally the value of the Fund’s fixed income securities will vary inversely with the direction of prevailing interest rates. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets and may affect the value and liquidity of instruments held by the Fund.

 

High Yield Bond Risk - High yield, or “junk,” bonds are debt securities rated below investment grade. High yield bonds are speculative, involve greater risks of default, downgrade, or price declines and are more volatile and tend to be less liquid than investment-grade securities. Companies issuing high yield bonds are less financially strong, are more likely to encounter financial difficulties, and are more vulnerable to adverse market events and negative sentiments than companies with higher credit ratings.

 

7

 

 

Non-U.S. Government Securities Risk - Foreign sovereign debt securities are subject to the risks that: (i) the governmental entity that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be willing or able to repay the principal and/or interest when it becomes due, due to factors such as debt service burden, political constraints, cash flow problems and other national economic factors; (ii) governments may default on their debt securities, which may require holders of such securities to participate in debt rescheduling or additional lending to defaulting governments; and (iii) there is no bankruptcy proceeding by which defaulted sovereign debt may be collected in whole or in part.

 

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. 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.

 

Commercial Paper Risk - Commercial paper is a short-term obligation with a maturity generally ranging from one to 270 days and is issued by U.S. or foreign companies or other entities in order to finance their current operations. Such investments are unsecured and usually discounted from their value at maturity. The value of commercial paper may be affected by changes in the credit rating or financial condition of the issuing entities and will tend to fall when interest rates rise and rise when interest rates fall. Asset-backed commercial paper may be issued by structured investment vehicles or other conduits that are organized to issue the commercial paper and to purchase trade receivables or other financial assets. The repayment of asset-backed commercial paper depends primarily on the cash collections received from such an issuer’s underlying asset portfolio and the issuer’s ability to issue new asset-backed commercial paper.

 

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.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk - Although U.S. Government securities are considered to be among the safest investments, they are not guaranteed against price movements due to changing interest rates. Obligations issued by some U.S. Government agencies are backed by the U.S. Treasury, while others are backed solely by the ability of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the agency’s own resources.

 

Foreign Government Agencies Risk - Bonds issued by government agencies, subdivisions or instrumentalities of foreign governments are generally backed only by the general creditworthiness and reputation of the entity issuing the bonds and may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the foreign government. Moreover, a foreign government that explicitly provides its full faith and credit to a particular entity may be, due to changed circumstances, unable or unwilling to provide that support. A foreign government agency’s operations and financial condition are influenced by the foreign government’s economic and other policies.

 

Supranational Entities Risk - Government members, or “stockholders,” usually make initial capital contributions to a supranational entity and in many cases are committed to make additional capital contributions if the supranational entity is unable to repay its borrowings. There is no guarantee, however, that one or more stockholders of the supranational entity will continue to make any necessary additional capital contributions. If such contributions are not made, the entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities, and the Fund may lose money on such investments.

 

8

 

 

Municipal Securities Risk - Municipal securities, like other fixed income securities, rise and fall in value in response to economic and market factors, primarily changes in interest rates, and actual or perceived credit quality. Rising interest rates will generally cause municipal securities to decline in value. Longer-term securities respond more sharply to interest rate changes than do shorter-term securities. A municipal security will also lose value if, due to rating downgrades or other factors, there are concerns about the issuer’s current or future ability to make principal or interest payments.

 

Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk - Mortgage-backed securities are fixed income securities representing an interest in a pool of underlying mortgage loans. Mortgage-backed securities are sensitive to changes in interest rates, but may respond to these changes differently from other fixed income securities due to the possibility of prepayment of the underlying mortgage loans. As a result, it may not be possible to determine in advance the actual maturity date or average life of a mortgage-backed security. Rising interest rates tend to discourage re-financings, with the result that the average life and volatility of the security will increase, exacerbating its decrease in market price. When interest rates fall, however, mortgage-backed securities may not gain as much in market value because of the expectation of additional mortgage prepayments, which must be reinvested at lower interest rates.

 

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk - Commercial mortgage-backed securities include securities that reflect an interest in, and are secured by, mortgage loans on commercial real property. Many of the risks of investing in commercial mortgage-backed securities reflect the risks of investing in the real estate securing the underlying mortgage loans. These risks reflect the effects of local and other economic conditions on real estate markets, the ability of tenants to make loan payments, and the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants. Commercial mortgage-backed securities may be less liquid and exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or asset-backed securities.

 

Prepayment and Extension Risk - When interest rates fall, issuers of high interest debt obligations may pay off the debts earlier than expected (prepayment risk), and the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds at lower yields. When interest rates rise, issuers of lower interest debt obligations may pay off the debts later than expected (extension risk), thus keeping the Fund’s assets tied up in lower interest debt obligations.

 

Asset-Backed Securities Risk - Asset-backed securities are securities backed by non-mortgage assets such as company receivables, truck and auto loans, leases and credit card receivables. Asset-backed securities may be issued as pass-through certificates, which represent undivided fractional ownership interests in the underlying pools of assets. 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.

 

Inflation Linked Securities Risk - Inflation linked securities, including TIPS, are fixed income securities for which the principal and/or interest income paid is linked to inflation rates. The relationship between an inflation linked security and its associated inflation index affects both the sum the Fund is paid when the security matures and the amount of interest that the security pays the Fund. With inflation (a rise in the index), the principal of the security increases. With deflation (a drop in the index), the principal of the security decreases. Inflation protected securities pay interest at a fixed rate. Because the rate is applied to the adjusted principal, however, interest payments can vary in amount from one period to the next. If inflation occurs, the interest payment increases. In the event of deflation, the interest payment decreases. At the maturity of a security, the Fund receives the adjusted principal or the original principal, whichever is greater.

 

9

 

 

Foreign Company Risk - Investing in foreign companies poses additional risks since political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. 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 same level of regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers. 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 and foreign markets and securities may be less liquid. 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 Securities 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.

 

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.

 

Bank Loans Risk - Investments in bank loans (through both assignments and participations) are generally subject to the same risks as investments in other types of debt instruments, including, in many cases, investments in high yield bonds. There may be limited public information available regarding bank loans and bank loans may be difficult to value. If the Fund holds a bank loan through another financial institution, or relies on a financial institution to administer the loan, its receipt of principal and interest on the loan may be subject to the credit risk of that financial institution. It is possible that collateral securing a loan, if any, may be insufficient or unavailable to the Fund, and that the Fund’s rights to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or insolvency laws. Bank loans may not be considered “securities,” and purchasers, such as the Fund, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws.

 

Collateralized Loan Obligations (“CLOs”) Risk - Collateralized loan obligations are generally subject to credit, interest rate, prepayment and extension, valuation and liquidity risks, which are described elsewhere in this section. These securities also are subject to risk of default on the underlying asset, particularly during periods of economic downturn. CLOs carry additional risks including, but not limited to, (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest of other payments, (ii) the collateral may decline in value or default, (iii) the Fund may invest in obligations 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 produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results.

 

10

 

 

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”) Risk - CMOs exhibit similar risks to those of mortgage-backed securities but also present certain special risks. CMOs are created by dividing the principal and interest payments collected on a pool of mortgages into several revenue streams (“tranches”) with different priority rights to portions of the underlying mortgage payments. As market conditions change, however, particularly during periods of rapid or unanticipated changes in interest rates, the ability of a CMO tranche to provide the anticipated investment characteristics and performance may be significantly reduced. These changes may result in volatility in the market value, and in some instances reduced liquidity, of the CMO tranche.

 

Money Market Instruments Risk - The value of money market instruments may be affected by changing interest rates and by changes in the credit ratings of the investments. An investment in a money market fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by any bank, the FDIC or any other government agency. Certain money market funds float their net asset value while others seek to preserve the value of investments at a stable net asset value (typically, $1.00 per share). An investment in a money market fund, even an investment in a fund seeking to maintain a stable net asset value per share, is not guaranteed and it is possible for the Fund to lose money by investing in these and other types of money market funds. The regulations governing money market funds were recently amended in July, 2023, and their implementation and interpretation, as well as enforcement, may affect the manner of operation, performance and/or yield of money market funds.

 

Liquidity Risk - 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.

 

Valuation Risk - The risk that a security may be difficult to value. The Fund may value certain securities at a price higher or lower than the price at which they can be sold. This risk may be especially pronounced for investments that are illiquid or may become illiquid.

 

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 its benchmark index or other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.

 

New Adviser Risk - The Adviser has not previously served as an adviser to a registered investment company. As a result, investors do not have a track record of managing an ETF from which to judge the Adviser, and the Adviser may not achieve the intended result in managing the Fund.

 

New Fund Risk - Because the Fund is new, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, may not employ a successful investment strategy, or may fail to attract sufficient assets under management to realize economies of scale, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders and will cause shareholders to incur expenses of liquidation.

 

11

 

 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

 

The Fund is new, and therefore has no performance history. Once the Fund has completed a full calendar year of operations, a bar chart and table will be included that will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund’s returns and comparing the Fund’s performance to 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.

 

Current performance information is available online at www.frontierasset.com or by calling toll-free at [X-XXX-XXX-XXXX].

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER

 

Frontier Asset Management, LLC is the Fund’s investment adviser. Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC serves as the trading sub-adviser to the Fund.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

Clifford Stanton, CFA, Director of Investments, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Paul Wright, CFA, Portfolio Strategist, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Ali Toyran, Portfolio Strategist, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Benton Peller, CFA, CAIA, Senior Investment Analyst, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund shares, taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares, Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page [XX] of the prospectus.

 

12

 

 

FRONTIER ASSET CORE BOND ETF

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Frontier Asset Core Bond ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide high income consistent with the preservation of capital.

 

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)1

 

Management Fees 0.60%
Other Expenses2 0.00%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (AFFE)3 0.30%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.90%

 

1Frontier Asset Management, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”), will pay all of the Fund’s expenses, except for the following: advisory fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, AFFE, accrued deferred tax liability, non-routine expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), litigation expenses, and other non-routine or extraordinary expenses.

2     Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

3AFFE are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in shares of other mutual funds, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds, and are estimated for the current fiscal year.

 

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
$92 $287

 

13

 

 

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. Because the Fund has not commenced investment operations as of the date of this prospectus, it does not have portfolio turnover information to report.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded Fund (“ETF”). Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in investment-grade fixed income securities. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

 

For purposes of the Fund’s 80% investment policy, fixed income securities include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, corporate debt securities, commercial paper, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and inflation-linked securities (e.g., Treasury inflation-protected securities (“TIPS”)). The Adviser considers fixed income securities to be investment grade if they are rated in one of the four highest rating categories 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.

 

The Fund is managed to achieve broad exposure to the U.S. investment-grade fixed income securities market. The Fund does not target a specific weighted average maturity for its investments, either individually or in the aggregate. As a result, the Fund’s interest rate sensitivity may vary significantly over time.

 

The Fund operates in a manner that is commonly referred to as a “fund of funds” and obtains investment exposure to the asset classes described above primarily by investing in other ETFs. The Adviser makes investment decisions by seeking to identity and assemble a portfolio of ETFs that will achieve its desired asset allocation mix while also optimizing for positive risk-adjusted returns (i.e., alpha) and downside protection in turbulent markets. To accomplish this, the Adviser’s investment team conducts ongoing research into the ever-growing universe of ETFs and their investment managers, populating a list of ETFs from which the Fund’s portfolio is constructed. The Adviser’s analysis and due diligence process for selecting prospective ETFs includes the following:

 

·Quantitative Analysis: The Adviser conducts single and multi-factor benchmark analysis to develop a return and risk profile for each ETF, selecting funds based on the apparent ability to generate absolute and relative returns, with an emphasis on funds that the Adviser believes demonstrate (i) strong risk-adjusted performance with some degree of consistency and (ii) relatively stable performance during turbulent markets.

 

·Qualitative Analysis: The Adviser conducts an evaluation of each ETF’s underlying investment manager, seeking to understand the firm’s leadership structure, philosophy and investment decision making process. Weight is given to the depth and quality of the strategy underlying the manager’s investment thesis along with organizational factors including the manager’s compensation structure, board makeup, conflicts of interest and whether the portfolio managers of the ETF in question invest alongside clients.

 

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·Manager Edge: The Adviser believes that ETF managers with a clear thesis for generating positive risk-adjusted returns are more likely to outperform overtime. Accordingly, the Adviser seeks to understand the inefficiencies each manager believes exist in the market, the likelihood that such inefficiencies will persist and whether the manager has a reasonable edge in exploiting them.

 

Following this process, the Adviser will select ETFs on the basis of their ability to provide low-cost asset class exposure and/or to add value on either an absolute or risk-adjusted basis, taking into account market conditions, valuation metrics, risk profiles, and expected growth potential. The Adviser will sell ETFs for a variety of reasons, including the need to alter asset allocation exposures, to add ETFs that the Adviser believes are better positioned to add value as compared to existing holdings, and to remove ETFs that no longer meet the investment criteria for the Fund.

 

While the Fund primarily invests in other ETFs, as described above, it may also invest directly in securities and other instruments, rather than investing indirectly in securities and other instruments through ETFs, when the Adviser determines that doing so is the more appropriate means to access the desired exposure to an asset class.

 

The Adviser has engaged Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC to serve as trading sub-adviser (“Sub-Adviser”) for the Fund. The Sub-Adviser is responsible for trading portfolio securities for the Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of the portfolio, pre- and post-trade compliance, and monitoring of Fund trading activity, subject to the oversight of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

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, either directly or indirectly through investments in underlying ETFs, are set forth below.

 

ETF Risks - The Fund is an 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 or below their NAV. The NAV of shares of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s 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 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.

 

Cash Transactions Risk - Like other ETFs, the Fund sells and redeems its shares only in large blocks called Creation Units and only to “Authorized Participants.” Unlike many other ETFs, however, the Fund expects to effect its creations and redemptions at least partially for cash, rather than in-kind securities. Thus, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in other ETFs as the Fund may recognize a capital gain that it could have avoided by making redemptions in-kind. As a result, the Fund may pay out higher capital gains distributions than ETFs that redeem in-kind. Further, paying redemption proceeds at least partially in cash rather than through in-kind delivery of portfolio securities may require the Fund to dispose of or sell portfolio investments to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds at an inopportune time.

 

15

 

 

Limited Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Risk - Because 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. 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 net asset value (“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.

 

Fixed-Income Securities 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. Generally, the Fund’s fixed-income securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise and vice versa. In a low interest rate environment, risks associated with rising rates are heightened. Declines in dealer market-making capacity as a result of structural or regulatory changes could decrease liquidity and/or increase volatility in the fixed-income markets.

 

Interest Rate Risk - The risk that a change in interest rates will cause a fall in the value of fixed-income securities, including U.S. Government securities, in which the Fund invests. Generally the value of the Fund’s fixed income securities will vary inversely with the direction of prevailing interest rates. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets and may affect the value and liquidity of instruments held by the Fund.

 

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. 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.

 

Commercial Paper Risk - Commercial paper is a short-term obligation with a maturity generally ranging from one to 270 days and is issued by U.S. or foreign companies or other entities in order to finance their current operations. Such investments are unsecured and usually discounted from their value at maturity. The value of commercial paper may be affected by changes in the credit rating or financial condition of the issuing entities and will tend to fall when interest rates rise and rise when interest rates fall. Asset-backed commercial paper may be issued by structured investment vehicles or other conduits that are organized to issue the commercial paper and to purchase trade receivables or other financial assets. The repayment of asset-backed commercial paper depends primarily on the cash collections received from such an issuer’s underlying asset portfolio and the issuer’s ability to issue new asset-backed commercial paper.

 

16

 

 

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.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk - Although U.S. Government securities are considered to be among the safest investments, they are not guaranteed against price movements due to changing interest rates. Obligations issued by some U.S. Government agencies are backed by the U.S. Treasury, while others are backed solely by the ability of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the agency’s own resources.

 

Investing in the United States Risk - The Fund focuses its investments in the United States. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers within the United States, and may be subject to greater price volatility and risk of loss, than a fund holding more geographically diverse investments.

 

Prepayment and Extension Risk - When interest rates fall, issuers of high interest debt obligations may pay off the debts earlier than expected (prepayment risk), and the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds at lower yields. When interest rates rise, issuers of lower interest debt obligations may pay off the debts later than expected (extension risk), thus keeping the Fund’s assets tied up in lower interest debt obligations.

 

Asset-Backed Securities Risk - Asset-backed securities are securities backed by non-mortgage assets such as company receivables, truck and auto loans, leases and credit card receivables. Asset-backed securities may be issued as pass-through certificates, which represent undivided fractional ownership interests in the underlying pools of assets. 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.

 

Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk - Mortgage-backed securities are fixed income securities representing an interest in a pool of underlying mortgage loans. Mortgage-backed securities are sensitive to changes in interest rates, but may respond to these changes differently from other fixed income securities due to the possibility of prepayment of the underlying mortgage loans. As a result, it may not be possible to determine in advance the actual maturity date or average life of a mortgage-backed security. Rising interest rates tend to discourage re-financings, with the result that the average life and volatility of the security will increase, exacerbating its decrease in market price. When interest rates fall, however, mortgage-backed securities may not gain as much in market value because of the expectation of additional mortgage prepayments, which must be reinvested at lower interest rates.

 

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk - Commercial mortgage-backed securities include securities that reflect an interest in, and are secured by, mortgage loans on commercial real property. Many of the risks of investing in commercial mortgage-backed securities reflect the risks of investing in the real estate securing the underlying mortgage loans. These risks reflect the effects of local and other economic conditions on real estate markets, the ability of tenants to make loan payments, and the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants. Commercial mortgage-backed securities may be less liquid and exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or asset-backed securities.

 

17

 

 

Inflation Protected Securities Risk - Inflation protected securities, including TIPS, are fixed income securities for which the principal and/or interest income paid is linked to inflation rates. The relationship between an inflation protected security and its associated inflation index affects both the sum the Fund is paid when the security matures and the amount of interest that the security pays the Fund. With inflation (a rise in the index), the principal of the security increases. With deflation (a drop in the index), the principal of the security decreases. Inflation protected securities pay interest at a fixed rate. Because the rate is applied to the adjusted principal, however, interest payments can vary in amount from one period to the next. If inflation occurs, the interest payment increases. In the event of deflation, the interest payment decreases. At the maturity of a security, the Fund receives the adjusted principal or the original principal, whichever is greater.

 

Money Market Instruments Risk - The value of money market instruments may be affected by changing interest rates and by changes in the credit ratings of the investments. An investment in a money market fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by any bank, the FDIC or any other government agency. Certain money market funds float their net asset value while others seek to preserve the value of investments at a stable net asset value (typically, $1.00 per share). An investment in a money market fund, even an investment in a fund seeking to maintain a stable net asset value per share, is not guaranteed and it is possible for the Fund to lose money by investing in these and other types of money market funds. The regulations governing money market funds were recently amended in July, 2023, and their implementation and interpretation, as well as enforcement, may affect the manner of operation, performance and/or yield of money market funds.

 

Liquidity Risk - 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.

 

Valuation Risk - The risk that a security may be difficult to value. The Fund may value certain securities at a price higher or lower than the price at which they can be sold. This risk may be especially pronounced for investments that are illiquid or may become illiquid.

 

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 its benchmark index or other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.

 

Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk - Because the Fund invests in other investment companies, such as ETFs, 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. The Fund does not intend to invest in other investment companies unless the Adviser believes that the potential benefits of the investment justify the payment of any additional fees or expenses. Federal securities laws impose limitations on the Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies.

 

18

 

 

New Adviser Risk - The Adviser has not previously served as an adviser to a registered investment company. As a result, investors do not have a track record of managing an ETF from which to judge the Adviser, and the Adviser may not achieve the intended result in managing the Fund.

 

New Fund Risk - Because the Fund is new, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, may not employ a successful investment strategy, or may fail to attract sufficient assets under management to realize economies of scale, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders and will cause shareholders to incur expenses of liquidation.

 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

 

The Fund is new, and therefore has no performance history. Once the Fund has completed a full calendar year of operations, a bar chart and table will be included that will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund’s returns and comparing the Fund’s performance to 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.

 

Current performance information is available online at www.frontierasset.com or by calling toll-free at [X-XXX-XXX-XXXX].

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER

 

Frontier Asset Management, LLC is the Fund’s investment adviser. Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC serves as the trading sub-adviser to the Fund.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

Clifford Stanton, CFA, Director of Investments, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Paul Wright, CFA, Portfolio Strategist, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Ali Toyran, Portfolio Strategist, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Benton Peller, CFA, CAIA, Senior Investment Analyst, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund shares, taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares, Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page [XX] of the prospectus.

 

19

 

 

FRONTIER ASSET OPPORTUNISTIC CREDIT ETF

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Frontier Asset Opportunistic Credit ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide high income consistent with the preservation of capital.

 

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)1

 

Management Fees 0.60%
Other Expenses2 0.00%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (AFFE)3 0.30%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.90%

 

1Frontier Asset Management, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”), will pay all of the Fund’s expenses, except for the following: advisory fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, AFFE, accrued deferred tax liability, non-routine expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), litigation expenses, and other non-routine or extraordinary expenses.

2     Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

3AFFE are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in shares of other mutual funds, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds, and are estimated for the current fiscal year.

 

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
$92 $287

 

20

 

 

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. Because the Fund has not commenced investment operations as of the date of this prospectus, it does not have portfolio turnover information to report.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded Fund (“ETF”). Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in fixed income securities. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

 

For purposes of the Fund’s 80% investment policy, fixed income securities include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, corporate debt securities, municipal securities, commercial paper, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities (including collateralized loan obligations and collateralized mortgage obligations), inflation-linked securities (e.g., Treasury inflation-protected securities (“TIPS”)) and bank loans. The Fund may invest in investment-grade and non-investment grade fixed income securities. The Adviser considers fixed income securities to be investment grade if they are rated in one of the four highest rating categories 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. The Adviser considers fixed income securities to be below investment grade (also known as “high yield” or “junk” bonds”) if they are rated below BBB- or Baa3 by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”), or if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser. The Fund may also invest in non-U.S. fixed income securities.

 

The Fund is managed to achieve broad exposure to the U.S. investment-grade and non-investment grade fixed income securities market. The Fund does not target a specific weighted average maturity for its investments, either individually or in the aggregate. As a result, the Fund’s interest rate sensitivity may vary significantly over time.

 

The Fund operates in a manner that is commonly referred to as a “fund of funds” and obtains investment exposure to the asset classes described above primarily by investing in other ETFs. The Adviser makes investment decisions by seeking to identity and assemble a portfolio of ETFs that will achieve its desired asset allocation mix while also optimizing for positive risk-adjusted returns (i.e., alpha) and downside protection in turbulent markets. To accomplish this, the Adviser’s investment team conducts ongoing research into the ever-growing universe of ETFs and their investment managers, populating a list of ETFs from which the Fund’s portfolio is constructed. The Adviser’s analysis and due diligence process for selecting prospective ETFs includes the following:

 

·Quantitative Analysis: The Adviser conducts single and multi-factor benchmark analysis to develop a return and risk profile for each ETF, selecting funds based on the apparent ability to generate absolute and relative returns, with an emphasis on funds that the Adviser believes demonstrate (i) strong risk-adjusted performance with some degree of consistency and (ii) relatively stable performance during turbulent markets.

 

21

 

 

·Qualitative Analysis: The Adviser conducts an evaluation of each ETF’s underlying investment manager, seeking to understand the firm’s leadership structure, philosophy and investment decision making process. Weight is given to the depth and quality of the strategy underlying the manager’s investment thesis along with organizational factors including the manager’s compensation structure, board makeup, conflicts of interest and whether the portfolio managers of the ETF in question invest alongside clients.

 

·Manager Edge: The Adviser believes that ETF managers with a clear thesis for generating positive risk-adjusted returns are more likely to outperform overtime. Accordingly, the Adviser seeks to understand the inefficiencies each manager believes exist in the market, the likelihood that such inefficiencies will persist and whether the manager has a reasonable edge in exploiting them.

 

Following this process, the Adviser will select ETFs on the basis of their ability to provide low-cost asset class exposure and/or to add value on either an absolute or risk-adjusted basis, taking into account market conditions, valuation metrics, risk profiles, and expected growth potential. The Adviser will sell ETFs for a variety of reasons, including the need to alter asset allocation exposures, to add ETFs that the Adviser believes are better positioned to add value as compared to existing holdings, and to remove ETFs that no longer meet the investment criteria for the Fund.

 

While the Fund primarily invests in other ETFs, as described above, it may also invest directly in securities and other instruments, rather than investing indirectly in securities and other instruments through ETFs, when the Adviser determines that doing so is the more appropriate means to access the desired exposure to an asset class.

 

The Adviser has engaged Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC to serve as trading sub-adviser (“Sub-Adviser”) for the Fund. The Sub-Adviser is responsible for trading portfolio securities for the Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of the portfolio, pre- and post-trade compliance, and monitoring of Fund trading activity, subject to the oversight of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

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, either directly or indirectly through investments in underlying ETFs, are set forth below.

 

ETF Risks - The Fund is an 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 or below their NAV. The NAV of shares of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s 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 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.

 

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Cash Transactions Risk - Like other ETFs, the Fund sells and redeems its shares only in large blocks called Creation Units and only to “Authorized Participants.” Unlike many other ETFs, however, the Fund expects to effect its creations and redemptions at least partially for cash, rather than in-kind securities. Thus, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in other ETFs as the Fund may recognize a capital gain that it could have avoided by making redemptions in-kind. As a result, the Fund may pay out higher capital gains distributions than ETFs that redeem in-kind. Further, paying redemption proceeds at least partially in cash rather than through in-kind delivery of portfolio securities may require the Fund to dispose of or sell portfolio investments to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds at an inopportune time.

 

Limited Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Risk - Because 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. 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 net asset value (“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.

 

Fixed-Income Securities 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. Generally, the Fund’s fixed-income securities will decrease in value if interest rates rise and vice versa. In a low interest rate environment, risks associated with rising rates are heightened. Declines in dealer market-making capacity as a result of structural or regulatory changes could decrease liquidity and/or increase volatility in the fixed-income markets.

 

Interest Rate Risk - The risk that a change in interest rates will cause a fall in the value of fixed-income securities, including U.S. Government securities, in which the Fund invests. Generally the value of the Fund’s fixed income securities will vary inversely with the direction of prevailing interest rates. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets and may affect the value and liquidity of instruments held by the Fund.

 

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. 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.

 

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.

 

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High Yield Bond Risk - High yield, or “junk,” bonds are debt securities rated below investment grade. High yield bonds are speculative, involve greater risks of default, downgrade, or price declines and are more volatile and tend to be less liquid than investment-grade securities. Companies issuing high yield bonds are less financially strong, are more likely to encounter financial difficulties, and are more vulnerable to adverse market events and negative sentiments than companies with higher credit ratings.

 

Bank Loans Risk - Investments in bank loans (through both assignments and participations) are generally subject to the same risks as investments in other types of debt instruments, including, in many cases, investments in high yield bonds. There may be limited public information available regarding bank loans and bank loans may be difficult to value. If the Fund holds a bank loan through another financial institution, or relies on a financial institution to administer the loan, its receipt of principal and interest on the loan may be subject to the credit risk of that financial institution. It is possible that collateral securing a loan, if any, may be insufficient or unavailable to the Fund, and that the Fund’s rights to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or insolvency laws. Bank loans may not be considered “securities,” and purchasers, such as the Fund, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws.

 

Commercial Paper Risk - Commercial paper is a short-term obligation with a maturity generally ranging from one to 270 days and is issued by U.S. or foreign companies or other entities in order to finance their current operations. Such investments are unsecured and usually discounted from their value at maturity. The value of commercial paper may be affected by changes in the credit rating or financial condition of the issuing entities and will tend to fall when interest rates rise and rise when interest rates fall. Asset-backed commercial paper may be issued by structured investment vehicles or other conduits that are organized to issue the commercial paper and to purchase trade receivables or other financial assets. The repayment of asset-backed commercial paper depends primarily on the cash collections received from such an issuer’s underlying asset portfolio and the issuer’s ability to issue new asset-backed commercial paper.

 

U.S. Government Securities Risk - Although U.S. Government securities are considered to be among the safest investments, they are not guaranteed against price movements due to changing interest rates. Obligations issued by some U.S. Government agencies are backed by the U.S. Treasury, while others are backed solely by the ability of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the agency’s own resources.

 

Investing in the United States Risk - The Fund focuses its investments in the United States. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers within the United States, and may be subject to greater price volatility and risk of loss, than a fund holding more geographically diverse investments.

 

Prepayment and Extension Risk - When interest rates fall, issuers of high interest debt obligations may pay off the debts earlier than expected (prepayment risk), and the Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds at lower yields. When interest rates rise, issuers of lower interest debt obligations may pay off the debts later than expected (extension risk), thus keeping the Fund’s assets tied up in lower interest debt obligations.

 

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.

 

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Asset-Backed Securities Risk - Asset-backed securities are securities backed by non-mortgage assets such as company receivables, truck and auto loans, leases and credit card receivables. Asset-backed securities may be issued as pass-through certificates, which represent undivided fractional ownership interests in the underlying pools of assets. 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 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. “To-be-announced” transactions (“TBA Transactions”) involve the additional risk that the value of the mortgage-backed securities to be purchased declines prior to settlement date or the counterparty does not deliver the securities as promised.

 

Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk - Mortgage-backed securities are fixed income securities representing an interest in a pool of underlying mortgage loans. Mortgage-backed securities are sensitive to changes in interest rates, but may respond to these changes differently from other fixed income securities due to the possibility of prepayment of the underlying mortgage loans. As a result, it may not be possible to determine in advance the actual maturity date or average life of a mortgage-backed security. Rising interest rates tend to discourage re-financings, with the result that the average life and volatility of the security will increase, exacerbating its decrease in market price. When interest rates fall, however, mortgage-backed securities may not gain as much in market value because of the expectation of additional mortgage prepayments, which must be reinvested at lower interest rates.

 

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk - Commercial mortgage-backed securities include securities that reflect an interest in, and are secured by, mortgage loans on commercial real property. Many of the risks of investing in commercial mortgage-backed securities reflect the risks of investing in the real estate securing the underlying mortgage loans. These risks reflect the effects of local and other economic conditions on real estate markets, the ability of tenants to make loan payments, and the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants. Commercial mortgage-backed securities may be less liquid and exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or asset-backed securities.

 

Inflation Linked Securities Risk - Inflation linked securities, including TIPS, are fixed income securities for which the principal and/or interest income paid is linked to inflation rates. The relationship between an inflation linked security and its associated inflation index affects both the sum the Fund is paid when the security matures and the amount of interest that the security pays the Fund. With inflation (a rise in the index), the principal of the security increases. With deflation (a drop in the index), the principal of the security decreases. Inflation protected securities pay interest at a fixed rate. Because the rate is applied to the adjusted principal, however, interest payments can vary in amount from one period to the next. If inflation occurs, the interest payment increases. In the event of deflation, the interest payment decreases. At the maturity of a security, the Fund receives the adjusted principal or the original principal, whichever is greater.

 

Non-U.S. Government Securities Risk - The risks that: (i) the governmental entity that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be willing or able to repay the principal and/or interest when it becomes due, due to factors such as debt service burden, political constraints, cash flow problems and other national economic factors; (ii) governments may default on their debt securities, which may require holders of such securities to participate in debt rescheduling or additional lending to defaulting governments; and (iii) there is no bankruptcy proceeding by which defaulted sovereign debt may be collected in whole or in part.

 

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Foreign Government Agencies Risk - Bonds issued by government agencies, subdivisions or instrumentalities of foreign governments are generally backed only by the general creditworthiness and reputation of the entity issuing the bonds and may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the foreign government. Moreover, a foreign government that explicitly provides its full faith and credit to a particular entity may be, due to changed circumstances, unable or unwilling to provide that support. A foreign government agency’s operations and financial condition are influenced by the foreign government’s economic and other policies.

 

Municipal Securities Risk - Municipal securities, like other fixed income securities, rise and fall in value in response to economic and market factors, primarily changes in interest rates, and actual or perceived credit quality. Rising interest rates will generally cause municipal securities to decline in value. Longer-term securities respond more sharply to interest rate changes than do shorter-term securities. A municipal security will also lose value if, due to rating downgrades or other factors, there are concerns about the issuer’s current or future ability to make principal or interest payments.

 

Collateralized Loan Obligations (“CLOs”) Risk - Collateralized loan obligations are generally subject to credit, interest rate, prepayment and extension, valuation and liquidity risks, which are described elsewhere in this section. These securities also are subject to risk of default on the underlying asset, particularly during periods of economic downturn. CLOs carry additional risks including, but not limited to, (i) the possibility that distributions from collateral securities will not be adequate to make interest of other payments, (ii) the collateral may decline in value or default, (iii) the Fund may invest in obligations 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 produce disputes with the issuer or unexpected investment results.

 

Money Market Instruments Risk - The value of money market instruments may be affected by changing interest rates and by changes in the credit ratings of the investments. An investment in a money market fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by any bank, the FDIC or any other government agency. Certain money market funds float their net asset value while others seek to preserve the value of investments at a stable net asset value (typically, $1.00 per share). An investment in a money market fund, even an investment in a fund seeking to maintain a stable net asset value per share, is not guaranteed and it is possible for the Fund to lose money by investing in these and other types of money market funds. The regulations governing money market funds were recently amended in July, 2023, and their implementation and interpretation, as well as enforcement, may affect the manner of operation, performance and/or yield of money market funds.

 

Liquidity Risk - 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.

 

Valuation Risk - The risk that a security may be difficult to value. The Fund may value certain securities at a price higher or lower than the price at which they can be sold. This risk may be especially pronounced for investments that are illiquid or may become illiquid.

 

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 its benchmark index or other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.

 

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Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk - Because the Fund invests in other investment companies, such as ETFs, 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. The Fund does not intend to invest in other investment companies unless the Adviser believes that the potential benefits of the investment justify the payment of any additional fees or expenses. Federal securities laws impose limitations on the Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies.

 

New Adviser Risk - The Adviser has not previously served as an adviser to a registered investment company. As a result, investors do not have a track record of managing an ETF from which to judge the Adviser, and the Adviser may not achieve the intended result in managing the Fund.

 

New Fund Risk - Because the Fund is new, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, may not employ a successful investment strategy, or may fail to attract sufficient assets under management to realize economies of scale, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders and will cause shareholders to incur expenses of liquidation.

 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

 

The Fund is new, and therefore has no performance history. Once the Fund has completed a full calendar year of operations, a bar chart and table will be included that will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund’s returns and comparing the Fund’s performance to 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.

 

Current performance information is available online at www.frontierasset.com or by calling toll-free at [X-XXX-XXX-XXXX].

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER

 

Frontier Asset Management, LLC is the Fund’s investment adviser. Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC serves as the trading sub-adviser to the Fund.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

Clifford Stanton, CFA, Director of Investments, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Paul Wright, CFA, Portfolio Strategist, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

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Ali Toyran, Portfolio Strategist, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Benton Peller, CFA, CAIA, Senior Investment Analyst, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund shares, taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares, Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page [XX] of the prospectus.

 

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FRONTIER ASSET GLOBAL SMALL CAP EQUITY ETF

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term total return.

 

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)1

 

Management Fees 0.60%
Other Expenses2 0.00%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (AFFE)3 0.30%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.90%

 

1Frontier Asset Management, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”), will pay all of the Fund’s expenses, except for the following: advisory fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, AFFE, accrued deferred tax liability, non-routine expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), litigation expenses, and other non-routine or extraordinary expenses.

2     Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

3AFFE are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in shares of other mutual funds, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds, and are estimated for the current fiscal year.

 

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
$92 $287

 

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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. Because the Fund has not commenced investment operations as of the date of this prospectus, it does not have portfolio turnover information to report.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded Fund (“ETF”). 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 may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The Fund defines small-capitalization companies to include issuers with a market capitalization at the time of purchase within the capitalization range of companies in the MSCI World Small Cap Index. Given the Fund’s investment strategy, the Fund’s assets may exhibit either growth or value bias at any given time.

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in at least three countries, including the U.S., and invests at least 40% of its total assets in securities of non-U.S. companies, which may include emerging market countries. The Fund considers a company to be a non-U.S. company if: (i) at least 50% of the company’s assets are located outside of the U.S.; (ii) at least 50% of the company’s revenue or profits are generated outside of the U.S.; (iii) the company is organized or maintains its principal place of business outside of the U.S.; or (iv) the company’s securities are traded principally outside of the U.S.

 

The equity securities in which the Fund generally invests are common stocks. For purposes of the Fund’s 80% investment policy, however, equity securities also include preferred stocks and American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”)), which are certificates typically issued by a bank or trust company that represent ownership interests in securities of non-U.S. companies. With respect to 20% of the Fund’s net assets, the Fund may also invest in the equity securities of mid-capitalization companies.

 

The Fund operates in a manner that is commonly referred to as a “fund of funds” and obtains investment exposure to the asset classes described above primarily by investing in other ETFs. The Adviser makes investment decisions by seeking to identity and assemble a portfolio of ETFs that will achieve its desired asset allocation mix while also optimizing for positive risk-adjusted returns (i.e., alpha) and downside protection in turbulent markets. To accomplish this, the Adviser’s investment team conducts ongoing research into the ever-growing universe of ETFs and their investment managers, populating a list of ETFs from which the Fund’s portfolio is constructed. The Adviser’s analysis and due diligence process for selecting prospective ETFs includes the following:

 

·Quantitative Analysis: The Adviser conducts single and multi-factor benchmark analysis to develop a return and risk profile for each ETF, selecting funds based on the apparent ability to generate absolute and relative returns, with an emphasis on funds that the Adviser believes demonstrate (i) strong risk-adjusted performance with some degree of consistency and (ii) relatively stable performance during turbulent markets.

 

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·Qualitative Analysis: The Adviser conducts an evaluation of each ETF’s underlying investment manager, seeking to understand the firm’s leadership structure, philosophy and investment decision making process. Weight is given to the depth and quality of the strategy underlying the manager’s investment thesis along with organizational factors including the manager’s compensation structure, board makeup, conflicts of interest and whether the portfolio managers of the ETF in question invest alongside clients.

 

·Manager Edge: The Adviser believes that ETF managers with a clear thesis for generating positive risk-adjusted returns are more likely to outperform overtime. Accordingly, the Adviser seeks to understand the inefficiencies each manager believes exist in the market, the likelihood that such inefficiencies will persist and whether the manager has a reasonable edge in exploiting them.

 

Following this process, the Adviser will select ETFs on the basis of their ability to provide low-cost asset class exposure and/or to add value on either an absolute or risk-adjusted basis, taking into account market conditions, valuation metrics, risk profiles, and expected growth potential. The Adviser will sell ETFs for a variety of reasons, including the need to alter asset allocation exposures, to add ETFs that the Adviser believes are better positioned to add value as compared to existing holdings, and to remove ETFs that no longer meet the investment criteria for the Fund.

 

While the Fund primarily invests in other ETFs, as described above, it may also invest directly in securities and other instruments, rather than investing indirectly in securities and other instruments through ETFs, when the Adviser determines that doing so is the more appropriate means to access the desired exposure to an asset class.

 

The Adviser has engaged Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC to serve as trading sub-adviser (“Sub-Adviser”) for the Fund. The Sub-Adviser is responsible for trading portfolio securities for the Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of the portfolio, pre- and post-trade compliance, and monitoring of Fund trading activity, subject to the oversight of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

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, either directly or indirectly through investments in underlying ETFs, 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 market has moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s securities may fluctuate 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.

 

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Small-Capitalization Companies Risk — The risk that, compared to mid- and large- capitalization companies, small-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may be less stable and more susceptible to adverse developments, and their securities may be more volatile and less liquid.

 

Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk — The risk that mid-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may have greater price volatility, lower trading volume and be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In addition, mid-capitalization companies may have narrow product lines, smaller shares of their product or service markets and fewer financial resources than large capitalization companies.

 

Growth Investment Style Risk - An investment in growth stocks may be susceptible to rapid price swings, especially during periods of economic uncertainty. Growth stocks typically have little or no dividend income to cushion the effect of adverse market conditions. In addition, growth stocks may be particularly volatile in the event of earnings disappointments or other financial difficulties experienced by the issuer.

 

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

 

Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk - Because the Fund invests in other investment companies, such as ETFs, 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. The Fund does not intend to invest in other investment companies unless the Adviser believes that the potential benefits of the investment justify the payment of any additional fees or expenses. Federal securities laws impose limitations on the Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies.

 

ETF Risks - The Fund is an 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 or below their NAV. The NAV of shares of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s 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 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.

 

Cash Transactions Risk - Like other ETFs, the Fund sells and redeems its shares only in large blocks called Creation Units and only to “Authorized Participants.” Unlike many other ETFs, however, the Fund expects to effect its creations and redemptions at least partially for cash, rather than in-kind securities. Thus, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in other ETFs as the Fund may recognize a capital gain that it could have avoided by making redemptions in-kind. As a result, the Fund may pay out higher capital gains distributions than ETFs that redeem in-kind. Further, paying redemption proceeds at least partially in cash rather than through in-kind delivery of portfolio securities may require the Fund to dispose of or sell portfolio investments to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds at an inopportune time.

 

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Limited Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Risk - Because 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. 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 net asset value (“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.

 

Foreign Company Risk - Investing in foreign companies poses additional risks since political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. 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 same level of regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers. 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 and foreign markets and securities may be less liquid. 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 Securities 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.

 

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.

 

Depositary Receipts Risk - Depositary receipts, such as ADRs, GDRs and EDRs, are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer that are issued by depositary banks and generally trade on an established market. Depositary receipts 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.

 

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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.

 

Liquidity Risk - 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.

 

Valuation Risk - The risk that a security may be difficult to value. The Fund may value certain securities at a price higher or lower than the price at which they can be sold. This risk may be especially pronounced for investments that are illiquid or may become illiquid.

 

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 its benchmark index or other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.

 

New Adviser Risk - The Adviser has not previously served as an adviser to a registered investment company. As a result, investors do not have a track record of managing an ETF from which to judge the Adviser, and the Adviser may not achieve the intended result in managing the Fund.

 

New Fund Risk - Because the Fund is new, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, may not employ a successful investment strategy, or may fail to attract sufficient assets under management to realize economies of scale, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders and will cause shareholders to incur expenses of liquidation.

 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

 

The Fund is new, and therefore has no performance history. Once the Fund has completed a full calendar year of operations, a bar chart and table will be included that will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund’s returns and comparing the Fund’s performance to 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.

 

Current performance information is available online at www.frontierasset.com or by calling toll-free at [X-XXX-XXX-XXXX].

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER

 

Frontier Asset Management, LLC is the Fund’s investment adviser. Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC serves as the trading sub-adviser to the Fund.

 

34

 

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

Clifford Stanton, CFA, Director of Investments, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Paul Wright, CFA, Portfolio Strategist, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Ali Toyran, Portfolio Strategist, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Benton Peller, CFA, CAIA, Senior Investment Analyst, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund shares, taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares, Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page [XX] of the prospectus.

 

35

 

 

FRONTIER ASSET TOTAL INTERNATIONAL EQUITY ETF

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Frontier Asset Total International Equity ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term total return.

 

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)1

 

Management Fees 0.60%
Other Expenses2 0.00%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (AFFE)3 0.30%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.90%

 

1Frontier Asset Management, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”), will pay all of the Fund’s expenses, except for the following: advisory fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, AFFE, accrued deferred tax liability, non-routine expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), litigation expenses, and other non-routine or extraordinary expenses.

2     Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

3AFFE are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in shares of other mutual funds, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds, and are estimated for the current fiscal year.

 

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
$92 $287

 

36

 

 

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. Because the Fund has not commenced investment operations as of the date of this prospectus, it does not have portfolio turnover information to report.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded Fund (“ETF”). 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 Fund does not limit its investments to companies in a particular capitalization range, but primarily invests in mid- and large-capitalization companies. Given the Fund’s investment strategy, the Fund’s assets may exhibit either growth or value bias at any given time.

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in at least three countries, and invests at least 40% of its total assets in securities of non-U.S. companies, which may include emerging market countries. The Fund considers a company to be a non-U.S. company if: (i) at least 50% of the company’s assets are located outside of the U.S.; (ii) at least 50% of the company’s revenue or profits are generated outside of the U.S.; (iii) the company is organized or maintains its principal place of business outside of the U.S.; or (iv) the company’s securities are traded principally outside of the U.S.

 

The equity securities in which the Fund generally invests are common stocks. For purposes of the Fund’s 80% investment policy, however, equity securities also include preferred stocks and American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”)), which are certificates typically issued by a bank or trust company that represent ownership interests in securities of non-U.S. companies.

 

The Fund operates in a manner that is commonly referred to as a “fund of funds” and obtains investment exposure to the asset classes described above primarily by investing in other ETFs. The Adviser makes investment decisions by seeking to identity and assemble a portfolio of ETFs that will achieve its desired asset allocation mix while also optimizing for positive risk-adjusted returns (i.e., alpha) and downside protection in turbulent markets. To accomplish this, the Adviser’s investment team conducts ongoing research into the ever-growing universe of ETFs and their investment managers, populating a list of ETFs from which the Fund’s portfolio is constructed. The Adviser’s analysis and due diligence process for selecting prospective ETFs includes the following:

 

·Quantitative Analysis: The Adviser conducts single and multi-factor benchmark analysis to develop a return and risk profile for each ETF, selecting funds based on the apparent ability to generate absolute and relative returns, with an emphasis on funds that the Adviser believes demonstrate (i) strong risk-adjusted performance with some degree of consistency and (ii) relatively stable performance during turbulent markets.

 

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·Qualitative Analysis: The Adviser conducts an evaluation of each ETF’s underlying investment manager, seeking to understand the firm’s leadership structure, philosophy and investment decision making process. Weight is given to the depth and quality of the strategy underlying the manager’s investment thesis along with organizational factors including the manager’s compensation structure, board makeup, conflicts of interest and whether the portfolio managers of the ETF in question invest alongside clients.

 

·Manager Edge: The Adviser believes that ETF managers with a clear thesis for generating positive risk-adjusted returns are more likely to outperform overtime. Accordingly, the Adviser seeks to understand the inefficiencies each manager believes exist in the market, the likelihood that such inefficiencies will persist and whether the manager has a reasonable edge in exploiting them.

 

Following this process, the Adviser will select ETFs on the basis of their ability to provide low-cost asset class exposure and/or to add value on either an absolute or risk-adjusted basis, taking into account market conditions, valuation metrics, risk profiles, and expected growth potential. The Adviser will sell ETFs for a variety of reasons, including the need to alter asset allocation exposures, to add ETFs that the Adviser believes are better positioned to add value as compared to existing holdings, and to remove ETFs that no longer meet the investment criteria for the Fund.

 

While the Fund primarily invests in other ETFs, as described above, it may also invest directly in securities and other instruments, rather than investing indirectly in securities and other instruments through ETFs, when the Adviser determines that doing so is the more appropriate means to access the desired exposure to an asset class.

 

The Adviser has engaged Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC to serve as trading sub-adviser (“Sub-Adviser”) for the Fund. The Sub-Adviser is responsible for trading portfolio securities for the Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of the portfolio, pre- and post-trade compliance, and monitoring of Fund trading activity, subject to the oversight of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

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, either directly or indirectly through investments in underlying ETFs, 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 market has moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s securities may fluctuate 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 Risk - If valuations of large capitalization companies appear to be greatly out of proportion to the valuations of small or medium capitalization companies, investors may migrate to the stocks of small and medium-sized companies. 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. Larger companies also may not be able to attain the high growth rates of successful smaller companies.

 

38

 

 

Mid-Capitalization Company Risk - The risk that mid-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may have greater price volatility, lower trading volume and be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In addition, mid-capitalization companies may have narrow product lines, smaller shares of their product or service markets and fewer financial resources than large capitalization companies.

 

Growth Investment Style Risk - An investment in growth stocks may be susceptible to rapid price swings, especially during periods of economic uncertainty. Growth stocks typically have little or no dividend income to cushion the effect of adverse market conditions. In addition, growth stocks may be particularly volatile in the event of earnings disappointments or other financial difficulties experienced by the issuer.

 

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

 

Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk - Because the Fund invests in other investment companies, such as ETFs, 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. The Fund does not intend to invest in other investment companies unless the Adviser believes that the potential benefits of the investment justify the payment of any additional fees or expenses. Federal securities laws impose limitations on the Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies.

 

ETF Risks - The Fund is an 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 or below their NAV. The NAV of shares of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s 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 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.

 

Cash Transactions Risk - Like other ETFs, the Fund sells and redeems its shares only in large blocks called Creation Units and only to “Authorized Participants.” Unlike many other ETFs, however, the Fund expects to effect its creations and redemptions at least partially for cash, rather than in-kind securities. Thus, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in other ETFs as the Fund may recognize a capital gain that it could have avoided by making redemptions in-kind. As a result, the Fund may pay out higher capital gains distributions than ETFs that redeem in-kind. Further, paying redemption proceeds at least partially in cash rather than through in-kind delivery of portfolio securities may require the Fund to dispose of or sell portfolio investments to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds at an inopportune time.

 

39

 

 

Limited Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Risk - Because 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. 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 net asset value (“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.

 

Foreign Company Risk - Investing in foreign companies poses additional risks since political and economic events unique to a country or region will affect those markets and their issuers. 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 same level of regulatory controls imposed on U.S. issuers. 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 and foreign markets and securities may be less liquid. 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 Securities 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.

 

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.

 

Depositary Receipts Risk - Depositary receipts, such as ADRs, GDRs and EDRs, are certificates evidencing ownership of shares of a foreign issuer that are issued by depositary banks and generally trade on an established market. Depositary receipts 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.

 

40

 

 

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.

 

Liquidity Risk - 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.

 

Valuation Risk - The risk that a security may be difficult to value. The Fund may value certain securities at a price higher or lower than the price at which they can be sold. This risk may be especially pronounced for investments that are illiquid or may become illiquid.

 

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 its benchmark index or other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.

 

New Adviser Risk - The Adviser has not previously served as an adviser to a registered investment company. As a result, investors do not have a track record of managing an ETF from which to judge the Adviser, and the Adviser may not achieve the intended result in managing the Fund.

 

New Fund Risk - Because the Fund is new, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, may not employ a successful investment strategy, or may fail to attract sufficient assets under management to realize economies of scale, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders and will cause shareholders to incur expenses of liquidation.

 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

 

The Fund is new, and therefore has no performance history. Once the Fund has completed a full calendar year of operations, a bar chart and table will be included that will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund’s returns and comparing the Fund’s performance to 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.

 

Current performance information is available online at www.frontierasset.com or by calling toll-free at [X-XXX-XXX-XXXX].

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER

 

Frontier Asset Management, LLC is the Fund’s investment adviser. Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC serves as the trading sub-adviser to the Fund.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

Clifford Stanton, CFA, Director of Investments, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

41

 

 

Paul Wright, CFA, Portfolio Strategist, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Ali Toyran, Portfolio Strategist, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Benton Peller, CFA, CAIA, Senior Investment Analyst, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund shares, taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares, Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page [XX] of the prospectus.

 

42

 

 

FRONTIER ASSET U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ETF

 

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

 

The Frontier Asset U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to achieve long-term total return.

 

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)1

 

Management Fees 0.60%
Other Expenses2 0.00%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses (AFFE)3 0.30%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.90%

 

1Frontier Asset Management, LLC, the Fund’s investment adviser (the “Adviser”), will pay all of the Fund’s expenses, except for the following: advisory fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, AFFE, accrued deferred tax liability, non-routine expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Fund under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), litigation expenses, and other non-routine or extraordinary expenses.

2     Other Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.

3AFFE are indirect fees and expenses that the Fund incurs from investing in shares of other mutual funds, including money market funds and exchange-traded funds, and are estimated for the current fiscal year.

 

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
$92 $287

 

43

 

 

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. Because the Fund has not commenced investment operations as of the date of this prospectus, it does not have portfolio turnover information to report.

 

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

 

The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded Fund (“ETF”). Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of large-capitalization U.S. companies. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. Given the Fund’s investment strategy, the Fund’s assets may exhibit either growth or value bias at any given time.

 

The Fund considers a company to be a U.S. company if (i) at least 50% of the company’s assets are located in the U.S.; (ii) at least 50% of the company’s revenue or profits are generated in the U.S.; (iii) the company is organized or maintains its principal place of business in the U.S.; or (iv) the company’s securities are traded principally in the U.S. The Fund defines large-capitalization companies as issuers with a market capitalization within the range of companies in the S&P 500 Index at the time of purchase.

 

The equity securities in which the Fund generally invests are common stocks. For purposes of the Fund’s 80% investment policy, however, equity securities also include real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). With respect to 20% of the Fund’s net assets, the Fund may also invest in equity securities of mid-capitalization companies and equity securities of foreign companies in developed markets.

 

The Fund operates in a manner that is commonly referred to as a “fund of funds” and obtains investment exposure to the asset classes described above primarily by investing in other ETFs. The Adviser makes investment decisions by seeking to identity and assemble a portfolio of ETFs that will achieve its desired asset allocation mix while also optimizing for positive risk-adjusted returns (i.e., alpha) and downside protection in turbulent markets. To accomplish this, the Adviser’s investment team conducts ongoing research into the ever-growing universe of ETFs and their investment managers, populating a list of ETFs from which the Fund’s portfolio is constructed. The Adviser’s analysis and due diligence process for selecting prospective ETFs includes the following:

 

·Quantitative Analysis: The Adviser conducts single and multi-factor benchmark analysis to develop a return and risk profile for each ETF, selecting funds based on the apparent ability to generate absolute and relative returns, with an emphasis on funds that the Adviser believes demonstrate (i) strong risk-adjusted performance with some degree of consistency and (ii) relatively stable performance during turbulent markets.

 

·Qualitative Analysis: The Adviser conducts an evaluation of each ETF’s underlying investment manager, seeking to understand the firm’s leadership structure, philosophy and investment decision making process. Weight is given to the depth and quality of the strategy underlying the manager’s investment thesis along with organizational factors including the manager’s compensation structure, board makeup, conflicts of interest and whether the portfolio managers of the ETF in question invest alongside clients.

 

44

 

 

·Manager Edge: The Adviser believes that ETF managers with a clear thesis for generating positive risk-adjusted returns are more likely to outperform overtime. Accordingly, the Adviser seeks to understand the inefficiencies each manager believes exist in the market, the likelihood that such inefficiencies will persist and whether the manager has a reasonable edge in exploiting them.

 

Following this process, the Adviser will select ETFs on the basis of their ability to provide low-cost asset class exposure and/or to add value on either an absolute or risk-adjusted basis, taking into account market conditions, valuation metrics, risk profiles, and expected growth potential. The Adviser will sell ETFs for a variety of reasons, including the need to alter asset allocation exposures, to add ETFs that the Adviser believes are better positioned to add value as compared to existing holdings, and to remove ETFs that no longer meet the investment criteria for the Fund.

 

While the Fund primarily invests in other ETFs, as described above, it may also invest directly in securities and other instruments, rather than investing indirectly in securities and other instruments through ETFs, when the Adviser determines that doing so is the more appropriate means to access the desired exposure to an asset class.

 

The Adviser has engaged Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC to serve as trading sub-adviser (“Sub-Adviser”) for the Fund. The Sub-Adviser is responsible for trading portfolio securities for the Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of the portfolio, pre- and post-trade compliance, and monitoring of Fund trading activity, subject to the oversight of the Adviser and the Board of Trustees.

 

PRINCIPAL RISKS

 

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, either directly or indirectly through investments in underlying ETFs, 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 market has moved in cycles, and the value of the Fund’s securities may fluctuate 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.

 

Investing in the United States Risk - The Fund focuses its investments in the United States. As a result, the Fund may be more susceptible to economic, political, regulatory or other events or conditions affecting issuers within the United States, and may be subject to greater price volatility and risk of loss, than a fund holding more geographically diverse investments.

 

Large Capitalization Risk - If valuations of large capitalization companies appear to be greatly out of proportion to the valuations of small or medium capitalization companies, investors may migrate to the stocks of small and medium-sized companies. 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. Larger companies also may not be able to attain the high growth rates of successful smaller companies.

 

45

 

 

Mid-Capitalization Company Risk - The risk that mid-capitalization companies in which the Fund may invest may have greater price volatility, lower trading volume and be more vulnerable to adverse business or economic events than larger, more established companies. In addition, mid-capitalization companies may have narrow product lines, smaller shares of their product or service markets and fewer financial resources than large capitalization companies.

 

REITs 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 table and example in this prospectus.

 

Growth Investment Style Risk - An investment in growth stocks may be susceptible to rapid price swings, especially during periods of economic uncertainty. Growth stocks typically have little or no dividend income to cushion the effect of adverse market conditions. In addition, growth stocks may be particularly volatile in the event of earnings disappointments or other financial difficulties experienced by the issuer.

 

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

 

Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk - Because the Fund invests in other investment companies, such as ETFs, 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. The Fund does not intend to invest in other investment companies unless the Adviser believes that the potential benefits of the investment justify the payment of any additional fees or expenses. Federal securities laws impose limitations on the Fund’s ability to invest in other investment companies.

 

ETF Risks - The Fund is an 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 or below their NAV. The NAV of shares of the Fund will fluctuate with changes in the market value of the Fund’s 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 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.

 

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Cash Transactions Risk - Like other ETFs, the Fund sells and redeems its shares only in large blocks called Creation Units and only to “Authorized Participants.” Unlike many other ETFs, however, the Fund expects to effect its creations and redemptions at least partially for cash, rather than in-kind securities. Thus, an investment in the Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in other ETFs as the Fund may recognize a capital gain that it could have avoided by making redemptions in-kind. As a result, the Fund may pay out higher capital gains distributions than ETFs that redeem in-kind. Further, paying redemption proceeds at least partially in cash rather than through in-kind delivery of portfolio securities may require the Fund to dispose of or sell portfolio investments to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds at an inopportune time.

 

Limited Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Risk - Because 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. 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 net asset value (“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.

 

Valuation Risk - The risk that a security may be difficult to value. The Fund may value certain securities at a price higher or lower than the price at which they can be sold. This risk may be especially pronounced for investments that are illiquid or may become illiquid.

 

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 its benchmark index or other funds with similar objectives and investment strategies.

 

New Adviser Risk - The Adviser has not previously served as an adviser to a registered investment company. As a result, investors do not have a track record of managing an ETF from which to judge the Adviser, and the Adviser may not achieve the intended result in managing the Fund.

 

New Fund Risk - Because the Fund is new, investors in the Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, may not employ a successful investment strategy, or may fail to attract sufficient assets under management to realize economies of scale, any of which could result in the Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders and will cause shareholders to incur expenses of liquidation.

 

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

 

The Fund is new, and therefore has no performance history. Once the Fund has completed a full calendar year of operations, a bar chart and table will be included that will provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing the variability of the Fund’s returns and comparing the Fund’s performance to 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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Current performance information is available online at www.frontierasset.com or by calling toll-free at [X-XXX-XXX-XXXX].

 

INVESTMENT ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER

 

Frontier Asset Management, LLC is the Fund’s investment adviser. Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC serves as the trading sub-adviser to the Fund.

 

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

Clifford Stanton, CFA, Director of Investments, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Paul Wright, CFA, Portfolio Strategist, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Ali Toyran, Portfolio Strategist, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

Benton Peller, CFA, CAIA, Senior Investment Analyst, has managed the Fund since its inception in 2024.

 

For important information about the purchase and sale of Fund shares, taxes and financial intermediary compensation, please turn to “Summary Information about Purchasing and Selling Fund Shares, Taxes and Financial Intermediary Compensation” on page [XX] of the prospectus.

 

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SUMMARY INFORMATION ABOUT PURCHASING AND SELLING FUND SHARES, TAXES AND FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARY COMPENSATION

 

PURCHASE AND SALE OF FUND SHARES

 

Each 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 at least 10,000 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 a 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 a Fund (bid) and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept for shares of that Fund (ask) (the “bid-ask spread”). Recent information regarding each Fund’s NAV, market price, premiums and discounts, and bid-ask spreads is available at www.frontierasset.com.

 

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 individual retirement account (“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 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 a Fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

 

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS’ INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES

 

Investment Objectives

 

The investment objective of the Frontier Asset Absolute Return ETF, Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF, Frontier Asset Total International Equity ETF and Frontier Asset U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF is long-term total return. The investment objective of the Frontier Asset Core Bond ETF and Frontier Asset Opportunistic Credit ETF is high income consistent with the preservation of capital. The investment objective of each Fund is not a fundamental policy and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.

 

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Investment Strategies

 

Frontier Asset Absolute Return ETF

 

The Fund is an actively managed exchange-traded fund (“ETF”). In seeking to achieve its investment objective, the Fund utilizes an absolute return approach that is designed to provide exposure to a wide range of equity securities and fixed income securities of domestic and foreign issuers, with no prescribed asset allocation targets under normal circumstances. As such, exposures across asset classes may vary widely, and the Fund’s assets may exhibit an equity or fixed income bias at any given time.

 

The Fund’s equity investments may include common stock, preferred stock, securities convertible into other equity securities, and real estate investment trusts (“REITs”). The Fund may invest in the equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies of various market capitalizations, including in emerging and developed markets, and supranational entities.

 

The Fund’s fixed income securities may include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government and its agencies or instrumentalities, municipal securities, corporate debt securities, commercial paper, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities (including collateralized loan obligations and collateralized mortgage obligations), inflation-linked securities (e.g., Treasury inflation-protected securities (“TIPS”)), convertible securities, and bank loans. The Fund’s fixed income holdings are diversified across a wide range of short- to long-term income-producing securities issued by U.S. and international developed and emerging markets issuers. With respect to credit quality, the Fund may invest in both investment-grade and high-yield (also known as “junk bonds”) fixed income instruments. Fixed income securities are considered investment grade if they are rated in one of the four highest rating categories 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.

 

Frontier Asset Core Bond ETF

 

The Fund is an actively managed ETF. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in investment-grade fixed income securities. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

 

For purposes of the Fund’s 80% investment policy, fixed income securities include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, corporate debt securities, commercial paper, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, and inflation-linked securities (e.g., TIPS). The Adviser considers fixed income securities to be investment grade if they are rated in one of the four highest rating categories by an NRSR, such as S&P or Moody’s, or determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase.

 

The Fund is managed to achieve broad exposure to the U.S. investment-grade fixed income securities market. The Fund does not target a specific weighted average maturity for its investments, either individually or in the aggregate. As a result, the Fund’s interest rate sensitivity may vary significantly over time.

 

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Frontier Asset Opportunistic Credit ETF

 

The Fund is an actively managed ETF. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in fixed income securities. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders.

 

For purposes of the Fund’s 80% investment policy, fixed income securities include securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Government, corporate debt securities, municipal securities, commercial paper, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities (including collateralized loan obligations and collateralized mortgage obligations), inflation-linked securities (e.g., TIPS) and bank loans. The Fund may invest in investment-grade and non-investment grade fixed income securities. The Adviser considers fixed income securities to be investment grade if they are rated in one of the four highest rating categories by an NRSRO, such as S&P or Moody’s, or determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality at the time of purchase. The Adviser considers fixed income securities to be below investment grade (also known as “high yield” or “junk” bonds”) if they are rated below BBB- or Baa3 by Moody’s, S&P or Fitch, Inc. (“Fitch”), or if unrated, determined to be of comparable quality by the Adviser. The Fund may also invest in non-U.S. fixed income securities.

 

The Fund is managed to achieve broad exposure to the U.S. investment-grade and non-investment grade fixed income securities market. The Fund does not target a specific weighted average maturity for its investments, either individually or in the aggregate. As a result, the Fund’s interest rate sensitivity may vary significantly over time.

 

Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF

 

The Fund is an actively managed ETF. 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 may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. The Fund defines small-capitalization companies to include issuers with a market capitalization at the time of purchase within the capitalization range of companies in the MSCI World Small Cap Index. Given the Fund’s investment strategy, the Fund’s assets may exhibit either growth or value bias at any given time.

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in at least three countries, including the U.S., and invests at least 40% of its total assets in securities of non-U.S. companies, which may include emerging market countries. The Fund considers a company to be a non-U.S. company if: (i) at least 50% of the company’s assets are located outside of the U.S.; (ii) at least 50% of the company’s revenue or profits are generated outside of the U.S.; (iii) the company is organized or maintains its principal place of business outside of the U.S.; or (iv) the company’s securities are traded principally outside of the U.S.

 

The equity securities in which the Fund generally invests are common stocks. For purposes of the Fund’s 80% investment policy, however, equity securities also include preferred stocks and American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”) and Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”)), which are certificates typically issued by a bank or trust company that represent ownership interests in securities of non-U.S. companies. With respect to 20% of the Fund’s net assets, the Fund may also invest in the equity securities of mid-capitalization companies.

 

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Frontier Asset Total International Equity ETF

 

The Fund is an actively managed ETF. 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 Fund does not limit its investments to companies in a particular capitalization range, but primarily invests in mid- and large-capitalization companies. Given the Fund’s investment strategy, the Fund’s assets may exhibit either growth or value bias at any given time.

 

Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests in at least three countries, and invests at least 40% of its total assets in securities of non-U.S. companies, which may include emerging market countries. The Fund considers a company to be a non-U.S. company if: (i) at least 50% of the company’s assets are located outside of the U.S.; (ii) at least 50% of the company’s revenue or profits are generated outside of the U.S.; (iii) the company is organized or maintains its principal place of business outside of the U.S.; or (iv) the company’s securities are traded principally outside of the U.S.

 

The equity securities in which the Fund generally invests are common stocks. For purposes of the Fund’s 80% investment policy, however, equity securities also include preferred stocks and ADRs, EDRs and GDRs”, which are certificates typically issued by a bank or trust company that represent ownership interests in securities of non-U.S. companies.

 

Frontier Asset U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF

 

The Fund is an actively managed ETF. Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of large-capitalization U.S. companies. This investment policy may be changed by the Fund upon 60 days’ prior written notice to shareholders. Given the Fund’s investment strategy, the Fund’s assets may exhibit either growth or value bias at any given time.

 

The Fund considers a company to be a U.S. company if (i) at least 50% of the company’s assets are located in the U.S.; (ii) at least 50% of the company’s revenue or profits are generated in the U.S.; (iii) the company is organized or maintains its principal place of business in the U.S.; or (iv) the company’s securities are traded principally in the U.S. The Fund defines large-capitalization companies as issuers with a market capitalization within the range of companies in the S&P 500 Index at the time of purchase.

 

The equity securities in which the Fund generally invests are common stocks. For purposes of the Fund’s 80% investment policy, however, equity securities also include REITs. With respect to 20% of the Fund’s net assets, the Fund may also invest in equity securities of mid-capitalization companies and equity securities of foreign companies in developed markets.

 

All Funds

 

The Adviser manages each Fund in a manner that is commonly referred to as a “fund of funds” and obtains investment exposure to the asset classes described in each Fund’s principal investment strategy primarily by investing in other ETFs. The Adviser makes investment decisions by seeking to identity and assemble a portfolio of ETFs that will achieve each Fund’s desired asset allocation mix while also optimizing for positive risk-adjusted returns (i.e., alpha) and downside protection in turbulent markets. To accomplish this, the Adviser’s investment team conducts ongoing research into the ever-growing universe of ETFs and their investment managers, populating a list of ETFs from which the Funds’ portfolios are constructed. ETF managers are identified for further, in-depth research in several ways, including quantitative screening, referrals from industry contacts, trade publications and direct solicitation by prospective managers. The Adviser’s analysis and due diligence process for selecting prospective ETFs includes the following:

 

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·Quantitative Analysis: The Adviser conducts single and multi-factor benchmark analysis to develop a return and risk profile for each ETF, selecting funds based on the apparent ability to generate absolute and relative returns, with an emphasis on funds that the Adviser believes demonstrate (i) strong risk-adjusted performance with some degree of consistency and (ii) relatively stable performance during turbulent markets.

 

·Qualitative Analysis: The Adviser conducts an evaluation of each ETF’s underlying investment manager, seeking to understand the firm’s leadership structure, philosophy and investment decision making process. Weight is given to the depth and quality of the strategy underlying the manager’s investment thesis along with organizational factors including the manager’s compensation structure, board makeup, conflicts of interest and whether the portfolio managers of the ETF in question invest alongside clients. The exact process varies depending on the size and structure of manager as well as the Adviser’s history with the firm.

 

·Manager Edge: The Adviser believes that ETF managers with a clear thesis for generating positive risk-adjusted returns are more likely to outperform overtime. Accordingly, the Adviser seeks to understand the inefficiencies each manager believes exist in the market, the likelihood that such inefficiencies will persist and whether the manager has a reasonable edge in exploiting them.

 

Following this process, the Adviser will select ETFs on the basis of their ability to provide low-cost asset class exposure and/or to add value on either an absolute or risk-adjusted basis, taking into account market conditions, valuation metrics, risk profiles, and expected growth potential. The Adviser will sell ETFs for a variety of reasons, including the need to alter asset allocation exposures, to add ETFs that the Adviser believes are better positioned to add value as compared to existing holdings, and to remove ETFs that no longer meet the investment criteria for each Fund.

 

While the Funds primarily invest in other ETFs, as described above, they may also invest directly in securities and other instruments, rather than investing indirectly in securities and other instruments through ETFs, when the Adviser determines that doing so is the more appropriate means to access the desired exposure to an asset class.

 

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, a Fund may, but is not obligated to, 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 a Fund invests in this manner, it may cause the Fund to forgo greater investment returns for the safety of principal and the Fund may therefore not achieve its investment objective. A Fund will only do so if the Adviser believes that the risk of loss outweighs the opportunity to pursue the Fund’s investment objective.

 

This prospectus describes each Fund’s principal investment strategies, and the Funds 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, the Funds 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 (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 goals.

 

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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RISK

 

Investing in each Fund involves risk and there is no guarantee that a 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 and/or Sub-Adviser does, you could lose money on your investment in a Fund, just as you could with similar investments.

 

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 in which they trade. 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.

 

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

 

Asset-Backed Securities Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Core Bond ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — Asset-backed securities are securities backed by non-mortgage assets such as company receivables, truck and auto loans, leases and credit card receivables. Asset-backed securities may be issued as pass-through certificates, which represent undivided fractional ownership interests in the underlying pools of assets. Asset-backed securities may also be collateralized bond obligations (“CBOs”), collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”), other collateralized debt obligations (“CDOs”) and other similarly structured securities. A CBO is a trust which is backed by a diversified pool of high-risk, below investment grade fixed income securities. 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.

 

Repayment depends largely on the cash flows generated by the assets backing the securities. Asset-backed securities entail prepayment risk, which may vary depending on the type of asset, but is generally less than the prepayment risk associated with mortgage-backed securities, which is discussed elsewhere in this section. Asset-backed securities present credit risks that are not presented by mortgage-backed securities. This is because asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in collateral that is comparable in quality to mortgage assets. If the issuer of an asset-backed security defaults on its payment obligations, there is the possibility that, in some cases, a Fund will be unable to possess and sell the underlying collateral and that a Fund’s recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on the security. In the event of a default, a Fund may suffer a loss if it cannot sell collateral quickly and receive the amount it is owed.

 

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Bank Loans Risk (Absolute Return ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — Bank loans are arranged through private negotiations between a company and one or more financial institutions (lenders). Investments in bank loans are generally subject to the same risks as investments in other types of debt instruments, including, in many cases, investments in junk bonds. This means bank loans are subject to greater credit risks than other investments, including a greater possibility that the borrower will be adversely affected by changes in market or economic conditions and may default or enter bankruptcy. Bank loans made in connection with highly leveraged transactions, including operating loans, leveraged buyout loans, leveraged capitalization loans and other types of acquisition financing, are subject to greater credit risks than other types of bank loans. In addition, it may be difficult to obtain reliable information about and value any bank loan.

 

A Fund may invest in bank loans in the form of participations in the loans (participations) and assignments of all or a portion of the loans from third parties (assignments). In connection with purchasing participations, a Fund generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement relating to the loan, nor any rights of set-off against the borrower, and a Fund may not benefit directly from any collateral supporting the loan in which it has purchased the participation. As a result, a Fund will assume the credit risk of both the borrower and the lender that is selling the participation. When a Fund purchases assignments from lenders, the Fund will acquire direct rights against the borrower on the loan. A Fund may have difficulty disposing of bank loans because, in certain cases, the market for such instruments is not highly liquid. The lack of a highly liquid secondary market may have an adverse impact on the value of such instruments and on a Fund’s ability to dispose of the bank loan in response to a specific economic event, such as deterioration in the creditworthiness of the borrower. Furthermore, transactions in many loans settle on a delayed basis, and a Fund may not receive the proceeds from the sale of a loan for a substantial period of time after the sale. As a result, those proceeds will not be available to make additional investments or to meet a Fund’s redemption obligations.

 

Bank loans may not be considered “securities,” and purchasers, such as a Fund, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws.

 

Collateralized Debt Obligations Risk (Absolute Return ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — The risks of an investment in a collateralized debt obligation depend largely on the type of the collateral securities and the class of the debt obligation in which a Fund invests. Collateralized debt obligations are generally subject to credit, interest rate, prepayment and extension, valuation and liquidity risks, which are described elsewhere in this section. These securities also are subject to risk of default on the underlying assets, particularly during periods of economic downturn.

 

Collateralized Loan Obligation 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, a 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.

 

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Legislation, such as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, 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 Funds 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 Funds) of those types of securities.

 

Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (“CMOs”) Risk. CMOs are securities collateralized by mortgages, mortgage pass-throughs, mortgage pay-through bonds (bonds representing an interest in a pool of mortgages where the cash flow generated from the mortgage collateral pool is dedicated to bond repayment), and mortgage-backed bonds (general obligations of the issuers payable out of the issuers' general funds and additionally secured by a first lien on a pool of single family detached properties). CMOs are rated in one of the two highest categories by S&P or Moody's. Many CMOs are issued with a number of classes or series which have different expected maturities. Investors purchasing such CMOs are credited with their portion of the scheduled payments of interest and principal on the underlying mortgages plus all unscheduled prepayments of principal based on a predetermined priority schedule. Accordingly, the CMOs in the longer maturity series are less likely than other mortgage pass-throughs to be prepaid prior to their stated maturity. Although some of the mortgages underlying CMOs may be supported by various types of insurance, and some CMOs may be backed by Ginnie Mae certificates or other mortgage pass-throughs issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government agencies or instrumentalities, the CMOs themselves are not generally guaranteed.

 

Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Core Bond ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — Commercial mortgage-backed securities include securities that reflect an interest in, and are secured by, mortgage loans on commercial real property, such as hotels, office buildings, retail stores, hospitals and other commercial buildings. Many of the risks of investing in commercial mortgage-backed securities reflect the risks of investing in the real estate securing the underlying mortgage loans. These risks reflect the effects of local and other economic conditions on real estate markets, the ability of tenants to make loan payments, and the ability of a property to attract and retain tenants. Commercial mortgage-backed securities may have a lower repayment uncertainty than other mortgage-related securities because commercial mortgage loans generally prohibit or impose penalties on prepayment of principal. The repayment of loans secured by income-producing properties, however, is typically dependent upon the successful operation of the related real estate project rather than upon the liquidation value of the underlying real estate or the existence of independent income or assets of the borrower. In addition, commercial properties, particularly industrial and warehouse properties, are subject to environmental risks and the burdens and costs of compliance with environmental laws and regulations. Commercial mortgage-backed securities may be less liquid and exhibit greater price volatility than other types of mortgage- or asset-backed securities.

 

Commercial Paper Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Core Bond ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — Commercial paper is a short-term obligation with a maturity generally ranging from one to 270 days and is issued by U.S. or foreign companies or other entities in order to finance their current operations. Such investments are unsecured and usually discounted from their value at maturity. The value of commercial paper may be affected by changes in the credit rating or financial condition of the issuing entities and will tend to fall when interest rates rise and rise when interest rates fall. Asset-backed commercial paper may be issued by structured investment vehicles or other conduits that are organized to issue the commercial paper and to purchase trade receivables or other financial assets. The repayment of asset-backed commercial paper depends primarily on the cash collections received from such an issuer’s underlying asset portfolio and the issuer’s ability to issue new asset-backed commercial paper.

 

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Convertible Securities Risk (Absolute Return ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — Convertible securities are bonds, debentures, notes, preferred stock or other securities that may be converted into or exercised for a prescribed amount of common stock at a specified time and price. Convertible securities provide an opportunity for equity participation, with the potential for a higher dividend or interest yield and lower price volatility compared to common stock. Convertible securities typically pay a lower interest rate than nonconvertible bonds of the same quality and maturity because of the conversion feature. The value of a convertible security is influenced by changes in interest rates, with investment value typically 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. 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 at a time that may be unfavorable to the Fund.

 

Corporate Fixed Income Securities Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Core Bond ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — The prices of a 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. 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 a Fund invests, which in turn could negatively impact a Fund’s performance and cause losses on your investment in a Fund.

 

Credit Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Core Bond ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — Credit risk is the risk that a decline in the credit quality of an investment could cause a Fund to lose money. A Fund could lose money if the issuer or guarantor of a portfolio security or a counterparty to a derivative contract fails to make timely payment or otherwise honor its obligations. Fixed-income securities rated below investment grade (junk bonds) involve greater risks of default or downgrade and are generally more volatile than investment grade securities. Below investment grade securities 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 below investment grade securities may be more susceptible than other issuers to economic downturns. These securities 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.

 

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Depositary Receipts Risk (Global Small Cap Equity ETF and Total International Equity ETF) — Investments in depositary receipts may be less liquid and more volatile than the underlying securities in their primary trading market. If a depositary receipt is denominated in a different currency than its underlying securities, the Fund will be subject to the currency risk of both the investment in the depositary receipt and the underlying security. Holders of depositary receipts may have limited or no rights to take action with respect to the underlying securities or to compel the issuer of the receipts to take action. The prices of depositary receipts may differ from the prices of securities upon which they are based. Certain of the depositary receipts in which the Fund invests may be unsponsored depositary receipts. Unsponsored depositary receipts are issued by one or more depositaries in response to market demand, but without a formal agreement with the company that issues the underlying securities. Unsponsored depositary receipts may not provide as much information about the underlying issuer and may not carry the same voting privileges as sponsored depositary receipts. In addition, prices of unsponsored depositary receipts may be more volatile than those of sponsored depositary receipts.

 

Emerging Markets Securities Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Global Small Cap Equity ETF and Total International Equity ETF) — Emerging market countries may be more likely to experience political turmoil or rapid changes in market or economic conditions than more developed countries. Emerging market countries often have less uniformity in accounting and reporting requirements and unreliable securities valuation. It is sometimes difficult to obtain and enforce court judgments in such countries and there is often a greater potential for nationalization and/or expropriation of assets by the government of an emerging market country. 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 associated with a Fund’s investments in emerging market countries, which may be magnified by currency fluctuations relative to the U.S. dollar.

 

Equity Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Global Small Cap Equity ETF, Total International Equity ETF and U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF) — Equity securities in which a Fund invests may include common stock, preferred stock, convertible debt, warrants and rights, shares of American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”), European Depositary Receipts (“EDRs”), Global Depositary Receipts (“GDRs”) and 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. 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 a 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 a 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.

 

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ETF Risks (All Funds) — Each Fund is an ETF and, as a result of this structure, it is exposed to the following risks:

 

Trading Risk – Although Fund shares are listed for trading on a listing exchange, there can be no assurance that an active trading market for such shares will develop or be maintained. Secondary market trading in a Fund’s shares may be halted by a listing exchange because of market conditions or for other reasons. In addition, trading in a Fund’s shares is subject to trading halts caused by extraordinary market volatility pursuant to “circuit breaker” rules. There can be no assurance that the requirements necessary to maintain the listing of a Fund’s shares will continue to be met or will remain unchanged.

 

Shares of a Fund may trade at, above or below its most recent NAV. The per share NAV of a Fund is calculated at the end of each business day and fluctuates with changes in the market value of a Fund’s holdings since the prior most recent calculation. The trading prices of a Fund’s shares will fluctuate continuously throughout trading hours based on market supply and demand. In stressed market conditions, the market for Fund shares may become less liquid in response to deteriorating liquidity in the markets for a Fund’s underlying holdings, which may cause a variance in the market price of a Fund shares and their underlying value. The trading prices of a Fund’s shares may deviate significantly from NAV during periods of market volatility. These factors, among others, may lead to a Fund’s shares trading at a premium or discount to NAV. However, given that shares can be created and redeemed only in Creation Units at NAV, the Adviser does not believe that large discounts or premiums to NAV will exist for extended periods of time. While the creation/redemption feature is designed to make it likely that a Fund’s shares normally will trade close to a Fund’s NAV, exchange prices are not expected to correlate exactly with a 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 significantly from NAV. If a shareholder purchases at a time when the market price of a 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 a 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 an investor is willing to pay for shares (the “bid” price) and the price at which an investor 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 shares based on trading volume and market liquidity, and is generally lower if a Fund’s shares have more trading volume and market liquidity and higher if a Fund’s shares have little trading volume and market liquidity. Further, increased market volatility may cause increased bid/ask spreads. Due to the costs of buying or selling shares of a Fund, including bid/ask spreads, frequent trading of such shares may significantly reduce investment results and an investment in a Fund’s shares may not be advisable for investors who anticipate regularly making small investments.

 

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Cash Transactions Risk – Like other ETFs, each Fund sells and redeems its shares only in large blocks called Creation Units and only to “Authorized Participants.” Unlike many other ETFs, however, a Fund expects to effect its creations and redemptions at least partially for cash, rather than in-kind securities. Thus, an investment in a Fund may be less tax-efficient than an investment in other ETFs as a Fund may recognize a capital gain that it could have avoided by making redemptions in-kind. As a result, a Fund may pay out higher capital gains distributions than ETFs that redeem in-kind. Further, paying redemption proceeds at least partially in cash rather than through in-kind delivery of portfolio securities may require a Fund to dispose of or sell portfolio investments to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds at an inopportune time.

 

Limited Authorized Participants, Market Makers and Liquidity Providers Risk – Only an Authorized Participant may engage in creation or redemption transactions directly with the Funds. The Funds have 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 by the Exchange: (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 a Fund may not develop or be maintained, and, particularly during times of market stress, Authorized Participants or market makers may step away from their respective roles in making a market in shares of a Fund and in executing purchase or redemption orders. This could, in turn, lead to variances between the market price of a Fund’s shares and the value of its underlying securities.

 

Fixed-Income Securities Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Core Bond ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — The price of fixed-income securities responds to economic developments, particularly interest rate changes, as well as to perceptions about the credit risk of individual issuers. Rising interest rates generally will cause the price of bonds and other fixed-income debt securities to fall. Falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a security before its stated maturity, which may result in a Fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities. Very low interest rates, including rates that fall below zero (where banks charge for depositing money), may detract from a Fund’s performance and its ability to maintain positive returns to the extent the Fund is exposed to such interest rates. To the extent a Fund holds an investment with a negative interest rate to maturity, the Fund would generate a negative return on that investment. Bonds and other fixed-income debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a fixed-income security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Loans and other direct indebtedness involve the risk that a Fund will not receive payment of principal, interest and other amounts due in connection with these investments, which depend primarily on the financial condition of the borrower.

 

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Foreign Company Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Global Small Cap Equity ETF and Total International Equity ETF) — Investments in securities of foreign companies 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. Thus, there may be less information publicly available about foreign issuers than about most U.S. issuers. 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 a Fund’s portfolio. Any spread of an infectious illness, public health threat or similar issue could reduce consumer demand or economic output, result in market closures, travel restrictions or quarantines, and generally have a significant impact on the economies of the affected country and other countries with which it does business, which in turn could adversely affect a Fund's investments in that country and other affected countries. 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 a Fund to incur losses.

 

Foreign Currency Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Global Small Cap Equity ETF and Total International Equity ETF) — 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.

 

Foreign Government Agencies Risk (Absolute Return ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — Bonds issued by government agencies, subdivisions or instrumentalities of foreign governments are generally backed only by the general creditworthiness and reputation of the entity issuing the bonds and may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the foreign government. Moreover, a foreign government that explicitly provides its full faith and credit to a particular entity may be, due to changed circumstances, unable or unwilling to provide that support. A foreign government agency’s operations and financial condition are influenced by the foreign government’s economic and other policies.

 

Geographic Focus Risk (Core Bond ETF, Opportunistic Credit ETF and U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF) — To the extent that it focuses its investments in a particular country or geographic region, a 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, a Fund may be subject to greater price volatility and risk of loss than a fund holding more geographically diverse investments.

 

Investing in the United States Risk. A decrease in imports or exports, changes in trade regulations and/or an economic recession in the U.S. may have a material adverse effect on the U.S. economy and the securities listed on U.S. exchanges. Proposed and adopted policy and legislative changes in the U.S. are changing many aspects of financial and other regulation and may have a significant effect on the U.S. markets generally, as well as on the value of certain securities. In addition, a continued rise in the U.S. public debt level or U.S. austerity measures may adversely affect U.S. economic growth and the securities in which the Funds invest.

 

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The U.S. has developed increasingly strained relations with a number of foreign countries, including traditional allies, such as major European Union countries, the U.K., Canada and Mexico, and historical adversaries, such as North Korea, Iran, China and Russia. If these relations were to worsen, it could adversely affect U.S. issuers as well as non-U.S. issuers that rely on the U.S. for trade. The U.S. has also experienced increased internal unrest and discord. If this trend were to continue, it may have an adverse impact on the U.S. economy and the issuers in which the Funds invest.

 

Growth Investment Style Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Global Small Cap Equity ETF, Total International Equity ETF and U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF) — The Funds may invest 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 a Fund to sometimes underperform other equity funds that use differing investing styles.

 

High Yield Bond Risk (Absolute Return ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — 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 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 issuers of these securities generally influence their price and liquidity more than changes in interest rates, when compared to investment-grade debt securities.

 

Inflation-Linked Securities Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Core Bond ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — The value of inflation-linked securities will generally fluctuate in response to changes in real interest rates (the market rate of interest less the anticipated rate of inflation). Real interest rates change over time as a result of many factors, such as currency exchange rates, central bank monetary policies and general economic conditions. In general, the price of an inflation-linked security tends to decrease when real interest rates increase and can increase when real interest rates decrease. Interest payments on inflation-linked securities are unpredictable and will fluctuate as the principal and interest are adjusted for inflation. Any increase in the principal amount of an inflation-linked debt security will be considered taxable ordinary income, even though a Fund will not receive the principal until maturity. Repayment of the original bond principal upon maturity (as adjusted for inflation) is guaranteed in the case of TIPS. For bonds that do not provide a similar guarantee, the adjusted principal value of the bond repaid at maturity may be less than the original principal.

 

There can also be no assurance that the inflation index used will accurately measure the real rate of inflation in the prices of goods and services. A Fund’s investments in inflation-linked securities may lose value in the event that the actual rate of inflation is different than the rate of the inflation index. In addition, inflation-linked securities are subject to the risk that the CPI or other relevant pricing index may be discontinued, fundamentally altered in a manner materially adverse to the interests of an investor in the securities, altered by legislation or Executive Order in a materially adverse manner to the interests of an investor in the securities or substituted with an alternative index.

 

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Interest Rate Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Core Bond ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — Interest rate risk is the risk that a change in interest rates will cause a fall in the value of fixed income securities, including U.S. Government securities, in which a Fund invests. Generally, the value of a Fund’s fixed income securities will vary inversely with the direction of prevailing interest rates. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on the markets and may affect the value and liquidity of instruments held by a Fund. Although U.S. Government securities are considered to be among the safest investments, they are not guaranteed against price movements due to changing interest rates. Obligations issued by some U.S. Government agencies are backed by the U.S. Treasury, whereas others are backed solely by the ability of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the agency’s own resources.

 

Investment in Other Investment Companies Risk (All Funds) — Because the Funds invest in other investment companies, such as ETFs, the Funds 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, a Fund relies on that investment company to achieve its investment objective. If the investment company fails to achieve its objective, the value of a Fund’s investment could decline, which could adversely affect the Fund’s performance. By investing in another investment company, Fund shareholders indirectly bear a 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 a Fund’s own operations. The Funds do not intend to invest in other investment companies unless the Adviser believes that the potential benefits of the investment justify the payment of any additional fees or expenses. Federal securities laws impose limitations on the Funds’ ability to invest in other investment companies.

 

Large Capitalization Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Total International Equity ETF and U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF) — If valuations of large capitalization companies appear to be greatly out of proportion to the valuations of small or medium capitalization companies, investors may migrate to the stocks of small and medium-sized companies. 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. Larger companies also may not be able to attain the high growth rates of successful smaller companies.

 

Liquidity Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Core Bond ETF, Opportunistic Credit ETF, Global Small Cap Equity ETF and Total International Equity ETF) — Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell. The market for certain investments may become illiquid due to specific adverse changes in the condition of a particular issuer or under adverse market or economic conditions independent of the issuer. A Fund’s investments in illiquid securities may reduce the returns of the Fund because it may be unable to sell the illiquid securities at an advantageous time or price. Further, transactions in illiquid securities may entail transaction costs that are higher than those for transactions in liquid securities.

 

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Money Market Instruments Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Core Bond ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — The value of money market instruments may be affected by changing interest rates and by changes in the credit ratings of the investments. An investment in a money market fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by any bank, the FDIC or any other government agency. A money market fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the fund, and there should be no expectation that the sponsor will provide financial support to the fund at any time. Certain money market funds float their net asset value while others seek to preserve the value of investments at a stable net asset value (typically, $1.00 per share). An investment in a money market fund, even an investment in a fund seeking to maintain a stable net asset value per share, is not guaranteed and it is possible for a Fund to lose money by investing in these and other types of money market funds. Under certain circumstances where a money market fund experiences heightened redemptions, it may be required to impose a mandatory liquidity fee on amounts a Fund redeems from the money market fund (i.e., impose a liquidity fee). In addition, a money market fund may impose a liquidity fee of up to 2% on amounts a Fund redeems from the money market fund during circumstances where the money market fund’s board of directors determines such fee would be in the money market fund’s best interests. These measures may result in an investment loss. Money market funds and the securities they invest in are subject to comprehensive regulations. The regulations governing money market funds were recently amended in July, 2023, and their implementation and interpretation, as well as enforcement, may affect the manner of operation, performance and/or yield of money market funds.

 

Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Core Bond ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — 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 a 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 a 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 a 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 a Fund invests may be particularly sensitive to changes in prevailing interest rates, and the ability of a 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.

 

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Municipal Securities Risk (Absolute Return ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — Municipal bonds are fixed income securities issued by state or local governments or their agencies to finance capital expenditures and operations. The obligation to pay principal and interest on municipal bonds may be a general obligation of the state or local government or may be supported only by an agency or a particular source of revenues. Therefore, municipal bonds vary in credit quality. Municipal bonds, like other fixed income securities, rise and fall in value in response to economic and market factors, primarily changes in interest rates, and actual or perceived credit quality. State and local governments rely on taxes and, to some extent, revenues from private projects financed by municipal bonds, to pay interest and principal on municipal bonds. Poor statewide or local economic results or changing political sentiments may reduce tax revenues and increase the expenses of municipal issuers, making it more difficult for them to meet their obligations. Also, there may be economic or political changes that impact the ability of issuers of municipal bonds to repay principal and to make interest payments. Any changes in the financial condition of municipal issuers may also adversely affect the value of a Fund’s securities.

 

New Adviser Risk (All Funds) — The Adviser has not previously served as an adviser to a registered investment company. As a result, investors do not have a track record of managing an ETF from which to judge the Adviser, and the Adviser may not achieve the intended result in managing a Fund.

 

New Fund Risk (All Funds) — Because the Funds are new, investors in a Fund bear the risk that the Fund may not be successful in implementing its investment strategy, may not employ a successful investment strategy, or may fail to attract sufficient assets under management to realize economies of scale, any of which could result in a Fund being liquidated at any time without shareholder approval and at a time that may not be favorable for all shareholders. Such liquidation could have negative tax consequences for shareholders and will cause shareholders to incur expenses of liquidation.

 

Non-U.S. Government Securities Risk (Absolute Return ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — Foreign sovereign debt securities are subject to the risks that: (i) the governmental entity that controls the repayment of sovereign debt may not be willing or able to repay the principal and/or interest when it becomes due, due to factors such as debt service burden, political constraints, cash flow problems and other national economic factors; (ii) governments may default on their debt securities, which may require holders of such securities to participate in debt rescheduling or additional lending to defaulting governments; and (iii) there is no bankruptcy proceeding by which defaulted sovereign debt may be collected in whole or in part.

 

Preferred Stock Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Global Small Cap Equity ETF and Total International Equity ETF) — 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.

 

Prepayment and Extension Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Core Bond ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — When interest rates fall, issuers of high interest debt obligations may pay off the debts earlier than expected (prepayment risk), and a Fund may have to reinvest the proceeds at lower yields. When interest rates rise, issuers of lower interest debt obligations may pay off the debts later than expected (extension risk), thus keeping a Fund’s assets tied up in lower interest debt obligations.

 

REITs Risk (Absolute Return ETF and U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF) — 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, as discussed elsewhere in this section. REITs typically incur fees that are separate from those of a Fund. Accordingly, a 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 table and example in this prospectus.

 

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Some REITs may have limited diversification and may be subject to risks inherent in financing a limited number of properties. REITs depend generally on their ability to generate cash flow to make distributions, and may be subject to defaults by borrowers and to self-liquidations. In addition, a U.S. REIT may be affected by its failure to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or its failure to maintain exemption from registration under the 1940 Act.

 

Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Core Bond ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — Mortgage-backed securities are fixed income securities representing an interest in a pool of underlying mortgage loans. Mortgage-backed securities are sensitive to changes in interest rates, but may respond to these changes differently from other fixed income securities due to the possibility of prepayment of the underlying mortgage loans. As a result, it may not be possible to determine in advance the actual maturity date or average life of a mortgage-backed security. Rising interest rates tend to discourage re-financings, with the result that the average life and volatility of the security will increase, exacerbating its decrease in market price. When interest rates fall, however, mortgage-backed securities may not gain as much in market value because of the expectation of additional mortgage prepayments, which must be reinvested at lower interest rates.

 

Small- and Mid-Capitalization Company Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Total International Equity ETF and U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF) — 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 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 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.

 

Supranational Entities Risk (Absolute Return ETF) — Investments in debt securities issued by governments or by government agencies and instrumentalities or supranational organizations involve the risk that the governmental entities responsible for repayment may be unable or unwilling to pay interest and repay principal when due. A governmental entity’s willingness or ability to pay interest and repay principal in a timely manner may be affected by a variety of factors, including its cash flow, the size of its reserves, its access to foreign exchange, the relative size of its debt service burden to its economy as a whole, and political constraints. A governmental entity may default on its obligations or may require renegotiation or reschedule of debt payments. Any restructuring of a sovereign debt obligation held by a Fund will likely have a significant adverse effect on the value of the obligation. In the event of default of sovereign debt, a Fund may be unable to pursue legal action against the sovereign issuer or to realize on collateral securing the debt. The sovereign debt of many non-U.S. governments, including their sub-divisions and instrumentalities, is rated below investment grade. Sovereign debt risk may be greater for debt securities issued or guaranteed by emerging market countries.

 

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U.S. Government Securities Risk (Absolute Return ETF, Core Bond ETF and Opportunistic Credit ETF) — Although U.S. Government securities are considered to be among the safest investments, they are not guaranteed against price movements due to changing interest rates. Obligations issued by some U.S. Government agencies are backed by the U.S. Treasury, while others are backed solely by the ability of the agency to borrow from the U.S. Treasury or by the agency’s own resources.

 

Valuation Risk (All Funds) — The risk that a security may be difficult to value. A Fund may value certain securities at a price higher than the price at which they can be sold. This risk may be especially pronounced for investments that are illiquid or may become illiquid.

 

Value Investment Style Risk (Global Small Cap Equity ETF, Total International Equity ETF and U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF) — An investment in value stocks presents the risk that the stocks may never reach what the Adviser or a sub-adviser believes are their full market values, either because the market fails to recognize what the Adviser or a sub-adviser considers to be the companies’ true business values or because the Adviser or sub-adviser misjudged those values. In addition, value stocks may fall out of favor with investors and underperform growth stocks during given periods.

INFORMATION ABOUT PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS

 

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

INVESTMENT ADVISER

 

The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has entered into an investment advisory agreement (the “Investment Advisory Agreement”) with Frontier Asset Management, LLC (the “Adviser”), under which the Adviser manages each Fund’s investments subject to the oversight of the Board. The Adviser is a Wyoming limited liability company organized in 2000 and located at 50 East Loucks Street, Suite 201, Sheridan, Wyoming 82801. The Adviser is 100% owned by employees and family members of employees. As of June 30, 2024, the Adviser had approximately $5.5 billion in assets under management.

 

The Adviser oversees the day-to-day operations of the Fund, subject to the oversight of the Board. The Adviser also arranges for sub-advisory, transfer agency, custody, fund administration, distribution and all other services necessary for the Fund to operate. Further, the Adviser continuously reviews, supervises, and administers the Fund’s investment program. In particular, the Adviser provides investment and operational oversight of the Sub-Adviser. The Board oversees the Adviser and establishes policies that the Adviser must follow in its day-to-day management activities.

 

For its services to the Funds, 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
Frontier Asset Absolute Return ETF 0.60%
Frontier Asset Core Bond ETF 0.60%
Frontier Asset Opportunistic Credit ETF 0.60%
Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF 0.60%
Frontier Asset Total International Equity ETF 0.60%
Frontier Asset U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF 0.60%

 

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Pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement, the Adviser has agreed to pay all expenses of the Funds except for advisory fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, non-routine expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Funds under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, litigation expenses, and other non-routine or extraordinary expenses. The Adviser, in turn, compensates the Sub-Adviser from the management fee it receives.

 

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Funds’ Investment Advisory Agreement will be available in the Funds’ first Form N-CSR filing with the SEC.

SUB-ADVISER

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”), an Oklahoma limited liability company located at 10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund. An SEC-registered investment adviser formed in 2018, the Sub-Adviser is majority owned by Cottonwood ETF Holdings LLC. As of June 30, 2024, the Sub-Adviser had approximately $5.9 billion in assets under management.

 

The Sub-Adviser is responsible for trading portfolio securities for the Funds, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of each Fund’s portfolio, pre- and post-trade compliance, and monitoring of Fund trading activity, subject to the oversight of the Adviser and the Board. For its services, the Sub-Adviser is entitled to a fee from the Adviser, which fee is calculated daily and paid monthly.

A discussion regarding the basis for the Board’s approval of the Fund’s Sub-Advisory Agreement will be available in the Funds’ first Form N-CSR filing with the SEC.

PORTFOLIO MANAGERS

 

Each Fund is managed by a team of investment professionals that are jointly and primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Fund.

 

Frontier Asset Management, LLC

 

Clifford Stanton, CFA, Director of Investments, has managed the Funds since their inception in 2024. Mr. Stanton joined the Adviser in 2019 and previously served as Co-Chief Investment Officer for 361 Capital LLC.

 

Paul Wright, CFA, Portfolio Strategist, has managed the Funds since their inception in 2024. Mr. Wright joined the Adviser in 2021. Prior to his role with the Adviser, Mr. Wright served for six years as a derivatives trader with Macquarie Group Limited and for seven years as a quantitative strategist with Lincoln Financial Group.

 

Ali Toyran, Portfolio Strategist, has managed the Funds since their inception in 2024. Mr. Toyran joined the Adviser in 2021. Prior to his role with the Adviser, Mr. Toyran served for over a year as a credit analyst with CLS Bank and for eight years as a Vice President in the market risk methodology group within Morgan Stanley.

 

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Benton Peller, CFA, CAIA, Senior Investment Analyst, has managed the Funds since their inception in 2024. Mr. Peller joined the Adviser in 2017.

 

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

PURCHASING AND SELLING FUND SHARES

 

Shares of each Fund are listed for trading on the Exchange. When you buy or sell a Fund’s shares on the secondary market, you will pay or receive the market price. You may incur customary brokerage commissions and charges and may pay some or all of the spread between the bid and the offered price in the secondary market on each leg of a round trip (purchase and sale) transaction. The shares of a 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 Funds 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.

 

Each 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, a 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 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 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.

 

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 a 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.

 

You may obtain the current NAV of a Fund by calling [X-XXX-XXX-XXXX] or on the Funds’ website at www.frontierasset.com.

 

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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 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 Funds or the Adviser to Financial Intermediaries” in the SAI.

 

In addition to these payments made by the Funds or the Adviser, your financial intermediary may charge you account fees, commissions or transaction fees for buying or selling shares of a 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 Trust has adopted a distribution plan pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act applicable to the Funds that allows a 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 Funds, 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 Funds’ 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 a Fund.

 

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 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 a 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.

 

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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 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.

 

OTHER POLICIES

 

Excessive Trading Policies and Procedures

 

The Funds do not impose any restrictions on the frequency of purchases and redemptions of Creation Units; however, a Fund reserves the right to reject or limit purchases by Authorized Participants 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 Funds’ investment strategies, or whether they would cause the Funds to experience increased transaction costs. The Board considered that, unlike traditional mutual funds, shares of the Funds are issued and redeemed only 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 Funds 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 Funds or their shareholders. In fact, some degree of trading of Fund shares by Authorized Participants and arbitrageurs is beneficial and critical to ensuring that the Funds’ market prices remain at or close to NAV.

 

DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

 

Fund Distributions

 

Normally, each Fund distributes its net investment income quarterly and makes distributions of its net capital gains, if any, at least once a year. If you own shares of a Fund on its record date, you will be entitled to receive the distribution.

 

Dividend Reinvestment Service

 

Brokers may make available to their customers who own shares of a 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 that Fund purchased on the secondary market. Without this service, investors would 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 a Fund’s shareholders to adhere to specific procedures and timetables if they participate in the dividend reinvestment service.

 

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Tax Information

 

The following is a summary of certain important U.S. federal income tax issues that affect the Funds and their 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 Funds, or the tax consequences of an investment in a Fund. Your investment in a 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 Funds

 

Each Fund intends to elect and 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 a Fund maintains its qualification as a RIC and meets certain minimum distribution requirements, 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 a 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.

 

Tax Status of Distributions

 

·Each 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 a Fund may be taxed as either ordinary income or “qualified dividend income.” Dividends that are reported by a 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 a 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 a 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. Corporate shareholders may be entitled to a dividends received deduction for the portion of dividends they receive from a Fund that are attributable to dividends received by the Fund from U.S. corporations, subject to certain limitations. For such dividends to be taxed as qualified dividend income to a non-corporate shareholder, a 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 a Fund receives from an underlying fund taxable as a RIC or 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 make distributions eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income/

 

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·Taxes on distributions of capital gains (if any) are determined by how long a Fund owned the investments that generated them, rather than how long a shareholder has owned its shares. Sales of assets held by a Fund for more than one year generally result in long-term capital gains and losses, and sales of assets held by a Fund for one year or less generally result in short-term capital gains and losses. Distributions from a 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 a 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 a Fund that are attributable to dividends received by the Fund from U.S. corporations, subject to certain limitations.

 

·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) of the Code. This can potentially increase the amount of a shareholder’s interest expense deductible under Section 163(j) of the Code. 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 the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).

 

·“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.

 

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·“Qualified publicly traded partnership income” within the meaning of Section 199A(e)(4) 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” (within the meaning of Section 7704 of the Code) that is not treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes (pursuant to Section 7704(c) of the Code) with respect to such entity’s qualified 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 QPTP, as defined above. 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). RICs, such as the Funds, are not permitted to pass the special character of this income through to their shareholders. 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.

 

·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 a 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.

 

·Each 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 to the extent shares of a 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.

 

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The cost basis of shares of a 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 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.

 

Each Fund may pay the redemption price for Creation Units at least partially with cash, rather than the delivery of a basket of securities. Each Fund may be required to sell portfolio securities in order to obtain the cash needed to distribute redemption proceeds. This may cause a 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, a 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 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. Tax conventions between certain countries and the United States may reduce or eliminate these taxes.

 

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 a 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) each 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 a 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. Each 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 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 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.

 

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Backup Withholding

 

Each 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 backup withholding tax rate is 24%. 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.

 

The foregoing discussion summarizes some of the consequences under current U.S. federal income tax law of an investment in a Fund. It is not a substitute for personal tax advice. You also may be subject to state and local tax on Fund distributions and sales of shares. Consult your personal tax advisor about the potential tax consequences of an investment in the Funds under all applicable tax laws.

 

More information about taxes is included in the SAI.

 

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 Funds 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 Funds’ 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 a 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 a 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 a 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 a 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 each 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.

 

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Premium/Discount Information

 

Information regarding how often the shares of each 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.frontierasset.com.

 

Contractual Arrangements

 

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 a Fund. 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

 

Because the Funds have not commenced operations as of the date of this prospectus, financial highlights for the Funds are not available.

 

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THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND II

 

FRONTIER FUNDS

 

Investment Adviser

 

Frontier Asset Management, LLC

50 East Loucks Street, Suite 201

Sheridan, Wyoming 82801

 

Sub-Adviser

 

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC

10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120

 

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 [____, 2024], as it may be amended from time to time, includes detailed information about the Funds and The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II. 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 (When Available): Once available, additional information about the Funds’ investments will be available in the Funds’ annual and semi-annual reports to shareholders and in Form N-CSR filed with the SEC. In the Funds’ annual report, you will find a discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected each Fund’s performance during its last fiscal year. In Form N-CSR, you will find the Funds’ annual and semi-annual financial statements.

 

To Obtain an SAI, Annual or Semi-Annual Report, Fund Financial Statements, or More Information:

 

By Telephone: X-XXX-XXX-XXXX

 

By Mail: Frontier ETFs, c/o SEI Investments Distribution Co.
  One Freedom Valley Drive
  Oaks, Pennsylvania, 19456

 

By Internet: www.frontierasset.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 II, 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 811-07102.

[Inventory Code]

 

 

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION

 

THE INFORMATION IN THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DATED OCTOBER 4, 2024

 

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

FRONTIER ASSET ABSOLUTE RETURN ETF

Ticker Symbol: [____]

 

FRONTIER ASSET CORE BOND ETF

Ticker Symbol: [____]

 

FRONTIER ASSET OPPORTUNISTIC CREDIT ETF

Ticker Symbol: [____]

 

FRONTIER ASSET GLOBAL SMALL CAP EQUITY ETF

Ticker Symbol: [____]

 

FRONTIER ASSET TOTAL INTERNATIONAL EQUITY ETF

Ticker Symbol: [____]

 

FRONTIER ASSET U.S. LARGE CAP EQUITY ETF

Ticker Symbol: [____]

 

Investment Adviser:

FRONTIER ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

Investment Sub-Adviser:

EXCHANGE TRADED CONCEPTS, LLC

 

Fund Shares are listed on NYSE Arca, Inc.

 

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 II (the "Trust") and the Frontier Asset Absolute Return ETF, Frontier Asset Core Bond ETF, Frontier Asset Opportunistic Credit ETF, Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF, Frontier Asset Total International Equity ETF and Frontier Asset U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF (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 [Date], 2024, as it may be amended from time to time (the "Prospectus"). Capitalized terms not defined herein are defined in the Prospectus. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Prospectus, the Funds' Annual or Semi-Annual Report, and other information such as the Funds' financial statements, when available, free of charge by writing to the Funds at Frontier ETFs, c/o SEI Investments Distribution Co., One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania, 19456, or by calling the Funds at [X-XXX-XXX-XXXX] (toll free).

 

i 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE TRUST S-[XX]
DESCRIPTION OF PERMITTED INVESTMENTS S-[XX]
INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS S-[XX]
EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING S-[XX]
THE ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER S-[XX]
THE PORTFOLIO MANAGERS S-[XX]
THE ADMINISTRATOR S-[XX]
THE DISTRIBUTOR S-[XX]
PAYMENTS TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES S-[XX]
THE TRANSFER AGENT S-[XX]
THE CUSTODIAN S-[XX]
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM S-[XX]
LEGAL COUNSEL S-[XX]
SECURITIES LENDING S-[XX]
TRUSTEES AND OFFICERS OF THE TRUST S-[XX]
BOOK ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM S-[XX]
PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES IN CREATION UNITS S-[XX]
DETERMINATION OF NET ASSET VALUE S-[XX]
DIVIDENDS AND DISTRIBUTIONS S-[XX]
TAXES S-[XX]
FUND TRANSACTIONS S-[XX]
PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES S-[XX]
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES S-[XX]
SHAREHOLDER LIABILITY S-[XX]
LIMITATION OF TRUSTEES' LIABILITY S-[XX]
PROXY VOTING S-[XX]
CODES OF ETHICS S-[XX]
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS S-[XX]
APPENDIX A – DESCRIPTION OF RATINGS A-1
APPENDIX B – PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES B-1

 

[Date], 2024 [Inventory Code]

 

ii 

 

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 24, 1992, as amended and restated as of February 18, 2004 and August 10, 2004 and as amended May 15, 2012 and September 26, 2022 (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.

 

Exchange Traded Fund Structure. Each Fund operates as an ETF. Frontier Asset Management, LLC ("Frontier" or the "Adviser"), serves as the investment adviser to the Funds. Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (the "Sub-Adviser") serves as the trading sub-adviser to the Funds. Each Fund is an actively-managed ETF. The investment objective of the Frontier Asset Absolute Return ETF, Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF, Frontier Asset Total International Equity ETF and Frontier Asset U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF is long-term total return. The investment objective of the Frontier Asset Core Bond ETF and Frontier Asset Opportunistic Credit ETF is high income consistent with the preservation of capital.

 

As an ETF, each Fund offers and issues shares at their net asset value ("NAV") only in aggregations of a specified number of shares (each, a "Creation Unit"). Each 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. Each 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 a Fund's NAV per share. Fund shares are redeemable only in Creation Unit aggregations, and generally in exchange for portfolio securities and a specified cash payment.

 

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 "Board") under certain circumstances. Under the Declaration of Trust, the Trustees have the power to liquidate a 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.

 

S-1 

 

Any series of the Trust created on or after February 18, 2004 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.

 

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 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 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.

 

The following are descriptions of the permitted investments and investment practices of the Funds 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 the Fund's stated investment policies, including those stated below.

 

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.

 

S-2 

 

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 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.

 

For purposes of the Funds' 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 a 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.

 

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 of the Fund to fluctuate. The Funds may purchase equity securities traded on global securities exchanges or the over-the-counter market. Equity securities are described in more detail below:

 

S-3 

 

Types of Equity Securities:

 

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 Products. The Funds may directly purchase shares of or interests in ETPs (including ETFs, exchange-traded notes ("ETNs") and exchange-traded commodity pools). A Fund will only invest in ETPs to the extent consistent with its investment objectives, policies, strategies and limitations.

 

The risks of owning interests of ETPs generally reflect the risks of owning the underlying securities or other instruments that the ETP is designed to track. The shares of certain ETPs may trade at a premium or discount to their intrinsic value (i.e., the market value may differ from the NAV of an ETP's shares). For example, supply and demand for shares of an ETF or market disruptions may cause the market price of the ETF to deviate from the value of the ETF's investments, which may be emphasized in less liquid markets. The value of an ETN may also differ from the valuation of its reference market or instrument due to changes in the issuer's credit rating. By investing in an ETP, a Fund indirectly bears the proportionate share of any fees and expenses of the ETP in addition to the fees and expenses that the Fund and its shareholders directly bear in connection with the Fund's operations. Because certain ETPs may have a significant portion of their assets exposed directly or indirectly to commodities or commodity-linked instruments, developments affecting commodities may have a disproportionate impact on such ETPs and may subject the ETPs to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities.

 

ETFs. ETFs are investment companies that are registered under the 1940 Act as open-end funds or unit investment trusts. ETFs are actively traded on national securities exchanges and are generally based on specific domestic and foreign market indexes. 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. Because ETFs are based on an underlying basket of stocks or an index, they are subject to the same market fluctuations as these types of securities in volatile market swings.

 

ETNs. ETNs are generally senior, unsecured, unsubordinated debt securities issued by a sponsor. ETNs are designed to provide investors with a different way to gain exposure to the returns of market benchmarks, particularly those in the natural resource and commodity markets. An ETN's returns are based on the performance of a market index minus fees and expenses. ETNs are not equity investments or investment companies, but they do share some characteristics with those investment vehicles. As with equities, ETNs can be shorted, and as with ETFs and index funds, ETNs are designed to track the total return performance of a benchmark index. Like ETFs, ETNs are traded on an exchange and can be bought and sold on the listed exchange. However, unlike an ETF, an ETN can be held until the ETN's maturity, at which time the issuer will pay a return linked to the performance of the market index to which the ETN is linked minus certain fees. Unlike regular bonds, ETNs do not make periodic interest payments, and principal is not protected. The market value of an ETN is determined by supply and demand, the current performance of the market index to which the ETN is linked and the credit rating of the ETN issuer.

 

S-4 

 

The market value of ETN shares may differ from their NAV. This difference in price may be due to the fact that the supply and demand in the market for ETN shares at any point in time is not always identical to the supply and demand in the market for the securities/commodities/instruments underlying the index that the ETN seeks to track. The value of an ETN may also change due to a change in the issuer's credit rating. As a result, there may be times when an ETN share trades at a premium or discount to its NAV.

 

Certain ETNs may not produce qualifying income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Test (as defined below in the section titled "Taxes"), which must be met in order for a Fund to maintain its status as a RIC under the Code. The Funds intend to monitor such investments to ensure that any non-qualifying income does not exceed permissible limits, but the Funds may not be able to accurately predict the non-qualifying income from these investments (see more information in the "Taxes" section of this SAI).

 

Exchange-Traded Commodity Pools. Exchange-traded commodity pools are similar to ETFs in some ways, but are not structured as registered investment companies. Shares of exchange-traded commodity pools trade on an exchange and are registered under the 1933 Act. Unlike mutual funds, exchange-traded commodity pools generally will not distribute dividends to shareholders. There is a risk that the changes in the price of an exchange-traded commodity pool's shares on the exchange will not closely track the changes in the price of the underlying commodity or index that the pool is designed to track. This could happen if the price of shares does not correlate closely with the pool's NAV, the changes in the pool's NAV do not correlate closely with the changes in the price of the pool's benchmark, or the changes in the benchmark do not correlate closely with the changes in the cash or spot price of the commodity that the benchmark is designed to track. Exchange-traded commodity pools are often used as a means of investing indirectly in a particular commodity or group of commodities, and there are risks involved in such investments. Commodity prices are inherently volatile, and the market value of a commodity may be influenced by many unpredictable factors which interrelate in complex ways, such that the effect of one factor may offset or enhance the effect of another. Supply and demand for certain commodities tends to be particularly concentrated. Commodity markets are subject to temporary distortions or other disruptions due to various factors, including periodic illiquidity in the markets for certain positions, the participation of speculators, and government regulation and intervention. In addition, U.S. futures exchanges and some foreign exchanges have regulations that limit the amount of fluctuation in some futures contract prices that may occur during a single business day. These and other risks and hazards that are inherent in a commodity or group of commodities may cause the price of that commodity or group of commodities to fluctuate widely, which will, in turn, affect the price of the exchange-traded commodity pool that invests in that commodity or group of commodities. The regulation of commodity interest transactions in the United States is a rapidly changing area of law and is subject to ongoing modification by governmental and judicial action. Considerable regulatory attention has been focused on non-traditional investment pools that are publicly distributed in the United States. There is a possibility of future regulatory changes within the United States altering, perhaps to a material extent, the nature of an investment in exchange-traded commodity pools or the ability of an exchange-traded commodity pool to continue to implement its investment strategy. In addition, various national governments outside of the United States have expressed concern regarding the disruptive effects of speculative trading in the commodities markets and the need to regulate the derivatives markets in general. The effect of any future regulatory change on exchange-traded commodity pools is impossible to predict, but could be substantial and adverse.

 

Exchange-traded commodity pools generally do not produce qualifying income for purposes of the Qualifying Income Test (as defined below in the section titled "Taxes"), which must be met in order for a Fund to maintain its status as a RIC under the Code. The Funds intend to monitor such investments to ensure that any non-qualifying income does not exceed permissible limits, but the Funds may not be able to accurately predict the non-qualifying income from these investments (see more information in the "Taxes" section of this SAI).

 

S-5 

 

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.

 

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"). The Funds 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 Funds 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 a 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 the Funds 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 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.

 

S-6 

 

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.

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 U.S. REIT is a corporation or business trust (that would otherwise be taxed as a corporation) 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. 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 a 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 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.

S-7 

 

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

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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.

 

Investments in Emerging Markets. Investing in emerging markets involves additional risks and special considerations not typically associated with investing in other more established economies or markets. Such risks may include (i) increased risk of nationalization or expropriation of assets or confiscatory taxation; (ii) greater social, economic and political uncertainty, including war; (iii) higher dependence on exports and the corresponding importance of international trade; (iv) greater volatility, less liquidity and smaller capitalization of markets; (v) greater volatility in currency exchange rates; (vi) greater risk of inflation; (vii) greater controls on foreign investment and limitations on realization of investments, repatriation of invested capital and on the ability to exchange local currencies for U.S. dollars; (viii) increased likelihood of governmental involvement in and control over the economy; (ix) governmental decisions to cease support of economic reform programs or to impose centrally planned economies; (x) differences in auditing and financial reporting standards which may result in the unavailability of material information about issuers; (xi) less extensive regulation of the markets; (xii) longer settlement periods for transactions and less reliable clearance and custody arrangements; (xiii) less developed corporate laws regarding fiduciary duties of officers and directors and the protection of investors; (xiv) certain considerations regarding the maintenance of a Fund's securities with local brokers and securities depositories and (xv) the imposition of withholding or other taxes on dividends, interest, capital gains, other income or gross sale or disposition proceeds.

 

Repatriation of investment income, assets and the proceeds of sales by foreign investors may require governmental registration and/or approval in some emerging market countries. The Funds could be adversely affected by delays in or a refusal to grant any required governmental registration or approval for such repatriation or by withholding taxes imposed by emerging market countries on interest or dividends paid on securities held by the Funds or gains from the disposition of such securities.

 

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In emerging markets, there is often less government supervision and regulation of business and industry practices, stock exchanges, over-the-counter markets, brokers, dealers, counterparties and issuers than in other more established markets. Any regulatory supervision that is in place may be subject to manipulation or control. Some emerging market countries do not have mature legal systems comparable to those of more developed countries. Moreover, the process of legal and regulatory reform may not be proceeding at the same pace as market developments, which could result in investment risk. Legislation to safeguard the rights of private ownership may not yet be in place in certain areas, and there may be the risk of conflict among local, regional and national requirements. In certain cases, the laws and regulations governing investments in securities may not exist or may be subject to inconsistent or arbitrary appreciation or interpretation. Both the independence of judicial systems and their immunity from economic, political or nationalistic influences remain largely untested in many countries. The Funds may also encounter difficulties in pursuing legal remedies or in obtaining and enforcing judgments in local courts.

 

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 the Funds, the regulations could adversely affect a 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, 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.

 

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.

 

Foreign Agency Debt Obligations. The Funds may invest in uncollateralized bonds issued by agencies, subdivisions or instrumentalities of foreign governments. Bonds issued by these foreign government agencies, subdivisions or instrumentalities are generally backed only by the creditworthiness and reputation of the entities issuing the bonds and may not be backed by the full faith and credit of the foreign government. Moreover, a foreign government that explicitly provides its full faith and credit to a particular entity may be, due to changed circumstances, unable or unwilling to provide that support. A foreign agency's operations and financial condition are influenced by the foreign government's economic and other policies. Changes to the financial condition or credit rating of a foreign government may cause the value of debt issued by that particular foreign government's agencies, subdivisions or instrumentalities to decline. During periods of economic uncertainty, the trading of foreign agency bonds may be less liquid while market prices may be more volatile than prices of other bonds. Additional risks associated with foreign agency investing include differences in accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards; adverse changes in investment or exchange control regulations; political instability; and potential restrictions on the flow of international capital.

 

Obligations of Supranational Entities. Supranational entities are entities established through the joint participation of several governments, and include the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, African Development Bank, European Economic Community, European Investment Bank and the Nordic Investment Bank. The governmental members, or "stockholders," usually make initial capital contributions to the supranational entity and, in many cases, are committed to make additional capital contributions if the supranational entity is unable to repay its borrowings. There is no guarantee that one or more stockholders of a supranational entity will continue to make any necessary additional capital contributions. If such contributions are not made, the entity may be unable to pay interest or repay principal on its debt securities, and the Funds may lose money on such investments.

 

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 Funds invest 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 net asset value.

 

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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 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 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 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 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 a Fund to incur losses.

 

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.

 

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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; 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 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:

 

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·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 Funds to recover a portion of these taxes, the portion that cannot be recovered will reduce the income the Funds receive from their investments.

 

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 a 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.

 

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.

 

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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.

 

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"), Moody's Investor Services, Inc. ("Moody's") or Fitch Ratings ("Fitch"), 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 a 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.

 

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Municipal Securities

 

Municipal securities, including municipal bonds and municipal notes, consist of: (i) debt obligations issued by or on behalf of public authorities to obtain funds to be used for various public facilities, for refunding outstanding obligations, for general operating expenses and for lending such funds to other public institutions and facilities, and (ii) certain private activity and industrial development bonds issued by or on behalf of public authorities to obtain funds to provide for the construction, equipment, repair or improvement of privately operated facilities.

 

Municipal bonds are debt obligations issued to obtain funds for various public purposes. Municipal bonds include general obligation bonds, revenue or special obligation bonds, private activity and industrial development bonds, moral obligation bonds and participation interests in municipal bonds. General obligation bonds are backed by the taxing power of the issuing municipality. Revenue or special obligation bonds are backed by the revenues of a project or facility, such as tolls from a toll bridge. Private activity or industrial development bonds are issued by or on behalf of public authorities to raise money to finance various privately-owned or -operated facilities for business and manufacturing, housing, sports and pollution control. These bonds are also used to finance public facilities such as airports, mass transit systems, ports, parking or sewage or solid waste disposal facilities and certain other facilities. The payment of the principal and interest on such bonds is dependent solely on the ability of the facility's user to meet its financial obligations and the pledge, if any, of real and personal property financed as security for such payment. Moral obligation bonds are normally issued by special purpose authorities. Moral obligation bonds are not backed by the full faith and credit of the issuing municipality, but are generally backed by the agreement of the issuing authority to request appropriations from the municipality's legislative body. Certificates of participation represent an interest in an underlying obligation or commitment, such as an obligation issued in connection with a leasing arrangement.

 

Municipal notes consist of general obligation notes, tax anticipation notes (notes sold to finance working capital needs of the issuer in anticipation of receiving taxes on a future date), revenue anticipation notes (notes sold to provide needed cash prior to receipt of expected non-tax revenues from a specific source), bond anticipation notes, tax and revenue anticipation notes, certificates of indebtedness, demand notes and construction loan notes. The maturities of the instruments at the time of issue will generally range from three months to one year.

 

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 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:

 

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·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.

 

·Unsecured Bank Promissory Notes. Promissory notes are generally debt obligations of the issuing entity and are subject to the risks of investing in the banking industry.

 

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, including the actions discussed 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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

S-18 

 

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.

 

Bank Loans. Bank loans typically are arranged through private negotiations between a borrower and several financial institutions or a group of lenders which are represented by one or more lenders acting as agent. The agent is often a commercial bank that originates the loan and invites other parties to join the lending syndicate. The agent will be primarily responsible for negotiating the loan agreement and will have responsibility for the documentation and ongoing administration of the loan on behalf of the lenders after completion of the loan transaction. The Funds can invest in a bank loan either as a direct lender or through an assignment or participation.

 

When a Fund acts as a direct lender, it will have a direct contractual relationship with the borrower and may participate in structuring the loan, may enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement and may have voting, consent and set-off rights under the loan agreement.

 

Loan assignments are investments in all or a portion of certain bank loans purchased from the lenders or from other third parties. The purchaser of an assignment typically will acquire direct rights against the borrower under the loan. While the purchaser of an assignment typically succeeds to all the rights and obligations of the assigning lender under the loan agreement, because assignments are arranged through private negotiations between potential assignees and assignors, or other third parties whose interests are being assigned, the rights and obligations acquired by a Fund may differ from and be more limited than those held by the assigning lender.

 

A holder of a loan participation typically has only a contractual right with the seller of the participation and not with the borrower or any other entities interpositioned between the seller of the participation and the borrower. As such, the purchaser of a loan participation assumes the credit risk of the seller of the participation, and any intermediary entities between the seller and the borrower, in addition to the credit risk of the borrower. When a Fund holds a loan participation, it will have the right to receive payments of principal, interest and fees to which it may be entitled only from the seller of the participation and only upon receipt of the seller of such payments from the borrower or from any intermediary parties between the seller and the borrower. Additionally, the Funds generally will have no right to enforce compliance by the borrower with the terms of the loan agreement, will have no voting, consent or set-off rights under the loan agreement and may not directly benefit from the collateral supporting the loan although lenders that sell participations generally are required to distribute liquidation proceeds received by them pro rata among the holders of such participations. In the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of the borrower, a loan participation may be subject to certain defenses that can be asserted by the borrower as a result of improper conduct by the seller or intermediary. If the borrower fails to pay principal and interest when due, a Fund may be subject to greater delays, expenses and risks than those that would have been involved if the Fund had purchased a direct obligation of such borrower.

 

Direct loans, assignments and loan participations may be considered liquid, as determined by the Adviser based on criteria approved by the Board.

 

The Funds may have difficulty disposing of bank loans because, in certain cases, the market for such instruments is not highly liquid. The lack of a highly liquid secondary market may have an adverse impact on the value of such instruments and on a Fund's ability to dispose of the bank loan in response to a specific economic event, such as deterioration in the creditworthiness of the borrower. Furthermore, transactions in many loans settle on a delayed basis, and a Fund may not receive the proceeds from the sale of a loan for a substantial period of time after the sale. As a result, those proceeds will not be available to make additional investments or to meet the Funds' redemption obligations. To the extent that extended settlement creates short-term liquidity needs, a Fund may satisfy these needs by holding additional cash or selling other investments (potentially at an inopportune time, which could result in losses to the Fund).

 

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Bank loans may not be considered "securities," and purchasers, such as the Funds, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws.

 

The Adviser may from time to time have the opportunity to receive material, non-public information ("Confidential Information") about the borrower, including financial information and related documentation regarding the borrower that is not publicly available. Pursuant to applicable policies and procedures, the Adviser may (but is not required to) seek to avoid receipt of Confidential Information from the borrower so as to avoid possible restrictions on its ability to purchase and sell investments on behalf of the Funds and other clients to which such Confidential Information relates (e.g., publicly traded securities issued by the borrower). In such circumstances, the Funds (and other clients of the Adviser) may be disadvantaged in comparison to other investors, including with respect to the price a Fund pays or receives when it buys or sells a bank loan. Further, the Adviser's abilities to assess the desirability of proposed consents, waivers or amendments with respect to certain bank loans may be compromised if it is not privy to available Confidential Information. The Adviser may also determine to receive such Confidential Information in certain circumstances under its applicable policies and procedures. If the Adviser intentionally or unintentionally comes into possession of Confidential Information, it may be unable, potentially for a substantial period of time, to purchase or sell publicly traded securities to which such Confidential Information relates.

 

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 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 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. The Funds may also enter into "tri-party" repurchase agreements. In "tri-party" repurchase agreements, an unaffiliated third party custodian maintains accounts to hold collateral for the Funds and its counterparties and, therefore, the Funds 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.

 

S-20 

 

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 the Funds.

 

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 the Funds. Reverse repurchase agreements also involve the risk that the market value of the securities sold by the Funds 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 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.

 

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 a Fund's expenses.

 

Generally, the federal securities laws limit the extent to which the Funds 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 each 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.

 

S-21 

 

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 a Fund to lose money when selling an interest in an unregistered fund. For example, such funds may 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, speculating and generating additional income. A 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, 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 Fund's investment objective and is legally permissible, each Fund may use instruments and techniques that are not presently contemplated, but that may be subsequently developed.

 

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.

 

S-22 

 

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 Funds' 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"), the Funds must either operate within certain guidelines and restrictions with respect to the Funds' 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 claimed relief from CPO registration pursuant to the no-action relief granted by CFTC No-Action Letter No. 12-38 for operators of “fund-of-funds”, with respect to the Funds' operations. Therefore, the Funds will not be subject to regulation as a commodity pool under the CEA and the Adviser will not be subject to registration or regulation as a CPO under the CEA with respect to the Funds. It is possible that the CFTC will adopt regulations or a regulatory position making the no-action relief and the exclusion referred to above unavailable to the Funds. In any case where the no-action relief and the exclusion are unavailable to the DB1/ 150894271.5150894271.7 S-25 Funds, additional CFTC-mandated disclosure, reporting, and recordkeeping obligations may apply with respect to the Funds. Compliance with the CFTC’s regulatory requirements could increase Fund expenses and potentially adversely affect the Funds' total return.]

 

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 Commodity Futures Trading Commission (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.

S-23 

 

 

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, a Fund pays the current market price for the option (known as the "option premium"). The Funds 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, a Fund would realize either no gain or a loss on the purchase of the call option.

 

S-24 

 

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. 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, a 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, 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, a 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 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;

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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 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 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 it would sell a futures contract. They also may purchase such a put option in order to hedge a long position in the underlying futures contract. The Funds 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, the Funds 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 Funds.

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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 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 Funds' 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 Funds may purchase a put option on the foreign currency. If the value of the currency then declined, the Funds 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 Funds anticipate a rise in the U.S. dollar value of a currency in which securities to be acquired are denominated, the Funds 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, the Funds 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 Funds 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.

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·Foreign Currency Hedging Strategies

 

A "settlement hedge" or "transaction hedge" is designed to protect the Funds 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 Funds 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," would tend to offset both positive and negative currency fluctuations, 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.

 

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.

 

The Funds 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 (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, 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.

 

Participation 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.

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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 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 Funds are 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 Funds 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.

 

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 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 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 the Funds 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, the Funds 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 the Funds. 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.

 

·Swaptions

 

Swaptions are privately-negotiated option-based derivative products that give the holder the right to enter into a swap. The Funds may use a swaption in addition to or in lieu of a swap involving a similar rate or index.

 

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 but are not guaranteed to offset any losses incurred with a derivative. Purchasing derivatives for purposes other than hedging could expose the Funds 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. 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 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:

 

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·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.

 

Lack of Liquidity. Before an option is exercised or expires, a Fund can terminate it only by entering into a closing purchase or sale transaction. Although the Funds intend to purchase options 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, the Funds 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

 

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·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 a 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, the Funds 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, 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.

 

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.

 

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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 the Funds reasonably expect 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 the Funds' 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

 

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 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.

 

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 a Fund, and a Fund may be required to liquidate other investments in order to return collateral to the borrower at the end of the loan. A Fund will adhere to the following conditions whenever its portfolio securities are loaned: (i) a 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) a Fund must be able to terminate the loan on demand; (iv) a 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) a Fund may pay only reasonable fees in connection with the loan (which fees may include fees payable to the lending agent, the borrower, the Funds' 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, a 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.

 

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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 Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or an exemption from registration. This generally includes securities that are unregistered that can be sold to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the 1933 Act or securities that are exempt from registration under the 1933 Act, such as commercial paper. 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 investments 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 a Fund may invest in to the Adviser.

 

Short Sales

 

A 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.

 

Uncovered short sales are transactions under which a Fund sells a security it does not own. To complete such a transaction, a Fund must borrow the security to make delivery to the buyer. A Fund then is obligated to replace the security borrowed by purchasing the security at the market price at the time of the replacement. The price at such time may be more or less than the price at which the security was sold by a Fund. Until the security is replaced, a Fund is required to pay the lender amounts equal to any dividends or interest that accrue during the period of the loan. To borrow the security, a Fund also may be required to pay a premium, which would increase the cost of the security sold. The proceeds of the short sale will be retained by the broker, to the extent necessary to meet margin requirements, until the short position is closed out.

 

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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. The Funds 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 the Funds do 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 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, 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 a Fund's operations, ransomware, operational disruption or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support a Fund and its 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 a 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 a Fund's ability to calculate its net asset value, cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential business information, impede trading, subject a 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. 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 a Fund's investments in such companies to lose value. There can be no assurance that a Fund, the Funds' service providers, or the issuers of the securities in which a 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 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 Funds may have instruments linked to other interbank offered rates that may also cease to be published in the future.

 

General Market and Geopolitical Risk

 

Some countries and regions in which a Fund invests have experienced war (including Russia's military invasion of Ukraine), terrorism, social unrest, government defaults, government shutdowns, economic uncertainty, sanctions or the threat of sanctions, natural and environmental disasters, the spread of infectious illness, widespread disease or other public health issues such as pandemics and epidemics (including those caused by COVID-19), and/or systemic market dislocations (including due to events outside of such countries or regions). Such events have led, and in the future may lead, to increased short-term market volatility and may have adverse long-term effects on the U.S. and world economies and markets generally. Whether or not a Fund invests in securities of issuers located in countries impacted by such events, these and other 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, which in turn could negatively impact the Fund's performance and cause losses on your investment in the Fund.

 

S-37 

 

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 the Fund's shares present at a meeting, if more than 50% of the outstanding shares of a Fund are present or represented by proxy, or (ii) more than 50% of the Fund's outstanding shares, whichever is less.

 

1.The Funds may not purchase securities of an issuer that would cause such 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.The Funds 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 Funds 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.The Funds 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.

 

4.The Funds 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.

 

5.The Funds 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.

 

6.The Funds 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

 

A Fund's investment objective, as well as the following investment limitations are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board without shareholder approval.

 

1.A 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 a Fund from, among other things, purchasing marketable securities of companies that deal in real estate or interests therein (including REITs).

 

2.A 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.

 

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

 

S-38 

 

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 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 a Fund's concentration policy, a 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.

 

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 an investment company evidencing indebtedness. The 1940 Act generally prohibits a fund from issuing senior securities, although it provides 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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Except with respect to a Fund's policy 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 a Fund to exceed its limitation, a Fund will take steps to bring the aggregate amount of borrowing back within the limitations within three days thereafter (not including Sundays and holidays).

 

S-39 

 

EXCHANGE LISTING AND TRADING

 

A discussion of exchange listing and trading matters associated with an investment in the Funds is contained in the Prospectus. The discussion below supplements, and should be read in conjunction with, the Prospectus.

 

The shares of each Fund are approved for listing and trading on the Exchange. Each 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 a Fund will continue to be met.

 

The Exchange will consider the suspension of trading in, and will initiate delisting procedures of, the shares of a Fund under any of the following circumstances: (1) if the Exchange becomes aware that a Fund is no longer eligible to operate in reliance on Rule 6c-11 under the 1940 Act; (2) if any of the continued listing requirements set forth in the Exchange's rules are not continuously maintained; (3) following the initial twelve-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading of a Fund, there are fewer than 50 record and/or beneficial holders of the shares of the Fund; or (4) such other event occurs or condition exists that, in the opinion of the Exchange, makes further dealings on the Exchange inadvisable. In addition, the Exchange will remove the shares from listing and trading upon termination of the Trust or a Fund.

 

The Trust reserves the right to adjust the share price of a Fund in the future to maintain convenient trading ranges for investors. Any adjustments would be accomplished through stock splits or reverse stock splits, which would have no effect on the net assets of a Fund.

 

As in the case of other publicly traded securities, brokers' commissions on transactions will be based on negotiated commission rates at customary levels.

 

The base and trading currencies of a Fund is the U.S. dollar. The base currency is the currency in which a Fund's NAV per share is calculated and the trading currency is the currency in which shares of a Fund are listed and traded on the Exchange.

 

THE ADVISER AND SUB-ADVISER

 

Investment Adviser

 

General. Frontier Asset Management, LLC (“Frontier”), a Wyoming limited liability company organized in 2000, serves as the investment adviser to the Funds. The Adviser's principal place of business is at 50 East Loucks Street, Suite 201, Sheridan, Wyoming 82801. The Adviser is 100% owned by employees and family members of employees. As of June 30, 2024, the Adviser had approximately $5.5 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") 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. The Adviser also arranges for sub-advisory, transfer agency, custody, fund administration, distribution and all other services necessary for the Fund to operate. In particular, the Adviser provides investment and operational oversight of the Sub-Adviser.

 

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 by a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the Funds, or by the Adviser, for any reason, 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.

 

S-40 

 

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
Frontier Asset Absolute Return ETF 0.60%
Frontier Asset Core Bond ETF 0.60%
Frontier Asset Opportunistic Credit ETF 0.60%
Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF 0.60%
Frontier Asset Total International Equity ETF 0.60%
Frontier Asset U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF 0.60%

 

This advisory fee is a unitary management fee designed to pay the Funds' expenses and to compensate the Adviser for the services it provides to the Funds. Out of the unitary management fee, the Adviser pays substantially all expenses of the Funds, except for advisory fees, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions and other expenses incurred in placing orders for the purchase and sale of securities and other investment instruments, acquired fund fees and expenses, accrued deferred tax liability, non-routine expenses, and distribution fees and expenses paid by the Funds under any distribution plan adopted pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the 1940 Act, litigation expenses, and other non-routine or extraordinary expenses.

 

Sub-Adviser

 

General. Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC, an Oklahoma limited liability company located at 10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120, serves as the trading sub-adviser to the Funds (the “Sub-Adviser”). The Sub-Adviser is majority owned by Cottonwood ETF Holdings LLC. As of June 30, 2024, the Sub-Adviser had approximately $5.9 billion in assets under management.

 

Sub-Advisory Agreement. The Adviser and the Sub-Adviser have entered into an investment sub-advisory agreement with respect to the Funds (the "Sub-Advisory Agreement"). Pursuant to the Sub-Advisory Agreement, the Sub-Adviser is responsible for trading portfolio securities on behalf of each Fund, including selecting broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale transactions as instructed by the Adviser or in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of each Fund's portfolio, pre- and post-trade compliance, and monitoring of Fund trading activity, subject to the oversight of the Adviser and the Board.

 

After the initial two-year term, the continuance of the Sub-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 Sub-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 Sub-Advisory Agreement will terminate automatically in the event of its assignment or in the event of the termination of the Advisory Agreement, and is terminable at any time without penalty by the Board.

 

S-41 

 

Sub-Advisory Fee. For its services, the Sub-Adviser is entitled to a fee from the Adviser, which fee is calculated daily and paid monthly.

 

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.

 

Frontier Asset Management, LLC

 

Portfolio manager compensation consists primarily of salary and annual bonuses. Salaries for each team member are based on individual roles and responsibilities, total level of relevant experience, academic achievements, and professional credentials. Over time, individual performance also informs salary decisions. Annual bonuses are based on a combination of firm performance and individual performance. Bonuses are not presently tied to Fund performance.

 

Fund Shares Owned by the Portfolio Managers. Because the Funds are new, as of the date of this SAI, the portfolio managers did not beneficially own shares of the Funds.

 

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 [Date], 2024.

 

  Registered Investment Companies Other Pooled Investment Vehicles Other Accounts
Name Number of Accounts Total Assets (in millions) Number of Accounts Total Assets (in millions) Number of Accounts Total Assets (in millions)
Frontier Asset Management, LLC
Clifford Stanton, CFA [XX] $[XX] [XX] $[XX] [XX] $[XX]
Paul Wright, CFA [XX] $[XX] [XX] $[XX] [XX] $[XX]
Ali Toyran [XX] $[XX] [XX] $[XX] [XX] $[XX]
Benton Peller, CFA, CAIA [XX] $[XX] [XX] $[XX] [XX] $[XX]

 

S-42 

 

Conflicts of Interest.

 

Frontier Asset Management, LLC

 

Frontier’s portfolio managers’ management of other accounts (collectively, the “Other Accounts”) may give rise to potential conflicts of interest in connection with their management of the Funds’ investments, on the one hand, and the investments of the Other Accounts, on the other. The Other Accounts might have similar investment objectives as the Funds or hold, purchase or sell securities that are eligible to be held, purchased or sold by the Funds. Frontier does not believe that these conflicts, if any, are material or, to the extent any such conflicts are material, Frontier believes that it has designed policies and procedures to manage those conflicts in an appropriate way.

 

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 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.

 

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 January 28, 1993, as amended and restated November 14, 2005 and as amended August 30, 2010, November 13, 2018 and December 13, 2022 (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

 

Distribution Plan. The Trust has adopted a Distribution Plan applicable to the Funds 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 Funds. 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 the Funds), 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.

 

Because Rule 12b-1 fees are paid out of a Fund's assets, they increase the cost of your investment and may cost you more than certain other types of sales charges. However, no Rule 12b-1 fees are currently paid by the Funds, and there are no plans to impose these fees. No payments will be made pursuant to the Rule 12b-1 plan without the prior approval of the Board.

 

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.

 

S-44 

 

These additional payments may be made to financial intermediaries that sell Fund shares or provide services to the Funds, the Distributor or shareholders of a 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 a 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 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 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 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

 

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (in its capacity as transfer agent, the "Transfer Agent"), 50 Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, serves as the transfer agent of the Funds.

 

THE CUSTODIAN

 

Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. (in its capacity as custodian, the "Custodian"), located at 50 Post Office Square, Boston, Massachusetts 02110, 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

 

[__________] serves as independent registered public accounting firm for the Funds.

 

LEGAL COUNSEL

 

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

 

S-45 

 

SECURITIES LENDING

 

Because the Funds are new, as of the date of this SAI, the Funds have not engaged in securities lending activities.

 

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 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 Funds' 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.

 

S-46 

 

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' advisers 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 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.

 

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, 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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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

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, 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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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, 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, 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, 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, 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.

 

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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

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, 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 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.

 

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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 of the Trust. 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.

 

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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 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 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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 Shares1

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 Trust's most recently completed fiscal year ended [Date, 2023].

 

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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 $[XX] N/A N/A $[XX] for service on one (1) board
Grause $[XX] N/A N/A $[XX] for service on one (1) board
Mulhall $[XX] N/A N/A $[XX] for service on one (1) board
Speca $[XX] N/A N/A $[XX] for service on one (1) board
Walker $[XX] N/A N/A $[XX] for service on one (1) board

 

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

 

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 the officers of the Trust. Unless otherwise noted, the business address of each officer is SEI Investments, 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)

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.

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.

 

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

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.

Bridget E. Sudall

(Born: 1980)

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Officer and Privacy Officer (from 2015 – May 2022; from November 2022 – June 2023; and since April 2024) Senior Associate and AML Officer, Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners, from 2011 to 2015. Investor Services Team Lead, Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners, from 2007 to 2011.

 

 

S-55 

 

BOOK ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM

 

Depository Trust Company ("DTC") acts as securities depositary for the Funds' shares. Shares of the Funds 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 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 Funds 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 Funds (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 Funds. The Trust recognizes DTC or its nominee as the record owner of all shares of the Funds for all purposes. Beneficial Owners of shares of the Funds 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 Funds.

 

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 Funds held by each DTC Participant. The Trust shall obtain from each such DTC Participant the number of Beneficial Owners holding shares of the Funds, 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 Funds. 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 Funds as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of shares of the Funds 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.

 

S-56 

 

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 Funds' 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 Funds at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Funds and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Funds 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 Funds, unless the Trust makes other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the Exchange.

 

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES IN CREATION UNITS

 

The Funds issue and redeem their 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 or in cash for the value of such securities. The NAV of a 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.

 

Custom Baskets. The basket is generally representative of a Fund's portfolio, and together with a cash balancing amount, is equal to the NAV of the Fund shares comprising the Creation Unit. However, Rule 6c-11 under the 1940 Act permits the Funds 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 a Fund's portfolio holdings; (ii) a representative sampling of a Fund's portfolio holdings; or (iii) changes due to a rebalancing or reconstitution of a Fund's securities market index, if applicable. 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 a 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 a 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 Funds only: (i) 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"); or (ii) pursuant to the dividend reinvestment service (discussed below). The Funds 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 a 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, or (ii) the cash value of the Deposit Securities ("Deposit Cash") and the Cash Component. When accepting purchases of Creation Units for cash, a 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.

 

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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 a Fund. The "Cash Component" is an amount equal to the difference between the NAV of the shares of a Fund (per Creation Unit) and the market value of the Deposit Securities 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 Cash Component shall be such positive amount. 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).

 

Each Fund, through National Securities Clearing Corporation ("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 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 a Fund until such time as the next-announced composition of the Deposit Securities 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 a 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 a Fund. The composition of the Deposit Securities may also change in response to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the component securities of the index the performance of which a Fund seeks to track, if applicable.

 

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 (i) permit or require the substitution of Deposit Securities in lieu of Deposit Cash; and (ii) include or remove Deposit Securities from the basket in anticipation of or implementation of rebalancing changes in the index the performance of which a Fund seeks to track, if applicable. 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, in the composition of the index the performance of which a Fund seeks to track, if applicable, or resulting from certain corporate actions.

 

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Cash Purchase Method. The Trust may at its discretion permit full or partial cash purchases of Creation Units of a Fund. When full or partial cash purchases of Creation Units are available or specified for a 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 a 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 a 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 received and 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 a 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, a Fund may require orders to create Creation Units to be placed earlier in the day. In addition, if a market or markets on which a 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). 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.

 

S-59 

 

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 Funds 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 account of a Fund or its agents by no later than the Settlement Date. The "Settlement Date" for a 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 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 Funds for losses, if any, resulting therefrom. Upon written notice to the Distributor, such canceled order may be resubmitted the following business day using the Fund Deposit as newly constituted to reflect the then current NAV of a Fund.

 

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 2:00 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 2:00 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 or payment of Deposit Cash, as applicable, and the payment of the Cash Component have been completed. When the subcustodian has confirmed to the Custodian that the required Deposit Securities (or the cash value thereof) have been delivered to the account of the relevant subcustodian or subcustodians, 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, a 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 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 Funds 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 Deposit Securities as described below. In these circumstances, the initial deposit will have a value greater than the NAV of the shares of a Fund on the date the order is placed in proper form since in addition to available Deposit Securities, 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 Funds or their 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 Funds 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-60 

 

Acceptance of Orders of Creation Units. The Trust reserves the right to reject an order for Creation Units in respect of a 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 a Fund; (d) the acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful; (e) the acceptance or receipt of the order for a Creation Unit would, in the opinion of counsel to the Trust, be unlawful; or (f) 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 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 a 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.

 

S-61 

 

Creation Transaction Fee. A fixed purchase (i.e., creation) transaction fee may be imposed for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the purchase of Creation Units ("Creation Order Costs"). The standard creation transaction fee for a Fund, regardless of the number of Creation Units created in the transaction, is set forth in the table below.

 

Fund Creation Transaction Fee
Frontier Asset Absolute Return ETF $[XXX]
Frontier Asset Core Bond ETF $[XXX]
Frontier Asset Opportunistic Credit ETF $[XXX]
Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF $[XXX]
Frontier Asset Total International Equity ETF $[XXX]
Frontier Asset U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF $[XXX]

 

The Funds 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 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. A 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.

 

Risks of Purchasing Creation Units. There are certain legal risks unique to investors purchasing Creation Units directly from the Funds. Because a 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 a 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 a 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.

 

S-62 

 

Redemption. Shares of a Fund may be redeemed only in Creation Units at their NAV next determined after receipt of a redemption request in proper form by a 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 a 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 shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit.

 

With respect to the Funds, 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 each 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 Funds, 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 a 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 Funds, when full or partial cash redemptions of Creation Units are available or specified for a 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 for the transfer and other transaction costs associated with the redemption of Creation Units ("Redemption Order Costs"). The standard redemption transaction fee for the Funds, regardless of the number of Creation Units redeemed in the transaction, is set forth in the table below.

 

Fund Redemption Transaction Fee
Frontier Asset Absolute Return ETF $[XXX]
Frontier Asset Core Bond ETF $[XXX]
Frontier Asset Opportunistic Credit ETF $[XXX]
Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF $[XXX]
Frontier Asset Total International Equity ETF $[XXX]
Frontier Asset U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF $[XXX]

 

The Funds 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.

 

S-63 

 

In addition, a variable fee, payable to the Funds, may be imposed for cash redemptions, non-standard orders, or partial cash redemptions for the Funds. 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 Funds 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 a 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 a 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 Trust's Transfer Agent 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 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 shares of a Fund 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 that 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 a 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 connection with taking delivery of shares of Fund Securities upon 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 a 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-64 

 

If it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Fund Securities, the Trust may in its discretion exercise its option to redeem such shares in cash, and the redeeming investor will be required to receive its redemption proceeds in cash. In addition, an investor may request a redemption in cash that a 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 a 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). A 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 a 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 a 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 Funds (whether or not it otherwise permits cash redemptions) reserve the right to redeem Creation Units for cash to the extent that the Trust could not 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 a 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 Funds may trade on the relevant exchange(s) on days that the Exchange is closed or are otherwise not business days for the Funds, 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 Funds could be significantly affected by events in the relevant foreign markets.

 

The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to the Funds (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 a 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.

 

S-65 

 

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 a 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 a 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 a 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 a 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, a 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 a Fund calculates net asset value, the settlement price may not be available at the time at which a 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.

 

S-66 

 

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 Pricing 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 or Sub-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 a 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 at least annually by the Funds. Distributions of net realized capital gains, if any, generally are declared and paid once a year, but the Funds may make distributions on a more frequent basis to improve index tracking, if applicable, or to comply with the distribution requirements of the Code, in all events in a manner consistent with the provisions of the 1940 Act.

 

S-67 

 

Dividends and other distributions on shares of a 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 a Fund.

 

The Funds may make additional distributions to the extent necessary (i) to distribute the entire annual taxable income of a 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 a 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 the DTC book-entry dividend reinvestment service for use by Beneficial Owners of a Fund through DTC Participants for reinvestment of their dividend distributions. Investors should contact their brokers to ascertain the availability and description of these services. Beneficial Owners 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 issued by the Trust of a Fund at NAV per share. Distributions reinvested in additional shares of a Fund will nevertheless be taxable to Beneficial Owners acquiring such additional shares to the same extent as if such distributions had been received in cash.

 

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 its shareholders, and the discussion here and in the Prospectus is not intended as a substitute for careful tax planning. 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 Funds intend to elect and intends to qualify each year to be treated as a RIC. By following such a policy, the Funds expect to eliminate or reduce to a nominal amount the federal taxes to which it may be subject. A fund that qualifies as a RIC 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 Funds 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, a 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 a 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 a Fund's taxable year: (A) at least 50% of the value of a 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 a 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 a 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").

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

 

If a 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 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, 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 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.

 

The Funds 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 a 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 Funds 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 Funds' next taxable year, and the excess (if any) of a 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 Funds' next taxable year. In addition, 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 a 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). The Funds intend 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 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, 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 a Fund to satisfy the requirement for qualification as a RIC.

 

Distributions to Shareholders. The Funds receive 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 a Fund receives qualified dividend income on the securities it holds and a 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) a 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 taxable or REIT. Certain of the Funds' investment strategies may limit their ability to make distributions eligible to be treated as qualified dividend income.

 

Distributions by a Fund of its net short-term capital gains will be taxable 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 a 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 limit their ability to make distributions eligible for the dividends received deduction.

 

To the extent that a Fund makes a distribution of income received by a 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) of the Code. This can potentially increase the amount of a shareholder's interest expense deductible under Section 163(j) of the Code. 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 the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS").

 

If a Fund's distributions exceed its current and accumulated earnings and profits (as calculated for U.S. 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.

 

The Funds (or your broker) 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 Fund shares for a full year, a Fund may designate 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 a 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.

 

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Sales, Exchanges or Redemptions. A sale or exchange of shares or redemption of shares in a Fund may give rise to a gain or loss. In general, any gain or loss realized upon a taxable disposition of shares by a shareholder will generally 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, 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 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 a 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 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.

 

Any gain or loss realized upon a creation or redemption of Creation Units may be treated as capital or ordinary gain or loss, depending on the holder's circumstances. Any gain or loss realized upon the creation of Creation Units will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the securities exchanged for such Creation Units have been held for more than one year and were held as capital assets in the hands of the exchanging Authorized Participant. Any capital gain or loss realized upon the redemption of Creation Units will generally be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the shares comprising the Creation Units have been held for more than one year and such shares were held as capital assets in the hands of the exchanging Authorized Participant. Otherwise, such capital gains or losses will be treated as short-term capital gains or losses. Any loss realized upon a redemption of Creation Units held for six months or less should be treated as a long-term capital loss to the extent of any amounts treated as distributions to the applicable Authorized Participant of long-term capital gains with respect to the Creation Units (including any amounts credited to the Authorized Participant as undistributed capital gains).

 

The Trust, on behalf of the Funds, has the right to reject an order for a purchase of shares of a 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 a 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.

 

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Persons 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.

 

Tax Treatment of Complex Securities. The following information regarding the Funds' investments also applies to any Fund investment in an underlying Fund that is also taxed as a RIC. 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 a Fund as a RIC at a time when the Adviser might not otherwise have chosen to do so.

 

Under the Code, gains or losses attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates which occur between the time a Fund accrues income or other receivables or accrues expenses or other liabilities denominated in a foreign currency and the time a Fund actually collects such income or receivables or pays such expenses or liabilities generally are treated as ordinary income or loss. Similarly, on disposition 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 a Fund's income to be distributed to its shareholders as ordinary income.

 

The Funds are required for federal income tax purposes to mark-to-market and recognize as income for each taxable year their 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 a 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 a 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.

 

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 a 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, in general, derives less than 90% of its income from the qualifying income 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.

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The Funds 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 a 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 a Fund's assets. The Funds will monitor their investments in such qualified publicly traded partnerships in order to ensure compliance with the Qualifying Income and Asset Tests. MLPs and other partnerships that a 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 a Fund issues its tax reporting statements. 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 you your tax reporting statement.

 

"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 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 a Fund 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 a Fund's receipt of cash in excess of the REIT's earnings; if a Fund distributes these amounts, these distributions could constitute a return of capital to such 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 a Fund and, in turn, may be distributed by a 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 a Fund and which a 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.

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REITs in which a Fund invests often do not provide complete and final tax information to a Fund until after the time that a 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," a Fund will generally be subject to one of the following special tax regimes: (i) a 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 a Fund as a dividend to its shareholders; (ii) if a Fund were able and elected to treat a PFIC as a "qualified electing fund" or "QEF," a Fund would be required each year to include in income, and distribute to shareholders in accordance with the distribution requirements set forth above, a 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 a Fund; or (iii) a 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. A 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 a Fund arising from a QEF election, will be "qualifying income" under the Qualifying Income Test (as described above) even if not distributed to a Fund, if the Fund derives such income from its business of investing in stock, securities or currencies.

 

Foreign Taxes. Dividends and interest received by a Fund may be subject to income, withholding or other taxes imposed by foreign countries and U.S. possessions that would reduce the yield on a 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 a Fund's total assets at the close of its taxable year consists of stocks or securities of foreign corporations, a 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 a Fund, subject to certain limitations. Pursuant to the election, a 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.

 

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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, a 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 a Fund where, for example: (i) a Fund invests in residual interests of Real Estate Mortgage Investment Conduits ("REMICs"), (ii) a 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 a 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. The Funds 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 Funds 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 Funds that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding; or (iv) has failed to certify to the Funds that the shareholder is a U.S. person (including a 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.

 

Non-U.S. Investors. Any non-U.S. investors in a Fund may be subject to U.S. withholding and estate tax and are encouraged to consult their tax advisors prior to investing in a 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. 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), a 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 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 a 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 a 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 a 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 Funds 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 a 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 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 a 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 Funds.

 

FUND TRANSACTIONS

 

The Adviser has engaged the Sub-Adviser to perform certain responsibilities with respect to portfolio transactions and brokerage. On a daily basis, the Adviser provides to the Sub-Adviser a model with respect to each Fund. Using such models, the Sub-Adviser may implement changes to a Fund’s portfolio in connection with any rebalancing or reconstitution of a Fund, may trade portfolio securities on behalf of a Fund, and may select broker-dealers to execute purchase and sale 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 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.

 

S-77 

 

In addition, the Sub-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 the best combination of price and execution under the circumstances. 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 generally outweigh the possible disadvantages of combined orders.

 

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 Sub-Adviser may select a broker based upon brokerage or research services provided to the Sub-Adviser. The Sub-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.

 

The Sub-Adviser does not currently use Fund assets for, or participate in, third-party soft dollar arrangements or receive proprietary research from full service brokers. The Sub-Adviser also does not “pay up” for the value of any such proprietary research. If, in the future, the Sub-Adviser were to obtain brokerage and research services from broker-dealers, it would do so in arrangements that are consistent with Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act. Section 28(e) of the 1934 Act permits the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, under certain circumstances, to cause a 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 or Sub-Adviser may receive brokerage and research services in connection with certain riskless principal transactions, as defined by the Rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), and 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 and the Sub-Adviser believe that access to independent investment research is beneficial to their 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 or Sub-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 or Sub-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 or Sub-Adviser will be in addition to and not in lieu of the services required to be performed by the Adviser or Sub-Adviser under their Investment Advisory Agreements. Any advisory, sub-advisory or other fees paid to the Adviser or Sub-Adviser are not reduced as a result of the receipt of research services.

 

In some cases, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser may receive a service from a broker that has both a "research" and a "non-research" use. When this occurs, the Adviser or Sub-Adviser, as applicable, 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 or Sub-Adviser will use their 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 and the Sub-Adviser face a potential conflict of interest, but the Adviser and the Sub-Adviser believe that their respective allocation procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that they appropriately allocate the anticipated use of such services to their research and non-research uses.

 

S-78 

 

From time to time, the Adviser or Sub-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 or Sub-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).

 

Brokerage with Fund Affiliates. The Funds may execute brokerage or other agency transactions through registered broker-dealer affiliates of either the Funds, the Adviser or the Sub-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 a 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 Funds, have adopted procedures for evaluating the reasonableness of commissions paid to affiliates and review these procedures periodically.

 

Securities of "Regular Broker-Dealers." The Funds are required to identify any securities of its "regular brokers and dealers" (as such term is defined in the 1940 Act) that a Fund held during its most recent fiscal year. Because the Funds are new, as of the date of this SAI, the Funds did not hold any securities of their "regular brokers or dealers."

 

Portfolio Turnover Rate. 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.

 

PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS DISCLOSURE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

The Board has adopted a policy regarding the disclosure of information about the Funds' security holdings. Each Fund's entire portfolio holdings are publicly disseminated each day a Fund is open for business through financial reporting and news services including publicly available internet websites, as well as through the following website: www.frontierasset.com. 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 a Fund's portfolio holdings will be permitted (i) to certain personnel of service providers to a Fund involved in portfolio management and providing administrative, operational, risk management, or other support to portfolio management, and (ii) to other personnel of the Funds' 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 Funds, 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 Funds, including pricing information vendors, and third parties that deliver analytical, statistical or consulting services to the Funds and (ii) generally after it has been disseminated to the NSCC.

 

S-79 

 

The Funds will disclose their complete portfolio holdings in public filings with the SEC on a quarterly basis, based on the Funds' fiscal year-end, within 60 days of the end of the quarter, and will provide that information to shareholders, as required by federal securities laws and regulations thereunder.

 

No person is authorized to disclose any of the Funds' 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 of which represents an equal proportionate interest in the portfolio 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 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.

 

S-80 

 

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 [X-XXX-XXX-XXXX] or by writing to the Funds at Frontier ETFs, c/o SEI Investments Distribution Co., One Freedom Valley Drive, Oaks, Pennsylvania, 19456 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 Sub-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.

S-81 

 

 

PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS AND CONTROL PERSONS

 

Because the Funds are new, as of the date of this SAI, the Funds did not have any principal shareholders or control persons to report.

 

S-82 

 

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:

 

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

 

A-5

 

• 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).

 

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).

 

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.

 

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.

 

A-7

 

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

 

[To be Inserted]

 

B-1

 

 

 

PART C: OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 28. EXHIBITS:

 

(a)(1) The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund II’s (the “Registrant”) Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, dated July 24, 1992, as amended and restated February 18, 2004 and August 10, 2004 (the “Agreement and Declaration of Trust”), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 36 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-04-000490 on September 17, 2004.

 

(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. 129 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000274 on May 30, 2012.

 

(a)(3) Amendment No. 2, dated September 26, 2022, to the Agreement and Declaration of Trust, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 284 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-022784 on November 28, 2022.

 

(b) Registrant’s Third Amended and Restated By-Laws are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (b) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 273 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-21-022457 on November 24, 2021.

 

(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 October 24, 2008, between the Registrant and Champlain Investment Partners, LLC, relating to the Champlain Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 95 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-10-000419 on September 30, 2010.

 

(d)(1)(ii) Amended Schedule A, as revised August 22, 2023, to the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated October 24, 2008, between the Registrant and Champlain Investment Partners, LLC, relating to the Champlain Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 290 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-019317 on October 16, 2023.

 

(d)(1)(iii) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated August 27, 2010, between the Registrant and W. H. Reaves & Co., Inc., relating to the Reaves Infrastructure Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)(v) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-18-017107 on November 28, 2018.

 

(d)(1)(iv) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated October 21, 2013 between the Registrant and Kopernik Global Investors, LLC, relating to the Kopernik Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(30) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 159 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000608 on October 23, 2013.

 

 

 

(d)(1)(v) Schedule A, as revised June 29, 2015, to the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated October 21, 2013, relating to the Kopernik Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)(xv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 192 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000441 on June 29, 2015.

 

(d)(1)(vi) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated April 1, 2014, between the Registrant and Cardinal Capital Management, L.L.C., relating to the Cardinal Small Cap Value Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(35) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 174 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000229 on March 31, 2014.

 

(d)(1)(vii) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated June 1, 2022, between the Registrant and Sprucegrove Investment Management Ltd., relating to the Sprucegrove International Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)(x) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 282 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-011351 on June 1, 2022.

 

(d)(1)(viii) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated November 30, 2022, between the Registrant and PMV Capital Advisers, LLC, relating to the PMV Adaptive Risk Parity ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)(xi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 285 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-024771 on December 20, 2022.

 

(d)(1)(ix) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated November 17, 2023, between the Registrant and CastleArk Management LLC, relating to the CastleArk Large Growth ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)(ix) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 292 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-022221 on December 5, 2023.

 

(d)(1)(x) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated February 29, 2024, between the Registrant and Cullen Capital Management, LLC, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)(x) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 296 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 003-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-005119 on March 4, 2024.

 

(d)(1)(xi) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated April 9, 2024, between the Registrant and Vontobel Asset Management, Inc., relating to the Vontobel International Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)(xi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 299 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 003-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-007433 on April 22, 2024.

 

(d)(1)(xii) Schedule A, as revised August 1, 2024, to the Investment Advisory Agreement, dated April 9, 2024, between the Registrant and Vontobel Asset Management, Inc., relating to the Vontobel International Equity Fund, Vontobel Global Equity Fund, Vontobel US Equity Fund and Vontobel Global Environmental Change Fund (the “Vontobel Funds”), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)(xii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 304 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 003-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-013703 on August 5, 2024.

 

 

 

(d)(1)(xiii) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated September 3, 2024, between the Registrant and 3EDGE Asset Management LP, relating to the 3EDGE Dynamic Fixed Income ETF, 3EDGE Dynamic Hard Assets ETF, 3EDGE Dynamic International Equity ETF and 3EDGE Dynamic US Equity ETF (the “3EDGE Funds”), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(1)(xiii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 306 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 003-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-017877 on September 13, 2024.

 

(d)(1)(xiv) Investment Advisory Agreement, dated [XX], between the Registrant and Frontier Asset Management, LLC, relating to the Frontier Asset Absolute Return ETF, Frontier Asset Core Bond ETF, Frontier Asset Opportunistic Credit ETF, Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF, Frontier Asset Total International Equity ETF and Frontier Asset U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF (the “Frontier Funds”), to be filed by amendment.

 

(d)(2)(i) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated September 19, 2023, between PMV Capital Advisers, LLC and Vident Advisory, LLC, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 295 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-004813 on February 28, 2024.

 

(d)(2)(ii) Investment Sub-Advisory Agreement, dated [XX], between Frontier Asset Management, LLC and Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC, to be filed by amendment.

 

(d)(3)(i) Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Champlain Investment Partners, LLC, relating to the Champlain Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(3)(iii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 213 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001879 on November 28, 2016.

 

(d)(3)(ii) Schedule A, amended as of October 5, 2023, to the Expense Limitation Agreement between the Registrant and Champlain Investment Partners, LLC, relating to the Champlain Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(3)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 290 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-019317 on October 16, 2023.

 

(d)(3)(iii) Amended and Restated Expense Limitation Agreement, effective as of December 1, 2019, between the Registrant and Kopernik Global Investors, LLC, relating to the Kopernik Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(3)(vi) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 247 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-20-004787 on February 28, 2020.

 

(d)(3)(iv) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated April 1, 2014, between the Registrant and Cardinal Capital Management, L.L.C., relating to the Cardinal Small Cap Value Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(36) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 174 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000229 on March 31, 2014.

 

(d)(3)(v) Amended Schedule A to the Expense Limitation Agreement, dated April 1, 2014, between the Registrant and Cardinal Capital Management, L.L.C., relating to the Cardinal Small Cap Value Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(3)(viii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 247 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-20-004787 on February 28, 2020.

 

 

 

 

(d)(3)(vi) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated June 1, 2022, between the Registrant and Sprucegrove Investment Management Ltd., relating to the Sprucegrove International Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(2)(viii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 282 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-011351 on June 1, 2022.

 

(d)(3)(vii) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated November 30, 2022, between the Registrant and PMV Capital Advisers, LLC, relating to the PMV Adaptive Risk Parity ETF, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(3)(ix) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 285 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-024771 on December 20, 2022.

 

(d)(3)(viii) Expense Limitation Agreement, dated April 9, 2024, between the Registrant and Vontobel Asset Management, Inc., relating to the Vontobel International Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(3)(viii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 299 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 003-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-007433 on April 22, 2024.

 

(d)(3)(ix) Schedule A, amended as of August 1, 2024, to the Expense Limitation Agreement, dated April 9, 2024, between the Registrant and Vontobel Asset Management, Inc., relating to the Vontobel Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (d)(3)(ix) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 304 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 003-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-013703 on August 5, 2024.

 

(e)(1)(i) Distribution Agreement, dated January 28, 1993, as amended and restated as of November 14, 2005, between the Registrant and SEI Investments Distribution Co., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 48 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-06-000209 on May 31, 2006.

 

(e)(1)(ii) Amendment No. 1, effective as of August 30, 2010, to the Distribution Agreement, dated January 28, 1993, as amended and restated as of November 14, 2005, between the Registrant and SEI Investments Distribution Co., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 125 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-12-000088 on February 28, 2012.

 

(e)(1)(iii) Amendment No. 2, dated November 13, 2018, to the Distribution Agreement, dated January 28, 1993, as amended and restated as of November 14, 2005, between the Registrant and SEI Investments Distribution Co., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(1)(ii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 239 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-18-017107 on November 28, 2018.

 

(e)(1)(iv) Amendment No. 3, dated December 13, 2022, to the Distribution Agreement, dated January 28, 1993, as amended and restated as of November 14, 2005, between the Registrant and SEI Investments Distribution Co., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(1)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 285 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-024771 on December 20, 2022.

 

(e)(2) Revised Form of Sub-Distribution and Servicing Agreement for SEI Investments Distribution Co. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 76 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-08-000222 on May 30, 2008.

 

 

 

 

(e)(3) Form of Authorized Participant Agreement, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (e)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 285 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-024771 on December 20, 2022.

 

(f) Not Applicable.

 

(g)(1) Custody Agreement, dated February 12, 2013, between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, N.A. is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 198 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000799 on October 8, 2015.

 

(g)(2) Custodian and Transfer Agent Agreement, dated September 5, 2024, between the Registrant and U.S. Bank, N.A., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 306 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-017877 on September 13, 2024.

 

(g)(3) Custodian Agreement, dated November 25, 2014, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 232 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-18-003057 on February 28, 2018.

 

(g)(4) Amendment, dated December 1, 2020, to the Custodian Agreement, dated November 25, 2014, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 266 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-21-006517 on March 15, 2021.

 

(g)(5) Amendment, dated April 1, 2024, to the Custodian Agreement, dated November 25, 2014, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 299 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 003-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-007433 on April 22, 2024.

 

(g)(6) Custodian and Transfer Agent Agreement, dated December 6, 2022, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 285 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-024771 on December 20, 2022.

 

(g)(7) Amendment, dated November 17, 2023, to the Custodian and Transfer Agent Agreement, dated December 6, 2022, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 292 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-022221 on December 5, 2023.

 

(g)(8) Amended Schedule A, dated February 5, 2024, to the Custodian and Transfer Agent Agreement, dated December 6, 2022, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (g)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 296 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 003-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-005119 on March 4, 2024.

 

 

 

 

(g)(9) Amended Schedule A, dated [XX], to the Custodian and Transfer Agent Agreement, dated December 6, 2022, between the Registrant and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., to be filed by amendment.

 

(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)(i) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 241 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-19-003594 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. 295 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-004813 on February 28, 2024.

 

(h)(2)(i) Agency Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, as amended November 13, 2013, 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. 198 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000799 on October 8, 2015.

 

(h)(2)(ii) Amendment No. 1, dated April 30, 2018, to the Agency Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, as amended November 13, 2013, between the Registrant and SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. (formerly, DST Systems, Inc.), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(2)(vii) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 243 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-19-009912 on May 31, 2019.

 

(h)(2)(iii) Amendment, dated June 26, 2018, to the Agency Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, as amended, 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. 243 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-19-009912 on May 31, 2019.

 

(h)(2)(iv) Amendment, dated October 2023, to the Agency Agreement, dated April 1, 2006, as amended, between the Registrant and SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, Inc. (formerly, DST Systems, Inc.), is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(2)(iv) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 295 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-004813 on February 28, 2024.

 

(h)(2)(v) Transfer Agency Agreement, dated November 14, 2012, between the Registrant and Atlantic Shareholder Services, LLC is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(15) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 161 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000640 on November 27, 2013.

 

(h)(3)(i) Shareholder Services Plan is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 204 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001066 on February 26, 2016.

 

(h)(3)(ii) Amended Exhibit A to the Shareholder Services Plan, to be filed by amendment.

 

 

 

 

(h)(4) Form of Rule 12d1-4 Fund of Funds Investment Agreement is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (h)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 295 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-004813 on February 28, 2024.

 

(i) Opinion and Consent of Counsel, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, to be filed by amendment.

 

(j) Not Applicable.

 

(k) Not Applicable.

 

(l) Not Applicable.

 

(m)(1) Distribution Plan (compensation type), dated May 31, 2000, as amended November 16, 2004, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (m)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 110 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-11-000294 on May 27, 2011.

 

(m)(2) Schedule H, as revised May 19, 2015, to the Distribution Plan, dated May 31, 2000, as amended November 16, 2004, relating to the Kopernik Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (m)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 192 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-15-000441 on June 29, 2015.

 

(m)(3) Schedule K, as revised November 17, 2021, to the Distribution Plan, dated May 31, 2000, as amended November 16, 2004, relating to the Sprucegrove International Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (m)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 282 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-011351 on June 1, 2022.

 

(m)(4) Schedule L, as revised May 21, 2024 to the Distribution Plan, dated May 31, 2000, as amended November 16, 2004, relating to the Vontobel Funds, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (m)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 304 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 003-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-013703 on August 5, 2024.

 

(m)(5) Distribution Plan (compensation type), dated February 23, 2005, as amended and restated February 28, 2017, relating to the Champlain Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (m)(7) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 228 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-17-001073 on November 28, 2017.

 

(m)(6) Amended Schedule A, dated August 22, 2023, to the Distribution Plan (compensation type), dated February 23, 2005, as amended and restated February 28, 2017, relating to the Champlain Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (m)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 290 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-019317 on October 16, 2023.

 

(m)(7) ETF Distribution Plan, dated November 14, 2023, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (m)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 292 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-022221 on December 5, 2023.

 

 

 

 

(m)(8) Amended Schedule A, dated August 20, 2024, to the ETF Distribution Plan, dated November 14, 2023, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (m)(8) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 306 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 003-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-017877 on September 13, 2024.

 

(m)(9) Amended Schedule A, dated [XX], to the ETF Distribution Plan, dated November 14, 2023, to be filed by amendment.

 

(n)(1) Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan, dated February 21, 2007, including Amended and Restated Schedules and Certificates of Class Designation thereto, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (n) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 183 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-14-000736 on November 26, 2014.

 

(n)(2) Amended and Restated Schedule C, dated August 22, 2023, to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan, dated February 21, 2007, relating to the Champlain Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (n)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 290 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-019317 on October 16, 2023.

 

(n)(3) Amended and Restated Schedule G, dated August 21, 2018, to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan, dated February 21, 2007, relating to the Kopernik Funds, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (n)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 241 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-19-003594 on February 28, 2019.

 

(n)(4) Amended and Restated Schedule J, dated November 17, 2021, to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan, dated February 21, 2007, relating to the Sprucegrove International Equity Fund, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (n)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 282 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-011351 on June 1, 2022.

 

(n)(5) Amended and Restated Schedule K, dated May 21, 2024, to the Amended and Restated Rule 18f-3 Multiple Class Plan, dated February 21, 2007, relating to the Vontobel Funds, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (n)(5) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 304 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 003-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-013703 on August 5, 2024.

 

(o) Not Applicable.

 

(p)(1) Registrant’s Code of Ethics is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 65 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001116502-07-002196 on November 28, 2007.

 

(p)(2) SEI Investments Distribution Co. Code of Ethics, dated June 30, 2023, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(2) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 291 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-021397 on November 28, 2023.

 

(p)(3) Champlain Investment Partners, LLC Code of Ethics, as revised February 2021, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(3) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 273 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-21-022457 on November 24, 2021.

 

 

 

 

(p)(4) W. H. Reaves & Co., Inc. Code of Ethics, as revised January 26, 2021, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(4) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 273 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-21-022457 on November 24, 2021.

 

(p)(5) Kopernik Global Investors, LLC Code of Ethics, dated September 11, 2013, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(19) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 159 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-13-000608 on October 23, 2013.

 

(p)(6) SEI Investments Global Funds Services Code of Ethics, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(6) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 291 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-021397 on November 28, 2023.

 

(p)(7) Cardinal Capital Management, L.L.C. Code of Ethics, dated June 2015, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(16) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 204 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001135428-16-001066 on February 26, 2016.

 

(p)(8) Sprucegrove Investment Management Ltd. Code of Ethics, dated March 2019, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(13) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 267 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-21-006864 on March 22, 2021.

 

(p)(9) PMV Capital Advisers, LLC Code of Ethics, dated September 28, 2022, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 285 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-024771 on December 20, 2022.

 

(p)(10) Vident Advisory, LLC Code of Ethics, dated July 15, 2023, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(10) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 291 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-021397 on November 28, 2023.

 

(p)(11) CastleArk Management LLC Code of Ethics, dated October 2020, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(11) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 292 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-23-022221 on December 5, 2023.

 

(p)(12) Cullen Capital Management, LLC Code of Ethics, dated April 1, 2022, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(12) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 296 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 003-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-005119 on March 4, 2024.

 

(p)(13) Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. Code of Ethics, dated October 2023, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(13) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 299 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 003-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-007433 on April 22, 2024.

 

 

 

 

(p)(14) 3EDGE Asset Management LP Code of Ethics, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (p)(14) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 306 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 003-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-24-017877 on September 13, 2024.

 

(p)(15) Frontier Asset Management, LLC Code of Ethics, dated [XX], to be filed by amendment.

 

(p)(16) Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC Code of Ethics, dated [XX], to be filed by amendment.

 

(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. 253 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-20-020824 on October 27, 2020.

 

(q)(2) Power of Attorney, dated March 24, 2021, for Mr. Andrew Metzger, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (q)(1) of Post-Effective Amendment No. 268 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-21-009263 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. 276 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No. 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-22-004473 on February 28, 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. 253 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form N-1A (File No 033-50718), filed with the SEC via EDGAR Accession No. 0001398344-20-020824 on October 27, 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)(1) to the Registrant’s Registration Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (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 THE INVESTMENT ADVISERS:

 

The following lists any other business, profession, vocation or employment of a substantial nature in which each investment adviser (including sub-advisers), and each director, officer or partner of that investment adviser (or sub-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 (or sub-advisers) and/or directors, officers or partners of each investment adviser (or sub-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.

 

3EDGE ASSET MANAGEMENT LP

 

3EDGE Asset Management LP (“3EDGE”) serves as the investment adviser for the Registrant’s 3EDGE Dynamic Fixed Income ETF, 3EDGE Dynamic Hard Assets ETF, 3EDGE Dynamic International Equity ETF and 3EDGE Dynamic US Equity ETF (the “3EDGE Funds”). The principal address of 3EDGE is 999 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 200, Naples, FL 34018. 3EDGE is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

 

During the fiscal years ended September 30, 2022 and 2023, no director, officer or partner of 3EDGE 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.

 

CARDINAL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.

 

Cardinal Capital Management, L.L.C. (“Cardinal Capital”) serves as the investment adviser for the Registrant’s Cardinal Small Cap Value Fund. The principal address of Cardinal Capital is Four Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich, Connecticut 06831. Cardinal Capital is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

 

During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023, no director, officer or partner of Cardinal Capital 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.

 

CASTLEARK MANAGEMENT LLC

 

CastleArk Management LLC (“CastleArk”) serves as the investment adviser for the Registrant’s CastleArk Large Growth ETF. The principal address of CastleArk is 1 North Wacker Drive, Suite 3950, Chicago, Illinois 60602. CastleArk is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

 

During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023, no director, officer or partner of CastleArk 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.

 

 

 

 

CHAMPLAIN INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC

 

Champlain Investment Partners, LLC (“Champlain”) serves as the investment adviser for the Registrant’s Champlain Small Company Fund, Champlain Mid Cap Fund and Champlain Strategic Focus Fund. The principal address of Champlain is 180 Battery Street, Burlington, Vermont 05401. Champlain is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The information below is for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2023.

 

NAME AND POSITION
WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY
CONNECTION WITH
OTHER COMPANY

Judith W. O’Connell,

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

Sprott, Inc.

Royal Bank Plaza, South Tower

200 Bay Street, Suite 2600

Toronto, Ontario M5J2J1, Canada

Independent Director

 

CULLEN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

Cullen Capital Management, LLC (“Cullen”) serves as the investment adviser for the Registrant’s Cullen Enhanced Equity Income ETF. The principal address of Cullen is 645 5th Avenue, Suite 1201, New York, NY 10022. Cullen is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The information as to other business, if any, and the directors, officers and partners of Cullen is set forth in its Form ADV, on file with the SEC (CRD No. 113128, SEC No. 801- 57576), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

EXCHANGE TRADED CONCEPTS, LLC

 

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC (“ETC”) serves as the investment sub-adviser for the Registrant’s Frontier Asset Absolute Return ETF, Frontier Asset Core Bond ETF, Frontier Asset Opportunistic Credit ETF, Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF, Frontier Asset Total International Equity ETF and Frontier Asset U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF. The principal address of ETC is 10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120. ETC is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The information below is provided as of [Date]. [To be updated by amendment.]

 

NAME AND POSITION
WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY
CONNECTION WITH
OTHER COMPANY
     

 

FRONTIER ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC

 

Frontier Asset Management, LLC (“Frontier”) serves as the investment adviser for the Registrant’s Frontier Asset Absolute Return ETF, Frontier Asset Core Bond ETF, Frontier Asset Opportunistic Credit ETF, Frontier Asset Global Small Cap Equity ETF, Frontier Asset Total International Equity ETF and Frontier Asset U.S. Large Cap Equity ETF. The principal address of Frontier is 50 East Loucks Street, Suite 201, Sheridan, Wyoming 82801. Frontier is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The information below is provided as of [Date]. [To be updated by amendment.]

 

NAME AND POSITION
WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY
CONNECTION WITH
OTHER COMPANY
     

 

 

 

 

KOPERNIK GLOBAL INVESTORS, LLC

 

Kopernik Global Investors, LLC (“Kopernik”) serves as the investment adviser for the Registrant’s Kopernik Global All-Cap Fund and Kopernik International Fund. The principal address of Kopernik is Two Harbour Place, 302 Knights Run Avenue, Suite 1225, Tampa, Florida 33602. Kopernik is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The information 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
Isabel Satra, Principal, Portfolio Manager, and Chief Financial Officer

Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd.

Mining Exploration and Development Company

14th Floor – 1040 West Georgia Street

Vancouver, BD

Canada, C6E 4H1

Board Member

 

PMV CAPITAL ADVISERS, LLC

 

PMV Capital Advisers, LLC (“PMV”) serves as the investment adviser for the Registrant’s PMV Adaptive Risk Parity ETF. The principal address of PMV is 15660 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1250, Dallas, Texas 75248. PMV is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The information 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

Andrew Nall

Chief Compliance Officer

Radiant Financial, Inc.

15660 Dallas Pkwy

Suite 1250

Dallas, TX 75248

President

Radiant Financial Partners, LLC

4590 MacArthur Blvd.

Suite 500

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Managing Member

PMV Capital, LLC

15660 Dallas Pkwy

Suite 1250

Dallas, TX 75248

Chief Compliance Officer

 

 

 

  

NAME AND POSITION
WITH INVESTMENT ADVISER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL BUSINESS
ADDRESS OF OTHER COMPANY
CONNECTION WITH
OTHER COMPANY

Mark DiGiannantonio

Chief Operations Officer

Radiant Financial, Inc.

15660 Dallas Pkwy

Suite 1250

Dallas, TX 75248

Vice President

Radiant Financial Partners, LLC

4590 MacArthur Blvd.

Suite 500

Newport Beach, CA 92660

Managing Member

PMV Capital, LLC

15660 Dallas Pkwy

Suite 1250

Dallas, TX 75248

Chief Operations Officer

Daniel Snover

President

PMV Capital, LLC

15660 Dallas Pkwy

Suite 1250

Dallas, TX 75248

President

 

SPRUCEGROVE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT Ltd.

 

Sprucegrove Investment Management Ltd. (“Sprucegrove”), serves as the investment adviser for the Registrant’s Sprucegrove International Equity Fund. The principal address of Sprucegrove is 181 University Ave., Suite 1300, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5H 3M7. Sprucegrove is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

 

During the fiscal years ended December 31, 2022 and 2023, no director, officer or partner of Sprucegrove 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.

 

VIDENT ADVISORY, LLC

 

Vident Advisory, LLC (“Vident”) serves as the investment sub-adviser for the Registrant’s PMV Adaptive Risk Parity ETF. The principal address of Vident is 1125 Sanctuary Pkwy., Suite 515, Alpharetta, Georgia 30009. Vident is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

 

During the fiscal years ended October 31, 2022 and 2023, no director, officer or partner of Vident 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.

 

VONTOBEL ASSET MANAGEMENT, INC.

 

Vontobel Asset Management, Inc. (“Vontobel”) serves as the investment adviser for the Registrant’s Vontobel International Equity Fund, Vontobel Global Equity Fund, Vontobel U.S. Equity Fund and Vontobel Global Environmental Change Fund. The principal address of Vontobel is 66 Hudson Boulevard, 34th Floor, Suite 3401, New York, New York 10001. Vontobel is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. The information as to other business, if any, and the directors, officers and partners of Vontobel is set forth in its Form ADV, on file with the SEC (CRD No. 105007, SEC No. 801-21953), and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

 

W. H. REAVES & CO., INC.

 

W. H. Reaves & Co., Inc. (“Reaves Asset Management”) serves as the investment adviser for the Registrant’s Reaves Infrastructure Fund. The principal business address of Reaves Asset Management is 10 Exchange Place, 18th Floor, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302. Reaves Asset Management is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.

 

During the fiscal years ended July 31, 2022 and 2023, no director, officer or partner of Reaves Asset Management 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.

 

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 November 14, 1991
The Advisors’ Inner Circle Fund III 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
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
Paul F. Klauder President, Chief Executive Officer & Director --
John C. Munch General Counsel & Secretary --
William M. Doran Director --
John Alshefski Director --
Kevin Crowe Director --

 

 

 

 

Name Position and Office
with Underwriter
Positions and Offices
with Registrant
Jason McGhin Vice President & Chief Operations Officer --
John P. Coary Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer --
Jennifer H. Campisi Chief Compliance Officer, Assistant Secretary & Anti-Money Laundering Officer --
William M. Martin Vice President --
Christopher Rowan Vice President --
Judith A. Rager Vice President --
Gary Michael Reese Vice President --
Robert M. Silvestri Vice President --

 

(c) Not Applicable.

 

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, as amended, 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 the Registrant’s custodians:

 

U.S. Bank, National Association

800 Nicollett Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

 

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 the 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 principal offices of the Registrant’s advisers:

 

3EDGE Asset Management LP

999 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 200

Naples, FL 34018

 

Cardinal Capital Management, L.L.C.

Four Greenwich Office Park

Greenwich, Connecticut 06831

 

 

 

 

CastleArk Management LLC

1 North Wacker Drive

Suite 3950

Chicago, Illinois 60602

 

Champlain Investment Partners, LLC

180 Battery Street

Burlington, Vermont 05401

 

Cullen Capital Management, LLC

645 5th Avenue, Suite 1201

New York, NY 10022

 

Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC

10900 Hefner Pointe Drive, Suite 400

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120

 

Frontier Asset Management, LLC

50 East Loucks Street, Suite 201

Sheridan, Wyoming 82801

 

Kopernik Global Investors, LLC

Two Harbour Place

302 Knights Run Avenue, Suite 1225

Tampa, Florida 33602

 

PMV Capital Advisers, LLC

15660 Dallas Parkway

Suite 1250

Dallas, Texas 75248

 

Sprucegrove Investment Management Ltd.

181 University Ave.

Suite 1300

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

M5H 3M7

 

Vident Advisory, LLC

1125 Sanctuary Pkwy.

Suite 515

Alpharetta, Georgia 30009

 

Vontobel Asset Management, Inc.

66 Hudson Boulevard, 34th Floor

Suite 3401

New York, New York 10001

 

W. H. Reaves & Co., Inc.

10 Exchange Place

18th Floor

Jersey City, New Jersey 07302

 

 

 

 

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 II 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 has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 307 to Registration Statement No. 033-50718 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Oaks, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on the 4th day of October, 2024.

 

  THE ADVISORS’ INNER CIRCLE FUND II
   
  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   October 4, 2024
Kathleen Gaffney        
         
*   Trustee   October 4, 2024
Joseph T. Grause, Jr.        
         
*   Trustee   October 4, 2024
N. Jeffrey Klauder        
         
*   Trustee   October 4, 2024
Robert Mulhall        
         
*   Trustee   October 4, 2024
Robert A. Nesher        
         
*   Trustee   October 4, 2024
Bruce Speca        
         
*   Trustee   October 4, 2024
Monica Walker        
         
*   President   October 4, 2024
Michael Beattie        
         
*   Treasurer, Controller &   October 4, 2024
Andrew Metzger   Chief Financial Officer    

 

*By: /s/ Matthew M. Maher  
  Matthew M. Maher  
  Attorney-in-Fact